The Role of a Social Worker in Epilepsy Care | Heather Olivieri, Social Worker in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
March is #SocialWorkMonth in Canada; in recognition we’re celebrating the critical role of social workers in epilepsy care and in the ECHO Epilepsy knowledge translation model and community of practice. We’re privileged to profile Heather Olivieri, MSW, RSW – Social Worker in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), who is also a member of our SickKids hub leadership team delivering our Foundational and Advanced Programs for Epilepsy in Children & Youth.
What inspired you to enter the field of social work?
I thoroughly enjoyed working with children from a young age and knew that my career would involve supporting children in some way. Even through some of my earliest volunteer and job opportunities, I felt drawn to working with young people who were experiencing challenges and vulnerability in their lives.
Social work was a perfect fit as it allows me both to work directly with young people and their families, while also navigating and advocating within the systems that directly impact the quality of their lives.
What population do you work with (children, youth, adult) and what challenges/rewards do you experience in this profession?
I work with children, youth and their families who are at various points in their epilepsy journey. This may include people who are coping with a new diagnosis, embarking on a new course of treatment or navigating the transition from pediatric to adult health care. It is an absolute honour to walk alongside families on this journey. I am consistently in awe of the ways in which people choose to live well with epilepsy, despite the challenges that may be present in their lives.
Effectively supporting people living with epilepsy often involves navigating complex systems. Strained resources and cross-sector coordination and collaboration can sometimes be a challenge but as social workers, we are always advocating for positive change!
What is the role of a social work in relation to epilepsy surgery?
Social work is an integral part of a child and family’s epilepsy surgery journey. Determining candidacy for epilepsy surgery can be a lengthy and emotional process. For many children and families, the possibility of surgery can be a source of hope where many other treatments have not been effective.
Social work is often involved in supporting young people and their families in making treatment decisions, planning for the surgical admission/rehabilitation as well as supporting the adjustment to a “new normal” following surgery.
The interdisciplinary make-up of ECHO is a key aspect of its education and support model. What’s one key thing that you’ve learned in being part of this interdisciplinary team, regarding supporting/treating people living with epilepsy?
The knowledge-sharing model employed by project ECHO has impacted my learning and appreciation for those delivering epilepsy care in so many ways. I am always struck by the compassion, resourcefulness and dedication that practitioners in community-based settings (sometimes very remote) bring to caring for very medically and psychosocially complex epilepsy patients. It is truly inspiring!
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