Wanda Rusiecki's guest appearances

Wanda Rusiecki

The Strengths Revolution with Steve Morgan | Strengths | Resources | Taking Risks

Toby Williamson

Anne Clilverd

Steve Onyett

Kirt Hunte

OwlTail

In this second part of the interview Wanda Rusiecki talks about the work she does as a case manager with specific service users, 'getting on the healthy side' and supporting people to exercise more control over their own lives. She recognises the real reasons behind the cynacism and mistrust that some people come with, and how the focus on the conversation and humble listening helps to create a different experience of services for many people. The issue of 'time' is discussed; it is the service user's time, so we need to ask how they want to make best use of it, rather than succumbing only to systems needs that serve more bureaucratic requirements. Helping people to search for satisfaction also brings greater satisfaction in the work for practitioners. Wanda Rusiecki also reflects on working alongside the criminal justice system through court order treatment, the importance of integrating mental and physical health care to be truly holistic, and the role for peer services employing service users to tap into their experience and talents. 

In this second part of the interview Wanda Rusiecki talks about the work she does as a case manager with specific service users, 'getting on the healthy side' and supporting people to exercise more control over their own lives. She recognises the real reasons behind the cynacism and mistrust that some people come with, and how the focus on the conversation and humble listening helps to create a different experience of services for many people. The issue of 'time' is discussed; it is the service user's time, so we need to ask how they want to make best use of it, rather than succumbing only to systems needs that serve more bureaucratic requirements. Helping people to search for satisfaction also brings greater satisfaction in the work for practitioners. Wanda Rusiecki also reflects on working alongside the criminal justice system through court order treatment, the importance of integrating mental and physical health care to be truly holistic, and the role for peer services employing service users to tap into their experience and talents.

023 Wanda Rusiecki Interview Part 2

Wanda Rusiecki has been working in 'intensive case management' services in New York State for 25 years, supporting some of the most vulnerable people experiencing mental health problems within the state system. Wanda describes her experiences working intensively with small caseloads of people with very complex problems, who require a stronger degree of linking and co-ordinating of services as well as more creative ways of engaging trusting working relationships. Wanda's reflections pick up on her value base that emerged from childhood as a theme for connecting with those who present as different. She identifies the importance of 'strengths' in her own approach of developing the conversation and listening more through 'looking for the healthy side of people'. Wanda identifies the characteristics of what makes for a good case manager and what has sustained her to stay in this line of work for the long-term, as well as the challenges that the 'system' presents when trying to deliver best practice. The true meaning of 'recovery' is identified through eliciting each individual to tell their own story and identifiy their own priorities.

Wanda Rusiecki has been working in 'intensive case management' services in New York State for 25 years, supporting some of the most vulnerable people experiencing mental health problems within the state system. Wanda describes her experiences working intensively with small caseloads of people with very complex problems, who require a stronger degree of linking and co-ordinating of services as well as more creative ways of engaging trusting working relationships. Wanda's reflections pick up on her value base that emerged from childhood as a theme for connecting with those who present as different. She identifies the importance of 'strengths' in her own approach of developing the conversation and listening more through 'looking for the healthy side of people'. Wanda identifies the characteristics of what makes for a good case manager and what has sustained her to stay in this line of work for the long-term, as well as the challenges that the 'system' presents when trying to deliver best practice. The true meaning of 'recovery' is identified through eliciting each individual to tell their own story and identifiy their own priorities.