Most Proposed Topic :
Committed and Happy Staff (staff wellness / OSH / retention)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
HA Young Investigators Session (Projects to be presented by HA staff who had joined HA for less than 15 years)
Authors: (including presenting author): :
Jim MHY (1), Hui CY (1), Ho ECM (1), Au BKM (1)
Affiliation: :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Tai Po Hospital
Introduction: :
Inpatient psychiatric services experience increased demand, underscoring the need for post-discharge community support. Concerns arise from the prolonged waits for supported employment (SE) vocational support, entailing a 3-month waiting period. To facilitate a seamless transition from hospital to community, the ICC was instituted through a collaborative venture between the Tai Po Hospital Occupational Therapy (OT) Department and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to promptly assist and improve career integration following hospitalization. This strengthens medical-social collaboration, and enhances post-discharge support, easing inpatient rehabilitation strain.
Objectives: :
(1) Increase patients’ knowledge and readiness for SE.
(2) Decrease post-discharge waiting time for SE.
Methodology: :
The ICC model collaborates with five community partners for a seamless continuation of vocational rehabilitation. Model elements include:
(1) SE roadshows by various NGOs in HA.
(2) Pre-discharge early referral based on OT work assessment, followed by ZOOM or in-person interviews for effective job matching.
(3) Effective communication with NGOs, including OT work assessment reports and progress evaluation meetings.
The project commenced on September 1, 2023. Evaluation involved an SE roadshow questionnaire to assess patients’ knowledge and readiness towards SE, and comparing employment data from NGOs with discharge dates to assess waiting time disparities.
Result & Outcome: :
From September to December 2023, five SE roadshows were conducted with a total of 117 participants. A pilot review in December included 43 patients attending two SE roadshows, revealing 65% with no prior SE exposure. Overall roadshow satisfaction was 70%, and the knowledge quiz score averaged 72.5% for six questions. Moreover, 37% expressed strong eagerness in pursuing SE opportunities.
Since September, 13 patients were referred to SE, with a 30.8% employment rate within 2 months, significantly reducing waiting time.
Following the initial phase of the ICC program, a job post-preference survey was conducted (n=93). Building on these insights, an SE transitional program led by OT will commence in January 2024, offering job-specific work skills and social skills training based on participants' matched SE job posts.
Conclusion
The initial ICC phase showcased notable success in facilitating SE opportunities. With 30.8% securing employment within two months, it underscores both achievements and challenges. The upcoming program aims to address these challenges, ensuring an effective and tailored vocational rehabilitation continuum.
