About Sighted Vision Ltd
Dedicated to improving outcomes for children, families, and vulnerable adults through professional social work services and SEND consultancy.
Our Mission
Building trust and connections through excellence in social work practice
Bringing Theory to Practice
Bringing social work theory, research and law to practice.
Empowering Environment
Creating an empowering reflective environment for social work practice.
Meet Ropa Matibenga
Ropafadzo (Ropa) Matibenga is the founder and Director of Sighted Vision Ltd. A carer at heart, Ropa has dedicated the greater part of her working life supporting children and families as well as vulnerable adults in various settings.
Her passion to serve others and improve the outcomes of children and young people is strengthened by her comprehensive professional qualifications and extensive practical experience in the field.
With a career spanning over two decades, Ropa has experience in supporting children and young people in developing daily living skills, engaging in education and learning, managing various teams in childcare practice, and formulating and implementing service plans.
Ropa's commitment to excellence extends beyond direct practice. She has served as Chair and Trustee for various Children's Centres and Charities' governing bodies, contributing to strategic decision-making and organizational development.
Her expertise in quality assurance and evaluating service delivery impact has made her a trusted advisor in the social work community, known for her compassionate approach and unwavering dedication to positive outcomes.
Core Values
Ropa Matibenga
Independent Social Worker, Practice Educator & Assessor
Consultant for SEND, Inclusion & Safeguarding
Founder & Director
Sighted Vision Ltd
What Does an Empowering Reflective Environment Look Like?
Creating spaces where learning thrives and growth happens naturally
Learners feel safe to explore their personal value base & identity
Learners' individual learning needs and styles/needs are met (Person-Centred)
Learners are empowered to take a lead in their own learning
What Do I Currently Do?
Active services and current practice areas
Practice Educator for Student Social Workers on 70 and 100-day placements
Developing students' ability to effectively make use of 1-1 & group reflective supervision
Developing students' ability to evidence their learning experiences/placement tasks against Social Work England Professional Standards (SWEPs) and The Professional Capability Framework (PCF Domains)
Support placements in identifying & creating appropriate learning opportunities for students
Assessing & tracking students' progress using University Placement Portfolio standards
Developing students' personal & professional growth through coaching & mentoring approaches
What Sets Me Apart From Other Practice Educators & Assessors?
Unique qualities that make a difference in practice education
Trackable experience, testimonies and success from both Universities & students
An ability to connect with Student Social Workers
Mentorship that supports maintaining good emotional well-being
An ability to negotiate, mediate & advocate for students when faced with challenges at placement (diplomacy in avoiding placement breakdowns)
An ability to support placements in addressing 'concerns' using robust compassionate support plans
An ability to support placements in making 'reasonable adjustments' for students without compromising practice standards (Equality Act 2010 & Disability Discrimination Act 1995- Inclusion)
An ability to quickly take over & offer continuity of support for the student in the event of unexpected absence of the designated persons
Professional Qualifications
Academic and professional credentials that support excellence
Social Work Practice Qualification
Primary School Teacher Qualification
Masters in Child Care Law & Practice
Professional Experience
Two decades of dedicated practice and leadership
Over two decades in social work practice
Supporting children and families in various settings
Managing childcare practice teams
Strategic planning and service implementation
Chair and Trustee for various Children's Centres and Charities' governing bodies
Quality assurance and evaluating the impact of service delivery
Practice development through supporting Student Social Workers
Mentoring Senior Practitioners and Newly Qualified Social Workers
SEND & Inclusion Expertise
An area of keen interest and expertise for Ropa is Special Educational Needs and Disabilities where she has hands-on experience in:
Early identification of children's needs
Robust child-centred planning with holistic scope
Multi-agency team coordination around the child and family
Statutory plans (CP Plans, CIN Plans and EHCPs)
Practice development and outcomes improvement
SEND assessment and support planning
Inclusion and safeguarding practices
Quality assurance and monitoring
Key Achievements
Established partnerships with 15+ universities across the UK
Successfully mentored numerous social work students
Supported countless families through SEND challenges
Contributed to practice development in multiple organizations
Built trust and connections within the social work community
Our Vision & Mission
Through our role as Practice Educator, Assessor and SEND Consultant, we aim to promote practice development and improve outcomes for children and their families as well as vulnerable adults.
Ropa's ambition and vision is to build trust and connections within the community to provide the best possible services, ensuring positive outcomes for all those we support.