Programme Development and Training, Workshop Facilitation and Professional Supervision.
Ko John Shepherd toku Papa,
Ko Kathleen Hatt toku Mama,
No England i whanau i au.
Ko Aotearoa toku turangawaewae.
This is the place I ground my feet now, on the earth of Papatūānuku, under the cloud-filled sky of Ranginui. My horizons are the Tasman and the Pacific. A child of two lands; My tupuna lie in the ground in England and my present and future lies in Aotearoa. Born of one land and gifted by the Taonga of another, surrounded by Te Ao Māori, with Tangata whenua holding me as manuhiri of this place.
Ko Ruahine te pae maunga
Ko Manawatū te awa
Ko kurahaupo te waka
Ko Rangitāne te iwi
Ko Rongotea toku kainga inaianei
Ko Karen Shepherd toku ingoa.
A graduate of Massey University with a Bachelor of Social Work (1992), and a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Service Supervision (2002), and also a member of Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) and a Registered Social Worker with a current annual practising certificate.
Karen has worked as a social worker and supervisor for over 30 years, both within the Health, Statutory and NGO sectors. Previous work roles have also included work with the strengthening Families initiative, Service coordinator for the High and Complex Needs Unit (HCN), and ANZASW social work competency assessments. All her roles have involved a training component beginning with training of Foster Parents in the 1990’s, and an extensive role in training within Professional Supervision programmes for Health and Government agencies provided by the Practice Research and Professional Development Hub within the School of Health and Social Services, (now the School of Social Work) at Massey University. Karen has also previously been involved in teaching and paper co-ordination for the Post Graduate Diploma of Social Service Supervision at Massey University Palmerston North, previously held a contract to assist with supervision training for CASA and been involved with marking for Auckland University’s Supervision courses.
Training and work under the auspices of The Project Team Ltd has included providing input as a subject matter expert for the design and development of strengths-based primary health integrated case management framework, and then subsequent training to a multi-disciplinary team in the use of this framework; supervision training workshops for Mind and Body Ltd, various DHB’s, and NGO’s; consultation and review of organisations’ supervision policies, as well as facilitating The Project Teams own suite of workshops.
Karen is an active member of ANZASW where she previously held a leadership role in her local branch, and held the role of National Competency Assessor. In 2014 Karen was elected onto the National Governance Board of ANZASW, and held the role of National President for a short time.
Karen is passionate about supervision and has been involved in paper presentations and workshops on supervision at four supervision conferences. In addition to work with The Project team, Karen runs her own consultancy business, where she engages in professional supervision with a wide variety of helping professionals and other contract work.
When not at work Karen’s favourite role is Aunty to 8 nephews and nieces as well as to a number of her friend’s children, she enjoys time with family and friends, watching sci-fi with her partner and has been known to run around a hockey field.
Karen Shepherd
Programme Development and Training, Workshop Facilitation and Professional Supervision
Email Karen Shepherd or phone or text +6421 2580191