I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : S O C I A L W O R K E R A T A L I F E C O A C H – L I F E B E Y O N D S C I B Y B E V E R L E Y B E R E L O W I T Z
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E N H A N C I N G P S Y C H O S O C I A L S K I L L S T R A I N I N G – P I L O T W O R K S H O P E X P E R I E N C E .
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ENHANCING PSYCHOSOCIAL SKILLS FOR THOSE WORKING IN SCI – A PILOT WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE.A. Dezarnaulds and H. Tonkin.
NSW State Spinal Cord Injury Service - Psychosocial Strategy.
A new resource, The Emotional Well-being and SCI Tool-kit,aims to support one of the Psychosocial (PS) Strategy objectives, that is to improve psychosocial assessment, management, knowledge and skills of those working in SCI. The tool-kit was incorporated into a psychosocial education workshop pilot as part of the Royal North Shore Hospital Spinal Core Course with an emphasis on developing awareness, knowledge and skills within a professional role for those working in SCI.
To determine the utility of the workshop, 27 nursing and allied health staff attending the course participated in education about psychosocial and adjustment issues. In small groups, they used case discussion and identified psychosocial (PS) issues in response to questions using the tool-kit and were asked to determine a course of action and issues for management. Participants completed a pre and post evaluation questionnaire covering: their definition of/ understanding of PS issues; relevance to their role, whether it was considered “their business”, knowledge of PS issues, knowledge and use of PS resources, confidence in dealing with PS issues, barriers to engaging with individuals around PS issues and how PS skills training might assist work practice.
Ninety-six percent of the participants believed that PS issues were extremely relevant to both their
service and their role. Only 43% rated their knowledge as satisfactory. The majority reported limited confidence addressing PSl issues, with only 18% being very confident. In terms of drivers of practice, 33% of staff from all disciplines identified attitudinal barriers, expressing the belief that either the other staff trained in dealing with mental health issues (SW, psychologists) or the unit staff in general did not believe that dealing with PS issues was either appropriate or “their business”. Other barriers included time constraints, a lack of experience and confidence, with 33% feeling that there were no barriers. Participants reported that PS skills training would assist with better guidance and care, increased family involvement, better confidence and improved ability to explore issues with clients. The toolkit and training were considered useful and appropriate.Psychosocial issues for individuals with a SCI remain at the centre of rehabilitation practice. This workshop along with the educational resource highlights its utility for facilitating a better understanding of PS issues for staff working with SCI. However, while there is a desire for a better understanding, increased confidence and competence, both time and attitudes by other staff and services continue to be perceived as barriers to practice change.
PSYCHOSOCIAL NEWS: The SSCIS Psychosocial Strategy for People with a
Spinal Cord Injury Newsletter D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 3
The role of the psychosocial strategy is to assist you in gaining the knowledge and skills you need to effectively support the psychosocial wellbeing of people with SCI .
You know and understand what works for you in your practice setting, so your thoughts and ideas can make a difference.
If you have any ideas on what could assist you in your practice, if you would like to be further involved in specific working groups or have any comments about the strategy, your input is welcome! Please contact your representative on the Steering Group to feedback your thoughts and ideas, or contact the Chair of the Steering Group directly.
The Social Worker as Coach – L i fe beyond Spinal cord injury. By B . Berelowitz
Can you be both a Social Worker and a Coach? I will briefly highlight that working as both a Social Worker and a coach in a spinal unit has afforded me the opportunity to integrate my Social Work skills and coaching techniques while working with people who have acquired a spinal cord injury. The trauma of a spinal cord injury impacts on the entire family who all have to cope with adjustment and loss on multiple levels. A major task for any Social Worker is to help strengthen a person’s capacity to be self-sufficient and manage as independently as possible. Social Workers also aim to facilitate life enhancing and transformational experiences for the newly injured person. Like Social Work, coaching aims to empower and develop a person’s confidence. However, coaching strongly focusses on eliciting the person’s internal
resources and inner strengths in order to find solutions. This is mostly achieved by applying specific questioning techniques. Social Workers are trained to listen, respect and encourage others in a non-judgemental way. These values and skills together with the questioning techniques of coaching and the coaching tools enable deeper connection when motivating and communicating with others. This provides our newly injured persons an opportunity to creatively think for themselves when problem solving around creating a different and new life with a SCI. Combining coaching skills and Social Work practice has offered insights, created opportunities, highlighted challenges and demonstrated experiences which will be showcased and shared in the future ……..watch this space! Beverley works in Spinal Pressure Care Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital.
For further information on the work of the Psychosocial Strategy Steering Group contact Annalisa Dezarnaulds via email: annalisa.dezarnaulds@ sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Do you need something more?For further resources on psychosocial aspects of SCI visit http:// www.aci.health.nsw.g ov.au/networks/ spinal-cord-injury/ resourceswhere you can down- load the Guide for Health Professionals on the Psychosocial Care of People with SCIand the Directory of Information
2014 Update of the PS Steering Committee Projects
Date for your diary
The EmoƟonal Well‐being and SCI Tool‐kit,in its 14th draft version will soon be ready for distribution to trial in several inpatient and outpatient settings. This desk top resource with side tabs nominating various psychosocial presentations, also incorporates brief clinical assessment screening tools, helpful tips, and the do and don’ts of good psychosocial management. This tool-kit has been developed to help clinicians use an evidence- based approach to assessment and management of psychosocial issues by providing them with a quick and easy set of measures that can easily be scored and interpreted. After the trial we hope to roll out its use among all SCI services in the NSW.
A prospecƟve study of the occurrence of mental disorders and co‐morbidiƟes following spinal cord injury.A.Craig, K. Nicholson Perry, R.Guest, Y,Tran, A.Dezarnaulds, A.Hales, C.Ephraums, J.Middleton. The findings of this paper indicate that SCI has a substantial negative impact on mental health that does not change over time, suggesting that increased
resources should be invested into improving the mental health of adults with SCI.
Self-Management interventions of individuals
with Spinal Cord Injury: A systematic review by Kathryn Nicholson Perry (UWS 26 May, 2014). Funded by NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation
A 3 hour pilot workshop titled Enhancing
Psychosocial skills training for those working in SCI was presented during the Royal North Shore Hospital Spinal Core Course with an emphasis on developing awareness, knowledge and skills within a professional role for those working in spinal injury.
ANZSCOS 2014 Free Papers - Findings of the
evaluation of this pilot Psychosocial skills training workshop was presented.
Recently edited SSCIS Psychosocial resources are available at http:// www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/networks/ spinal-cord-injury/resources
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The SSCIS Psychosocial Steering Committee Update The SSCIS Psychosocial Steering Committee oversees the implementation of the SSCIS Psychosocial Strategy, and all units and community organizations are invited to send a representative. Current representatives include: Annalisa Dezarnaulds (Chair), Clinical Psychologist, SIU, POWH
(annalisa.dezarnaulds@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au) James Middleton, Director, SSCIS (james.middleton@sydney.edu.au) Catherine Ephraums, Clinical Psychologist, SCIU, Royal Rehab Alex Ommanney, Social Worker Spinal Outreach Service, Royal Rehab Neil McKinnon, Manager, Lifetime Care Support Authority (LTCSA) Michael Magro, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA) David Coren, Peer Support Officer , ParaQuad NSW Ralf Ilchef, Consultation Liaison Psychiatrist, RNSH Helen Tonkin, Social Work, RNSH Jacqueline Smith, Clinical Psychologist, Hunter Spinal Cord Injury Service Leah Ogden Regional Officer, Illawarra, SCIA We farewell Leah and welcome Leanne Cowan, SCIA’s Regional Services Manager
The Steering Committee wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy your time
with family and friends during the festive season. We look forward to a productive time for 2015.
ANZSCOS November 25-27 2015A New Beginning: Perth, Western Australia For information: http://www.anzscos2015.com