Occupational Therapists are receiving even more support to further their learning and careers at Bass Coast Health (BCH).
As part of BCH’s actions to expand the learning opportunities available to staff across the organisation, the health service has a Clinical Development Occupational Therapist, Jenna Davis.
Jenna provides additional support to our Occupational Therapist graduates and students, such as clinical support on the ward, reviewing clinical skills, facilitating access to education and providing any other additional support they need.
Occupational Therapists assist patients to return to everyday living post surgery, injury or illness, so as they can return home safely and function as independently as possible.
“My role is to help maximise the opportunities available to our students and graduates to give them a solid grounding in the early stages of their career, which results in Bass Coast Health being able to deliver an even higher quality service to our patients,” Jenna said.
Miriam Ceff was one of the first graduates at BCH to take part in the Graduate Occupational Therapy Program instigated this year.
“I meet with Jenna weekly and we benefit from monthly graduate sessions that discuss such topics as quality improvement, stress management, and clinical and non-clinical education. I just appreciate having that extra support and knowledge,” she said.
Miriam has been working on the Acute Ward at Wonthaggi Hospital, primarily assisting orthopaedic patients, particularly those who have undergone hip and knee replacements, to return to everyday living.
Originally from Geelong, she has found BCH, as a sub-regional health service, an ideal place to start her career.
“I get to develop my skills in a wide range of areas because I get exposed to a lot of fields, from orthopaedic patients to dementia patients, and palliative care patients to cancer patients,” Miriam said.
Jenna is part of the expanded Learning and Development team at BCH, which has resulted in a greater variety of training for clinical and non-clinical staff. This not only benefits patients and consumers, but also helps to attract and retain staff.