Elizabeth Harris
Mountain Creek,Qld
Summary
Passionate and resourceful Health Advisor with 7 years experience in the specialist assessment of children in care with an advanced knowledge of the impact of trauma on child development.
Instrumental in creating a Nurse-Led model of care for children in foster/kinship care.
Recognised by receiving Child Protection Practitioner of the Year Qld (govt) award 2022.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Health Advisor for Children in Out of Home Care
Sunshine Coast HHS
01.2017 - Current
- Manage caseload of 600+ children in Out of Home Care across 3 child safety service centres.
- Conducts comprehensive health and developmental assessments utilising a trauma focused lens. Provides ongoing monitoring and re-evaluation every 6-12 months.
- Developed specific referral pathways into Health specifically for children in kinship/foster care.
- Established links with local cultural services and developed referral pathways specifically for indigenous children.
- Achieved prioritisation of care into some health services (including Audiology, Speech Therapy and CDS).
- Streamlined communication between Health and Child Safety and promoted collaboration between services.
- Reduced inappropriate referrals to Paediatricians by conducting assessments and determining alternative pathways.
- Provides education and training to Health and Child Safety staff on complexities of Out of Home Care system.
- Participated in published research of role.
- Achieved 97% vaccination rate of children in care in joint project with Child Safety.
- Assisted in development of database specific to children in Out of Home Care.
- Improved health care for children in OoHC by developing and implementing personalised health plans.
Intake and Engagement Worker
Family And Child Connect
07.2015 - 01.2017
- Used a trauma- informed model to support children and families achieve better outcomes.
- Delivered therapeutic interventions to children and young people and their families impacted by financial hardship and DFV.
- Successfully engaged vulnerable families who were at risk of entering the child protection system.
- Provided referral service to multiple community based organisations.
- Streamlined referral pathways into FACC service
Health Visitor
Bath And North East Somerset Health Service
01.2010 - 01.2015
- Improved patient well-being by providing comprehensive health assessments and tailored care plans.
- Reduced infant mortality rates through early intervention, risk assessment, and targeted support for vulnerable families.
- Enhanced child development outcomes by implementing evidence-based parenting programs and resources.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address complex family issues and coordinate appropriate services.
- Provided enhanced services to vulnerable families including those involved in the child protection system.
- Participated in decision making in safeguarding conferences.
- Led Team around the Child Meetings with intention of early intervention and prevention
Midwife
Glengarry Hospital.
01.2003 - 01.2008
- Improved patient satisfaction by providing compassionate and knowledgeable care during prenatal, labor, and postpartum periods.
- Enhanced continuity of care by collaborating closely with the interdisciplinary healthcare team, including physicians and nurses.
- Reduced complications during childbirth with vigilant monitoring of maternal and fetal wellbeing throughout labor.
- Promoted a safe and comfortable birthing environment by implementing evidence-based practices in pain management techniques.
Midwife
London Borough Of Hackney
01.1998 - 12.2002
- Worked autonomously in large public hospital across antenatal, postnatal and labour wards.
- Developed individualized birth plans in collaboration with expectant mothers to ensure personalized care aligned with their preferences.
- Supported families during the grieving process following pregnancy loss or infant death with empathetic emotional support and resource referrals for ongoing counseling services.
- Contributed to improved maternal health outcomes using thorough risk assessment strategies during initial consultations as well as follow-up appointments.
Intensive Care Nurse
BGU Frankfurt Germany
06.1993 - 12.1997
- Improved patient outcomes by providing high-quality intensive care and monitoring vital signs.
- Reduced hospital readmissions through effective discharge planning and patient education.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for critically ill patients.
- Administered medications and treatments according to established protocols, ensuring patient safety and optimal results.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Specialist Community Public Health Nursing
University of West of England
UK01.2010
Diploma - Midwifery
London College of Nursing And Midwifery
UK05.1997
Registered Nurse Certificate - Nursing
Lanarkshire College of Nursing
UK04.1991
Skills
- Specialist clinical expertise and knowledge of child development and impact of trauma on development
- Advanced practice in utilisation of trauma focused lens to plan health care
- Advanced level of autonomous practice
- Strong focus on quality improvement and optimising health care
- Advanced level of decision making in collaboration with multi-disciplinary team
- Proven leadership skills in development of model of care, policy implementation and development
- Skilled in advocacy for children
- Advanced knowledge of child protection policy and practice pertaining to support of children in young people
- Enhanced communication skills
- Experienced in engaging and motivating children and young people and interagency teams
- Skilled in providing education to frontline staff and relevant stakeholders
REFEREES
Jill Dowling - Jill.Dowling@health.qld.gov.au. (Tel 0421 787 588)
Erica Baer - Erica.Baer@health.qld.gov.au. (Tel 0412 060 039)
Timeline
Health Advisor for Children in Out of Home Care
Sunshine Coast HHS
01.2017 - Current
Intake and Engagement Worker
Family And Child Connect
07.2015 - 01.2017
Health Visitor
Bath And North East Somerset Health Service
01.2010 - 01.2015
Midwife
Glengarry Hospital.
01.2003 - 01.2008
Midwife
London Borough Of Hackney
01.1998 - 12.2002
Intensive Care Nurse
BGU Frankfurt Germany
06.1993 - 12.1997
Bachelor of Science - Specialist Community Public Health Nursing
University of West of England
Diploma - Midwifery
London College of Nursing And Midwifery
Registered Nurse Certificate - Nursing
Lanarkshire College of Nursing
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