​Nompumelelo Luthuli who started as a Child and Youth care worker in the Gauteng Department of Social Development 24 years ago has been appointed head of the Desmond Tutu Child & Youth Care Centre. 
Luthuli joined the department as a Care worker with only matric and a driver’s license in 1997 at Golden Harvest Safe House, which was a pilot project for the department, today she is a graduate with a degree in Social Work. 

Luthuli is excited about her new responsibilities and she’s ready to take another step in her career. She has been in the field for more than 24 years, part of that includes monitoring institutions. Luthuli says with all the experience that she has acquired at the department, she will thrive in her new role. 

“I am a hardworking person, with a drive, innovation and commitment. When I want something, I make sure that I focus, put my energy on it and don't allow anything to come my way. I started as a Care Worker at entry level and that’s when I realised that I love what I was doing I then registered for a basic course in Child Care as there was no formal qualification for CYC by then”. 

Luthuli says after realising that UNISA was facilitating Child and Youth Care Diploma she then took advantage and applied for bursary and she graduated in 2005. She says she felt that was not enough for her to reach he goal as a professional Care worker; she then pursued her B-Tech degree in CYC and graduated in 2011. 

“After realising that CYC and Social workers can work as a multi-disciplinary team, I then decided to study for a BA Degree in Social Work where I graduated in 2017”. 

Luthuli says in her new role there are five managers who are reporting to her that includes a Social Worker supervisor, Nurse manager, AD: support services, Occupational Therapist and CYC Supervisor. 

In encouraging her colleagues Luthuli said one needs to be disciplined, professional and self-driven, they also need to take their work seriously, initiate things and always be solution driven. 

Boosting the morale of the staff members Luthuli says she is going to be a leader who is purposeful and leads from all angles, who has a positive attitude and sense of humour that comes with a lot of firmness and professionalism.