AYESHA D'SOUZA
Summary
Research assistant working in the area of suicide prevention which broadly encompasses finding ways in improving treatment and service outcomes for individuals and communities seeking support for their mental health needs.
My interest in research within this space stems from my clinical experience supporting individuals and families experiencing a variety of complex mental health needs in both hospital and community settings and the continued passion to contribute to positive outcomes for those with mental health complexities.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Assistant
Telethon Kids Institute
03.2023 - Current
- Contributed to research and development of a state-wide model of aftercare for West Australians who have experienced a suicidal crisis.
- Conducted and arranged interviews and focus groups with people with lived experience of suicidal crisis with representation across regional and metro areas of WA.
- Consulted with professional stakeholders on the prepared draft model of service guidelines to incorporate feasibility and improvements in translation.
- Prepared research and report documentation findings based on theme analysis.
- Collaborated with internal team members and external stakeholders on progress, updates and findings from consults.
- Assisted in facilitation of a workshop which involved presenting findings from consults and components of the model of care to key stakeholders in the space of service provision, and obtaining and incorporating feedback for further consideration in model development.
Case Coordinator/ Occupational Therapist
East Metropolitan Health Service
01.2022 - 03.2023
- Responsible for ongoing monitoring of risk and mental state for a set caseload, which entailed crisis response, care and safety planning and stakeholder and family/ carer intervention as appropriate on a day-to-day basis.
- ·Supported and liaised with consumers, carers, support staff and external agencies to coordinate and provide multi-disciplinary care.
- Provided evidence based Occupational Therapy services to identified clients including screening, assessment, intervention and evaluation to contribute to individualised treatment planning.
- Provided education to empower clients and supports to understand conditions, treatments and treatment options for managing symptoms.
Occupational Therapist
360 Health And Community
04.2021 - 05.2022
- Responsible for assisting clients with psychosocial disability through all stages of NDIS Access including, assessment for application, pre-planning, planning and implantation of plans.
- Conducted assessments to inform baseline functioning and treatment plans for goal achievement.
- Provided interventions and treatments to improve clients abilities to perform daily activities, manage symptoms and prevent injury.
- Consulted with supports to implement best methods to achieve therapy goals.
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Gymworks OT
04.2021 - 07.2021
- Provided individual comprehensive assessment, goal setting, intervention and review for individuals aged 2 years to 10 years adopting a family- centred approach.
- Delivered both individual and group intervention sessions to address gross and fine motor goals, social participation and emotion regulation.
- Continually collaborated with supports, families, external clinicians and teachers on progress and recommendations to assist with goal achievement.
Mental Health Occupational Therapist
Reach Life
12.2020 - 04.2021
- Completed high-quality clinical services and assessments including Sensory Assessments, Assistive Technology (AT) Assessments, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Assessments, Functional Capacity Assessments and Functional Daily Living Skills Assessments to inform baseline capabilities and treatment options and planning.
- Worked collaboratively with other mental health professionals to provide consistent care.
Occupational Therapist Community
Care
07.2020 - 12.2020
- Providing assessment, interventions, reports and recommendations to assist with rehabilitation of consumer identified priority needs and discharge planning
- Collaborating with the consumer, their family/support network, interdisciplinary team, and service providers and community supports to increase or maintain occupational engagement in life roles
- Collaborating with consumer, family / carers, relevant agencies and others in the treating team to develop to implement and review recovery plans and outcome measures
- Development and facilitation of routine groups with a recovery focus, both in on the ward and in the community
- Actively contributing to daily handover, clinical review meetings, family meetings, intake and discharge meetings as required
- Utilising counseling skills to routinely conduct MSE and Risk assessments as well as assist with consumers with strategies to cope, encourage hope and future focused thought toward recovery.
08.2015 - 10.2019
- Created, piloted and implemented an eight-week arts and crafts program aimed at enhancing evidence-based practice to promote wellbeing and recovery for residents at the community care unit, living with a mental illness.
VISION AUSTRALIA, Community Occupational Therapy
04.2019 - 07.2019
- Worked on-on- one with children aged 1-11 years, with varying diagnoses such as Autism, Developmental delay, Cerebral palsy and varying visual deficits, providing intervention addressing areas such as: fine motor, visuomotor, bilateral coordination, balance, gross motor, sensory modulation and sensory processing
- Worked collaboratively with parents and guardians to provide recommendations and written home management plans aimed at understanding and enhancing progress made in therapy sessions
- Conducting initial assessments, home assessments, and interventions including home modifications, equipment prescription and equipment trails
- Ran weekly cooking group to visually impaired clients, teaching compensatory skills in basic cooking and education on adaptive aids and technology to assist
- On completion, developed a comprehensive 8-week session plan addressing recipe instructions, grading and adaptation recommendations and modifications to meet dietary requirements, which was distributed nationally to the Vision Australia occupational therapy team.
ST VINCENT’S HOSPITAL MELBOURNE, GEM
11.2012 - 12.2018
- (5 weeks)
- Collaborated with clients, families and case managers to assess clients and create realistic and occupationally focused goals and carry out service provision within hospital procedures and time constraints
- Created intervention plans with clients and families including equipment prescription, client and family education, task-specific retraining with allied health assistants (AHAs), liaised with other clinicians and referred to community-based services to optimise occupational engagement and return to community life
- Progressed from running breakfast group once per week with supervision to independently
- Provided key assessment information and recommendations and referred my clients for additional assessments or services at weekly multidisciplinary discharge planning meetings
- Managed a caseload of 5-6 clients by end of third week placement.
THE ALFRED HOSPITAL MELBOURNE, Victorian Adult Burns Service
06.2018 - 07.2018
- Conducted a range of upper limb therapy assessments and interventions addressing joint range of movement, sensation and strength; grasp and release, fine motor control, and object manipulation focusing on daily activities; ADL retraining using assistive devices where necessary
- Administered regular upper limb exercises with patients either through instruction or means of activity, aimed at promoting increased range of movement to maximise successful rehabilitation of the upper limb
- RETURN TO WORK COORDINATION
- Simulated Placement an ACU
Occupational Therapists
10.2008 - 10.2017
- Developed return to work plans with qualified
Advertising Sales Executive
NINE ENTERTAINMENT CO
08.2014 - 11.2015
Advertising Account Executive, PLACEMENTS , MERCY HEALTH SERVICES
CLINICAL, Werribee Community Care
11.2011 - 07.2014
- Responsible for leading cross-channel solutions from brief through to final presentation and implementation; including managing category and consumer research, developing insights and the strategic ideas, managing internal stakeholders to bring ideas to life and presenting the final pitch
- Managed top-tier accounts such as Coles, Bunnings, Sports bet, Officeworks and Mitre 10 and acted as a main point of contact for resolution of any campaign issues, requiring advanced problem-solving abilities and capability to remain calm under pressure with turnaround time typically not exceeding two- three hours.
Education
Bachelor of Occupation Therapy -
Australian Catholic University
2019
Bachelor of Commerce - undefined
2011
Skills
- Qualitative data analysis
- Research and report writing
- Clinical documentation
- Case Management
- Crisis intervention
- Individualised treatment planning
- Functional capacity assessment
- Basic counselling
- Research and knowledge translation in clinical practice
- Psychosocial NDIS application and review documentation and processes (advanced)
Timeline
Research Assistant
Telethon Kids Institute
03.2023 - Current
Case Coordinator/ Occupational Therapist
East Metropolitan Health Service
01.2022 - 03.2023
Occupational Therapist
360 Health And Community
04.2021 - 05.2022
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Gymworks OT
04.2021 - 07.2021
Mental Health Occupational Therapist
Reach Life
12.2020 - 04.2021
Occupational Therapist Community
Care
07.2020 - 12.2020
VISION AUSTRALIA, Community Occupational Therapy
04.2019 - 07.2019
THE ALFRED HOSPITAL MELBOURNE, Victorian Adult Burns Service
06.2018 - 07.2018
08.2015 - 10.2019
Advertising Sales Executive
NINE ENTERTAINMENT CO
08.2014 - 11.2015
ST VINCENT’S HOSPITAL MELBOURNE, GEM
11.2012 - 12.2018
Advertising Account Executive, PLACEMENTS , MERCY HEALTH SERVICES
CLINICAL, Werribee Community Care
11.2011 - 07.2014
Occupational Therapists
10.2008 - 10.2017
Bachelor of Occupation Therapy -
Australian Catholic University
Bachelor of Commerce - undefined
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