Group Social Work Practice

Bachelor of Social Work. I am a social worker in Cape Town and have worked across many sectors over the years including community development, mental health, homeless communities in Cape Town and the elderly in community residence.

After having the chance to do a Locum stint as a social worker in an Oncology Practice, I felt I had found an area that resonated with me and I started to do social work with palliative care patients.

I have a Practice that includes working with palliative care patients both in- hospital and at home and am a registered professional with the council for social work (SACSSP) and a member of the association for social workers in Private Practice (SAASWIPP). I am also a member of the South African Oncology Social Workers Forum due to my interest in palliative care services in the home.

There was a time when I dreamed of playing professional tennis and participating in the greatest tennis tournament – Wimbledon.

Mental health and palliative care

Sandra qualified with an Honors in Social  Work at UCT in 1990.  She went on to practice full-time in a number of hospital and community based settings, both in South Africa and the UK, before having children slowed her down a little.  

Her interest in mental health grew during the time that she then spent with the Friends of Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital Trust. She found great pleasure serving as part-time Director of the NPO for a number of years before moving into private practice. 

Sandra’s practice currently focuses on palliative care work and counselling.  Her role with the Chariot Health team is most rewarding and she loves getting out of her office and engaging with people in their homes. 

When she is not with clients Sandra enjoys the South African sun, volunteers for the Friends of Valkenberg, enjoys an adult ballet class and goes camping with her family. 

Social worker in oncology and palliative care. Serious illness support.

I earned my BA degree in Social Work in 1991 and have spent the last 19 years as a palliative care social worker, which I am truly passionate about. I focus on the northern suburbs of the Cape Metropole, conducting home visits and collaborating with medical teams to support patients. Additionally, I serve as a Palliative Care Training Facilitator and Online Coordinator for the Association of Palliative Care Centers (APCC), formerly known as HPCA.

My favourite times are spent with family and friends, usually around a braai, and as my children joke, with a glass of red wine!

Professional social worker

Abigail Haley is a professional social worker with over 10 years of experience in the fields of medical social work and palliative care. Her practice focuses on supporting individuals and families navigating life-limiting illnesses and serious medical conditions, with a deep emphasis on enhancing quality of life. Abigail began her career working with individuals living with neuromuscular conditions and muscular dystrophies, later expanding her focus to include children and families in vulnerable care settings — specifically those impacted by disability, chronic illness, or a palliative diagnosis. She has also worked extensively with older persons in retirement and frail care facilities, where she primarily supported palliative care needs.

For the past three years, Abigail has been in private practice, specialising in oncology, complex medical diagnoses, and palliative care. Her approach is grounded in empathy, clarity, and preparation — working collaboratively with patients and families to hope for the best, while planning with care and intention for all possibilities.

She is based in Cape Town and primarily serves the areas of Milnerton, Table View, Blouberg, and surrounding communities.

When I left school I trained as a nurse, I did midwifery and paediatrics – for a few years I worked in a neonatal unit in Hamburg. When I returned to South Africa I did my midwifery and then decided to study social work through UNISA. I worked at Fountain House for 8 years and then I stopped working for a few years when I had my two boys. As I wanted to spend time with the boys during the school holidays I started working as a school counsellor, which I am presently still doing on a part time basis; I work at St Anne’s Primary School two mornings/week. I am presently finishing off a 6 months locum at Kirstenhof Primary School. I have been working at the step-down facility at Robin Trust since they opened about 10 years ago and I worked at the step-down facility at Palm Gardens for a few years before they closed down when COVID started. I have also worked for the past 10 years as a locum at Vincent Palotti Rehabilitation unit and have done some locum work at Oasis in Century City.

I registered as a private practitioner 20 years ago. I have never had my own rooms but instead have only focused on doing home visits.

I am passionate about animals and when my boys were small, we had plenty of pets, including some reptiles and parrots. I have been married for 29 years and I have two sons, who are both passionate surfers/foilers.

Marital/Relationship Counsellor, working creatively with clients’ ‘stories’, assisting them to revision their personal mythology, on the basis of ‘doctor the story, not the patient’ In the process, working with myths, images, unconscious material, dreams etc.; teaching couples effective communication techniques. Working with Momentum Group on their Employee Assistance Programme. I currently serve on the Board of the Western Cape Branch of South African Association for Social Workers in Private Practice.

I obtained a Bachelor of Social Science, Social Work (University of KZN, Durban) and spent a number of years in the UK with my husband and two young sons but relocated back to Cape Town in 2009. I have volunteered at St Lukes Hospice as a Bereavement Counsellor and assisted in their Charity Shop and currently volunteer my counselling services at Hope House. My employment has included Cape Mental Health as an Intake Social Worker and at Autism Western Cape as a supervising social worker and in Private Practice in Tokai since 2020.

Main areas of speciality are general therapeutic counselling, workplace counselling, individual, couples and family therapy. What motivates me in my work is being able to support people through difficult periods and situations in life and to see a positive end result. My passion is to work with the diverse people of our country, helping them to know and understand themselves better, work through their challenges in life and to see young people learning and find their paths. I love animals, especially my cat Missy and new Pup Roxy! I enjoy travelling, family and fun!

Graduated from UCT with Bachelor of Social Science (Social work) and practiced as a social worker for 7 years in the NGO sector. I worked in a few different roles before getting into the retail environment as an organisation development practitioner then into Human Resources. While in HR, I studied Industrial Psychology and obtained MCom (Industrial psychology). Then I worked as an independent practitioner in industrial psychology for 10 years which included working with various EAP organisations doing workplace counselling, working in the medico-legal environment and dealing with various HR contracts.

My niche as a counsellor is Medical Social Work and Trauma Counselling. I have a special fondness for Geriatric patients and Persons living with disabilities.

I am a Social Worker with over 30 years of experience as a counsellor. I was a Social Worker at the Institute for Maritime Medicine for 15 years followed by 10 years at Mediclinic Panorama as their trauma counsellor and time with the NPO Changeability. This organisation had a huge impact on me in terms of focusing on people’s abilities rather than their disability.  I have been in Private Practice since 2023.

I believe that our “health is our wealth” and that “to live is to travel”.

Psychosocial support and counselling in the areas of geriatric and palliative social work. 

I have been a social worker for more than 13 years and have a passion for geriatric and palliative social work. I believe that by providing counselling, psychosocial support and practical assistance clients are able to enjoy dignity and an improved quality of life.

I live in Kommetjie and when I am not working I am a dedicated mother to my two children and enjoy spending time in nature.