The Rehabilitation Engagement and Safety Team (REST) is a new introduction to the Spinal Injuries Unit reinforcing the safe space for staff and the community within the environment of long-term rehabilitation.
Staffed by clinicians with career histories in both the Brain and Spinal Injuries rehabilitation settings, one Clinical Nurse Consultant and one (FTE) Clinical Psychologist work proactively with staff for new approaches to behaviours of concern and individual programs that support patient engagement.
CNC Rob Moloney provides a link between nursing and psychology to build the skillset of staff to deal with reactivity from patients and their families. He said that while reporting and documentation for complex behaviours is part of the role, priority areas included education on occupational violence prevention strategies that harnessed trauma-informed care.
“Individuals undertaking inpatient rehabilitation for spinal injuries may experience a range of emotions and behaviours as they adjust to the new skills they need to live more independently.
“Reactions along the journey can lead to complex behaviours which require clinicians in the service to be trauma informed, responsive and resilient to improve engagement in the rehabilitation process,” Rob said.
Psychologist’s Harriet Bodimeade and Jenna Scambler work part-time in REST and are a professional fit for this role having worked for many years in the Spinal Injuries Unit. They understand the ups and downs of people in this life-changing circumstance and approaches that are essential to navigating individual challenges and reactions.
“I started off 12 years ago in the SIU and then moved across to the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit,” said Harriet. “This role is all about supporting staff and patients to manage complex behaviours and emotions, psychological adjustment after injuries and optimising care for those people.
“An important part of the role is supporting staff who are managing that on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “Patients in rehabilitation stay with us for a long time which creates a unique environment on what is a very difficult journey.”
Likewise, Jenna has a history in the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit and has been in SIU for the last few years and is combining her role in Psychology with the patients part-time with the REST role.
“I have a lot of passion for the Spinal Injuries Unit given my time spent working on the ward. I have seen how much the staff care for the patients and work they do but I also get to hear from the patient the unique struggles and difficult emotions they go through as a consequence of their spinal cord injury.
“I really like the ability to look at the big picture through my role in the REST team and be able to support the staff working with these patients to identify early interventions and approaches for personalised care.”
Creating a safe work environment for staff and responding promptly to areas of need is a priority for REST who are integrated within the SIU building alongside their colleagues.