Mr Devereaux De Silva1, Dr Eleanor Thong1, Ms Naomi Rowlings1, Ms Cindy Rahardjo1, Ms Anna Wellington-Boyd1
1Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia
Biography:
Devereaux de Silva is the Social Work Manager at Alfred Health, which is a leading tertiary hospital in Melbourne Victoria.
This presentation will highlight the value of incorporating social work into a multidisciplinary team to address the complex needs of patients with high-risk foot conditions and to promote a positive and collegial team culture.
Abstract:
The High-Risk Foot Service (HRFS) at Alfred Health in Melbourne was established in 2021 to provide timely and high-quality interventions for patients with complex foot wounds. A multidisciplinary approach was employed, incorporating podiatry, orthotics, vascular, diabetes education, and endocrinology services. However, clinicians recognised an unmet need to address the high psychosocial burden in this cohort to improve self-efficacy for optimisation of outcomes.
Recent studies have found that psychological factors, such as depression and social isolation, play a pivotal role in the development and healing of diabetic foot ulcers. Stress and societal pressures affects the severity of ulcers. Psychosocial complexities evident in this patient cohort resulted in the appointment of a dedicated HRFS Social worker (0.6 EFT) in September 2023. Data collected over 12 months identified key indicators for Social Work intervention including counselling, carer stress, resourcing, financial and housing concerns, mental illness, and navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Outcomes of the integration of social work into the HRFS to date will be presented, including patient support through counselling and connection to practical services.