Miss Jaime Jenkinson1, Ms Cathy Ngo1, Jessica Sudholz1
1Eastern Health, Australia
Biography:
Jess is an Occupational Therapist Clinical Educator at Eastern Health, with over 13 years experience working in Mental Health, across community, inpatient, secure settings.
Abstract:
Introduction:
Allied health clinicians constitute a significant segment of public mental health workforce, often case managing consumers with severe mental ill-health. Whilst they cannot prescribe or administer medication, skills to support consumers use psychotropics safely and optimally are essential. Our program provides foundational psychotropic knowledge and medication management concepts to support novice Allied Health professionals. The aim of this program was to evaluate the evolution of content delivery, to best build the capacity of novice allied health clinicians, to then support their consumers.
Methods:
Across 2 years of delivery, participant feedback was regularly collected via voluntary and anonymous online questionnaire, in addition to facilitator reflection post-delivery. This was incorporated into the ongoing development and adaptation of the study day.
Results:
Based on the feedback collated across 2 years, and 5 separate cohorts, the delivery of this content has evolved from a didactic presentation, with brief case scenario discussion, to a topic with 3 separate touch points across the 12-month novice program. The facilitation of these sessions now incorporates lived experience co-facilitated content, collaborative problem solving, case study workshopping and learner peer led content development and delivery.
Discussion
Victoria’s capability framework for the mental health and wellbeing workforce aims to build the knowledge and skills required to deliver safe and effective care, support and treatment in the Victorian mental health and wellbeing system. The evolution of this specific inter-professional session focussing on psychotropic knowledge has supported novice clinicians in building their capacity in line with the framework, across multiple principles.