Laura Christie
Woongarrah,Australia
Summary
Persuasive in communicating and negotiating with relevant disciplines and services within NSW Health, consumers and communities, working creatively and collaboratively to engage NSW Health leaders, managers, clinicians, and consumers in the writing and implementing Central Coast Local Health District Suicide Prevention Pathway Procedure. As required, I work closely with the ACI Mental Health and other Networks, the Ministry of Health, and other Pillar agencies. Outside NSW Health, I work closely with community suicide prevention agencies and organisations in the prevention and postvention initiatives.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Suicide Prevention Manager
Mental Health Service, Central Coast Local Health District
Central Coast
02.2022 - Current
- As Manager of Suicide Prevention, I lead the successful planning, implementation, and scale-up of a range of integrated activities underpinning NSW Health's Toward Zero Suicides approach to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention for the Central Coast Local Health District.
- I ensure the integration of the Zero Suicides in Care (ZSiC) approach into the current activity of the District and the Central Coast Suicide Prevention Alliance. The ZSiC approach includes,
- Refining policies and models of care to improve suicide prevention skills among staff within acute and community-based mental health services.
- Providing resources for the process of cultural and system change management.
- Enable a holistic clinical approach to support people experiencing mental health issues, as well as their families, to become active participants in their own care and recovery.
- Foster a just and restorative organizational culture and strong service leadership to promote safety for patients and staff.
- I provide clinical and project management expertise and have responsibility for identifying strategic and partnership opportunities, managing relationships with external and internal stakeholders, and leading the development of sustainable business models of effective suicide prevention.
Mental Health Service Lead for COVID response
Central Coast Local Health District
Gosford & Wyong
12.2021 - 02.2022
- Since late December 2022 I began working in the role of Mental Health Service Lead in COVID 19 response
- This role works closely with the Operational Nurse Manager, Director of Mental Health Services and Infection Prevention And Control Department (IPAC) This was in response to the dramatic increase in community transmission of COVID 19 and its impact on the CCLHD
- I developed the role to support line managers & team leaders in the completion of the CCLHD Healthcare Worker risk assessment, return to work management plans, support of staff, alignment of infection control practices, across inpatient and community sites
- I developed daily communication strategy to steam line directions and instructions which was successful and meaningful
- Responsible for the centralised ordering of rapid antigen test kits, deliver to all teams to ensure availability to our staff for self-testing.
Nurse Unit Manager 3
Gosford Mental Health Inpatient Unit, Central Coast Local Health District
Gosford
04.2018 - 09.2021
- As the Nursing Unit Manager (NUM 3) I am responsible for the coordination of patient services
- Doing so by leading and managing morning multi-disciplinary meetings, complex clinical reviews; food and environmental services; patient flow; unit management and nursing staff management.
Acting Operational Nurse Manager 5
Mental Health Services, Central Coast Local Health District
Central Coast
03.2018 - 09.2018
- Provide nursing leadership and governance to the Directorate and oversee the day to day operations of the in-patient units, including the appropriate management of patient care and patient flow
- Contribute to the clinical governance system and support strategies to ensure best practice in clinical care, and continuous improvement in quality and safety throughout all units
- Ensure the effective monitoring and evaluation of relevant key performance indicators
- Develop and foster a climate of respect and open and transparent communication that ensures nursing staff are informed of organisation goals, strategies and activities to facilitate collaboration and the provision of safe patient care and service provision
- Participate in assessing and analysing nursing resource utilisation make recommendations for Provide reports and advice to the Director of Mental Health, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery and Directors of Nursing across the District, on issues relating to nursing and midwifery, policies, planning and development of services, and utilisation of resources
- Ensure safe, effective and efficient management of nursing and midwifery services in the Division through the appropriate delegation and supervision for managers and clinicians in conjunction with other division managers
- Provide leadership in creating a culture of achievement, quality care and patient-centeredness which is courteous, friendly, supporting and professional thereby encouraging pride in one's employment and a good image of the Health Service.
Clinical Nurse Specialist 1
Gosford Mental Health Inpatient Unit Central Coast Local Health District
Gosford
02.2013 - 09.2018
- I gained the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist in Seclusion and Restraint
- I was responsible for delivering education to my peers and colleagues within my workplace
- Involved in rolling out new policies, procedure, process and paperwork outlined within our service
- Providing education on how to compete the Seclusion and Restraint forms, supporting existing staff to switch form the seclusion registers
- I represented the Gosford Mental Health In-Patient Unit alongside my Nurse Unit Manager at the monthly Seclusion Committee Meeting for the Mental Health Service within Central Coast Local Health District
Registered Nurse Year 8 & Clinical Nurse Specialist
Gosford Mental Health Inpatient Unit Central Coast Local Health District
Gosford
09.2011 - 09.2018
- The unit is a facility comprising of 24 sub-acute and 6 high dependency mixed sex beds which provides holistic psychiatric care to individuals between the ages of 16 and 65 years
- Referrals pathways via public health community services, outside agencies and facilities out with the area are the avenues to access the in-patient facility
- Individuals who have enduring mental illness at times require time in hospital due to either change in medications, worsening of symptoms and/or situational crisis
- Others who experience trauma, inability to cope with stressors in their lives may seek the holistic care they need to assist in returning to their optimum level of functioning in the community
- Responsible for the delivering holistic mental health nursing care through effective evidence based practice
- Delivering safe practice underpinned by risk management and clinical governance
- Working as part of the nursing team assigned to co-ordinate and direct patient care on any given shift
- I was allocated as the nurse-in-charge regularly; Acting Clinical Co-coordinator and Clinical Nurse Educator to cover annual leave
- Constantly liaising with families, primary carers, and non-government organisations to ensure fragmentation of the client's care does not happen
- My role included the mentoring of less experienced staff and student nurses
- Carrying out clinical audits and being part of implementing change was a challenge but an enjoyable one
- I was part of the implementation of the team nursing model of care in the unit; the ability to work as a team are attributes required to work effectively As part of the multidisciplinary team.
Nurse Manager 2
Acute Care Community Mental Health Team, Central Coast Local Health District
Wyong & Gosford
09.2014 - 03.2018
- The Acute Care Team (ACT) Nurse Manager is part of the Adult Community Management Team within the Central Coast Mental Health Services leading in the planning, and the clinical and operational needs of mental health services for Acute Care Team consumers and their families on the Central Coast
- I provide administration and clinical leadership to all 29 clinicians in the Acute Care Team
- The team sits over two sites - Wyong and Gosford Hospital
- I successfully divide my time between sites
- This is a challenge, as there are so many parts to my job, excellent time management skills are required and prioritising of my daily workload is a must
- Focus is given to discharge planning from the Acute Care Team with an emphasis on demand management and seamless integration with other service components
- Continuous liaising with and providing consultation to management and staff of other mental health teams is an ongoing commitment
- It is necessary to build an effective working relationship with all team leaders/managers/stakeholders that have links to the Acute Care Teams
- It provides the seamless links required to navigate consumers through the mental health services and our communities
- I endeavour always to efficiently manage the human, financial and technological resources of my cost centre.
Acting Nurse Manager 2 Mental Health Telephone Access Line
Central Coast Local Health District
Gosford
09.2017 - 11.2017
Acting Operational Nurse Manager 3
Mental Health Services, Central Coast Local Health District
Wyong & Gosford
12.2013 - 09.2014
- The position of Nurse Manager after Hours (AHNM) covers all Mental Health services after hours including Wyong and Gosford Mental Health Inpatients areas, PACER teams, acute care teams, Emergency Department Mental Health Teams
- This responsibility is shared with the Mental Health Executive on Call
- The AHNM reports directly to Mental Health Director through the Mental Health Operational Manager
- The AHNM is responsible for the integration, supervision and support of services and resources within Mental Health Service after hours
- This incorporates an extended liaison role within CCLHD and external agencies
- It is a senior role working in collaboration with members of the multidisciplinary teams
- The AHNM communicates with members of the Mental Health Senior managers and CCLHD Executive as necessary to ensure safe operation and the appropriate management of incidents and accidents, patient and staff complaints and public relations when other members of the management team are not available.
Senior Staff Nurse
Kinnoull Ward, MURRAY ROYAL HOSPITAL, NHS Tayside
Perth, Scotland
04.2007 - 07.2011
- Individualised patient care to mentally disordered male offenders aged between 16yrs- 65yrs
- The facility is a low/medium secure facility, which cares for patients who are fromTayside and the surrounding areas
- Referrals come from Prison clinics, the courts, and from Carstairs, the state hospital, Community forensic patients can be re-admitted if deterioration in mental health occurs
- Patients can also come to us from Intensive Psychiatric Care Units if they are a serious management problem and require forensic psychiatric input
- Kinnoull is the starting point within the unit to assist patients through the Care Program Approach (C.P.A), six monthly multidisciplinary reviews in conjunction with Tayside Police and non-government care providers who aid with assessment of risk from a legal standing.
Senior Staff Nurse
Birnam Day Centre, Murray Royal Hospital, NHS Tayside
Perth, Scotland
02.2005 - 04.2007
- Birnam Day Centre opened twelve years ago, being the first forensic psychiatric day centre in Scotland
- This facility is staffed by a multidisciplinary team and the forensic consultant psychiatrists who oversee all in and day patients
- There could be up to fifty patients on the books at one time all requiring forensic input in the community to successfully live their lives whatever the level may be
- In this role it was imperative that we worked in partnership with the various outside agencies: the supported accommodation workers: with families to support their needs
- The ultimate role of the day centre is to work to keep day patients at their optimum level of wellness to sustain their level of independent living.
Staff Nurse
Blair Ward, Murray Royal Hospital, NHS Tayside
Perth, Scotland
10.2000 - 02.2005
- Blair ward is the follow-up to Kinnoull ward to facilitate seventeen patients' journey of care through using the same delivery of nursing and services that started with the patient on admission
- Blair ward provides acute, rehabilitation and long- term forensic nursing care to male disordered offenders within low secure setting
- Responsible for undertaking the assessment and care co-ordination of patients through the named nurse set up which was underpinned by using integrated care pathways
- Providing evidence based interventions to those experiencing both acute and enduring symptoms of their mental illness
- Taking charge of the ward when required: administration of medicines: venipuncture: handling of patients monies: liaison with outside agencies
- Care delivery and responsibility for complying with the legalities of the patients are in Kinnoull Ward, whether through the criminal justice network and/or through civil detention
- Close family liaison is very important in the patients' journey as they are the patients support network most of the time
- I was responsible for clinical supervision of my colleagues both formally and on in-formal basis
- Aspects of clinical governance and health and safety are carried out on a daily basis
- With working in this environment the ability to risk assess effectively is a necessity
- Continuously assessing your environment, your patients, peers and their interactions with each other provides a safe environment for effective delivery of care.
Accredited Prevention of Violence & Aggression Trainer
Mental Health Services, Central Coast Local Health District
Wyong & Gosford
06.2013
- I completed an 8 day trainer's course delivered by PMVA Co-Coordinator s from Hunter New England
- I am an accredited PMVA trainer in the CCLHD, working in a team of trainers delivering the PMVA course
- Management of my time is essential as our PMVA Coordinator completes a roster of when we are to train
- Balancing my own work and what I expected to train in the year is an achievement within itself
- This training was initially rolled out only to the Mental Health Service, CCLHD, but we now deliver the training to all community, in-patient and administration staff within the CCLHD
Acting Community Services Manager 4
Mental Health Services, Central Coast Local Health District
Wyong & Gosford
- I have acted up as the Community Services Manager 4 on several occasions, the position is a Mental Health Executive Position providing operational management to the following services; Eating Disorders Service, Continuing Care Team , Assertive Outreach Team and Mental health Telephone Access Line all adult community mental health teams and the Mental Health Line
- Responsible for completion of Reportable Incident Briefs; Ministerial Briefs: Service Delivery; Budgeting; Work Health & Safety, Patient Safety
- Completion of SAC 1 and 2 investigations, assisting team managers in completing recommendations from same
- Attending Mental Health Executive meetings, 1:1 Monthly Accountability Meetings with managers and own line manager - Director of Mental health Services.
Education
Suicide Prevention Training
Health Training Education Institute (HETI)
04-2024
SafeTALK
LivingWorks
11-2023
Neuroscience of Leadership
Neurocapability Leadership Mindset Program
11-2023
Mental Healt First Aid
Mental Health First Aid Australia
07-2023
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt - Project Management
Ci Forum & NSW Health
04-2023
AIM (Accelerating Implementation Methodology) 2-Day Course -
Clinical Excellence Commisssion
08.2017
The Foundational Clinical Leadership Program - 2015 -
NSW Clinical Excellence Commission
02.2017
Financial Management Essentials (FME) -
Central Coast Local Health District- My Health Learning
07.2016
Violence Prevention and Management 2 - Personal Safety + Team Restraint - Train the Trainer - face to face workshop -
Central Coast Local Health District
04.2014
Higher Diploma in Mental Health Nursing -
University of Dundee
Dundee07.2000
National Certificate in Law & Public Administration -
Dundee College
Dundee06.1995
Standard Grade -
Morgan Academy
Dundee06.1995
WHS (OHS) for Managers -
Central Coast Local Health District - My Health Learning
Mental Health, Mental Ill-Health, And Suicide
Health Education Training Institute (HETI)
Skills
- Decision Making
- Adaptability
- Strategic Planning
- Performance Management
- Budget Control
- Staff Training and Development
- Team Leadership
- Staff Management
- Innovation management
- Project Management
- Key Performance Indicators
- Cross-Functional Teamwork
- Verbal and written communication
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Policy Implementation
- Staff Development
- Leadership
- Ability to Work Under Pressure
- Communication Skills
- Highly responsible and reliable
- Time Management
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 12/27/76
- Nationality: Scottish
- Driving License: 20655518
References
- Susan Pinnell, Mental Health Services, Central Coast Local Health District, 0414 193 275, Susan.Pinnell@health.nsw.gov.au
- Simon Hill, Mental Health Services, Central Coast Local Health District, 0414 193 209, Simon.Hill@health.nsw.gov.au
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Suicide Prevention Manager
Mental Health Service, Central Coast Local Health District
02.2022 - Current
Mental Health Service Lead for COVID response
Central Coast Local Health District
12.2021 - 02.2022
Nurse Unit Manager 3
Gosford Mental Health Inpatient Unit, Central Coast Local Health District
04.2018 - 09.2021
Acting Operational Nurse Manager 5
Mental Health Services, Central Coast Local Health District
03.2018 - 09.2018
Acting Nurse Manager 2 Mental Health Telephone Access Line
Central Coast Local Health District
09.2017 - 11.2017
Nurse Manager 2
Acute Care Community Mental Health Team, Central Coast Local Health District
09.2014 - 03.2018
Acting Operational Nurse Manager 3
Mental Health Services, Central Coast Local Health District
12.2013 - 09.2014
Accredited Prevention of Violence & Aggression Trainer
Mental Health Services, Central Coast Local Health District
06.2013
Clinical Nurse Specialist 1
Gosford Mental Health Inpatient Unit Central Coast Local Health District
02.2013 - 09.2018
Registered Nurse Year 8 & Clinical Nurse Specialist
Gosford Mental Health Inpatient Unit Central Coast Local Health District
09.2011 - 09.2018
Senior Staff Nurse
Kinnoull Ward, MURRAY ROYAL HOSPITAL, NHS Tayside
04.2007 - 07.2011
Senior Staff Nurse
Birnam Day Centre, Murray Royal Hospital, NHS Tayside
02.2005 - 04.2007
Staff Nurse
Blair Ward, Murray Royal Hospital, NHS Tayside
10.2000 - 02.2005
Acting Community Services Manager 4
Mental Health Services, Central Coast Local Health District
Suicide Prevention Training
Health Training Education Institute (HETI)
SafeTALK
LivingWorks
Neuroscience of Leadership
Neurocapability Leadership Mindset Program
Mental Healt First Aid
Mental Health First Aid Australia
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt - Project Management
Ci Forum & NSW Health
AIM (Accelerating Implementation Methodology) 2-Day Course -
Clinical Excellence Commisssion
The Foundational Clinical Leadership Program - 2015 -
NSW Clinical Excellence Commission
Financial Management Essentials (FME) -
Central Coast Local Health District- My Health Learning
Violence Prevention and Management 2 - Personal Safety + Team Restraint - Train the Trainer - face to face workshop -
Central Coast Local Health District
Higher Diploma in Mental Health Nursing -
University of Dundee
National Certificate in Law & Public Administration -
Dundee College
Standard Grade -
Morgan Academy
WHS (OHS) for Managers -
Central Coast Local Health District - My Health Learning
Mental Health, Mental Ill-Health, And Suicide
Health Education Training Institute (HETI)
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