Brenda Lee Cote

I qualified as a Social Worker in 1989.  I hold a Bachelor and a Master's degree in Social Work. I am registered with the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers and the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. 

My career experience includes front-line work with child protection as well as with adults. 

I have 15 years' experience in mental health. In New Brunswick, I worked with youth as a clinical social worker, and I managed the New Brunswick psychiatric patient advocacy program. 

In 2006, I moved to England, where I had the opportunity to work with children and adults with disabilities as well as other interesting sectors. I was clinical lead with the mental health Perinatal Services as well as being a clinician with mental health older people, working primarily with patients with Dementia or enduring mental health conditions.  

In February 2023, I returned to Canada, and I am currently working with the child protection services in, Minister of Community Services, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. 

My family obligations in New Brunswick require me to be closer, therefore, I am now looking for employment in that province, around the Fredericton areas. I am looking for part-time work, ideally between 23.5 and 30 hours per week. 

I am a person-centered professional with strong ethical standards and principles. I have extensive experience with multidisciplinary work. My clinical approach to assessments and formulations is based on biopsychosocial models, supported by close collaboration with key disciplines. 

I have been a professional and qualified social worker for over 30 years. I possess several years of work experience in different sectors including social services and mental health. I also possess extensive management experience. 

Throughout my career, I have demonstrated strong communication skills, a person-centered approach as well as inter-agency collaborations. My leadership experience has contributed to making me an independent and quick-thinking professional. I possess strong organizational skills, I can work in a pressurized environment, I am able to prioritize whilst assuring that time management planning is in place.

My preference is to work in mental health or the public health sectors (hospitals, clinics or community-based work). 

I am fluently bilingual in French and English, both verbally and in writing. I produce comprehensive reports and in-depth analysis of client profiles. I rely on holistic, systemic and biopsychosocial models of assessments and care. 

I am a dedicated individual with strong work ethics. Social Workers faces significant challenges in our society, as do other professionals in the social care and health sectors. Regardless of these challenges, I am proud to call myself a social worker and believe that my knowledge and skills will benefit your organization. 

October 2023 Fundamentals of Child Protection Training. Government of Nova Scotia, Community Services. Five-day course

March 2023 “In Dignity: Addressing Violence and Honoring Resistance in the Colonial Context” Allan Wade, Ph.D. Dartmouth, NS

March 2023 Diversity and Inclusion Training Government of Nova Scotia

March 2023 Diversity, Inclusion and Employment Equity E-Course (PSC) Government of Nova Scotia

September 2022  Trauma-Informed Care “using trauma awareness to enhance everyday practice” (CPD31) Tavistock and Portman, London, UK

July 2022   Dementia Training Standards Framework – NHS England, UK

June 2022 Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, Steven Richards, London, UK

October 2021 Best Interest Assessor Refresher Training with NHS Tavistock and Portman, London, UK

September 2020 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Level 1 certificate. The Association of Psychological Therapies (APT)

October 2019 Infant Online Mental Health Certificate Warwick University, UK

November 2017 Best Interest Deprivation of Liberties & Safeguards Teesside University, UK