WCMT-Melissa-Kelly

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Conclusion The key objective of the WCMT fellowship was to review selected international vocational departments in an embedded hospital programme and their resourcing. Furthermore community support available to patients following discharge from rehabilitation units, and ways to improve community links and education around SCI. In terms of improving employer education the key questions presented during the research were: 1. What do you promote as the benefits of employing someone with a disability? 2. At what stage do you engage with an existing employer? 3. What are the typical questions and concerns from employers? 4. Is there funding available to address equipment and accessibility needs? 5. How do you approach employers? Employment rates after SCI vary widely depending on many variables, particularly however the measure of employment. By measure of employment, I mean what the analysing person defines as work, for example paid work, voluntary work, full-time work or paid work more than 5 hours per week. Statistics also, do not necessarily reflect the complexities that sit alongside the return to work process. Characteristics influencing employment after SCI include demographic variables, injury-related factors (age at injury, level of impairment, functional capacity), employment history or in many cases a limited history of work, psychosocial issues such as transport, physical health, life skills, motivational level/expectation to work and not forgetting, very importantly the support systems available. It is well reported that those individuals with SCI who are working, experience significantly better quality of life, sense of purpose and other benefits. However, the barriers to returning to meaningful work can be daunting and numerous. I have learnt that the most common issues of the countries I visited were access to transport, housing and flexibility of carers. Vocational rehabilitation programmes that address these barriers are essential. Vocational rehabilitation programmes in the acute setting, are even more beneficial to reduce the potential learned dependency of a person and to bridge the gap between employers and the individual. The area of acute vocational rehabilitation needs to be a focus of research, to understand, better communicate and improve vocational rehabilitation outcomes among this population of individuals with SCI. WCMT Research Fellowship 33
My fellowship will contribute to the patient journey and recognises a ‘whole of person’ holistic approach, is committed to improving community awareness and support for employers and ultimately influence attitudes in the area of disability. Initiatives will be actioned in these areas and an insight has been demonstrated in this document. The exposure to the vocational settings and support during my fellowship both challenged and encouraged me. I was encouraged that New Zealand and specifically Kaleidoscope, is delivering results comparitible to much bigger better resourced programmes. I was challenged to develop SCI vocational rehabilitation and progress initiatives, but with an acute awareness that resourcing is a significant problem. Vocational rehabilitation is an integral part of SCI rehabilitation. There is much that can be done moving forward; with a commitment to collaborate, improve services and continue to listen and learn. WCMT Research Fellowship 34
Page 1 and 2: Specialist Spinal Vocational Rehabi
Page 3 and 4: Contents Executive summary Page 3 I
Page 5 and 6: 3. Ability Awareness Learning Exper
Page 7 and 8: is specialist spinal vocational reh
Page 9 and 10: Four specialist centres were select
Page 11 and 12: with change and uncertainty; the ne
Page 13 and 14: Work Readiness and Job Skills Train
Page 15 and 16: such as buses and trains. The servi
Page 17 and 18: the result of a water incident and
Page 19 and 20: physical and social aspects such as
Page 21 and 22: o It is so important to reintegrate
Page 23 and 24: Stoke Mandeville’s Approach to Re
Page 25 and 26: Following targeted support, the att
Page 27 and 28: for patients, including those not r
Page 29 and 30: the open cafeteria area, in which p
Page 31 and 32: The topics covered will be: • Bas
Page 33: • Informal talks with NZST staff
Page 37 and 38: Appendix 1. Model Explanation of
Page 39 and 40: Whilst Kaleidoscope’s core role i
Page 41 and 42: Appendix 4. Winston Churchill Memor
Page 43 and 44: Friday, May 16 Time Appointment Whe

WCMT-Melissa-Kelly

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