Lucy Smith
Occupational Therapist
Sydney
Summary
Skilled occupational therapist with a diverse background in both clinical and consulting occupational therapy roles. With a passion for travel and a variety of work experiences, comes a versatile skill set which is always evolving. Accomplished in a variety of assessments, therapy plan development, and comprehensive report writing. Well versed at collaborating in team environments and adopting a multidisciplinary approach to client care. An energetic and bubbly team worker who is always eager to develop and learn new skills to keep up-to-date with evidence based practices.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education
Work History
Occupational Therapist
Mona Vale Hospital
04.2024 - Current
- Recently worked in a joint role between community (Commonwealth Home Support Program) and inpatient rehabilitation setting (job share). Currently working inpatient rehabilitation full time.
- Servicing people with a range of conditions and injuries, including: orthopaedics, neurology/neurosurgery, functional decline/geriatrics, cardiology, and cancer/palliative.
- Developed rapport with client's and their families to set collaborative goals and therapy plans, to improve their independence and safety in both the inpatient and community settings.
- Conducted comprehensive functional assessments (personal care, domestic, and community based), neuro-physical screens, cognitive assessments, and home visit assessments to determine therapy goals, and requirements to facilitate safe discharges. Initial, interim, and discharge outcome measures (e.g. FIM, UL MAS, 9-Hole Peg Test) were also taken to review patient's progress and effectiveness of rehabilitation methods.
- Implemented an extensive range of therapy modalities to assist patient's to reach their therapy goals and increase their safety and independence. This included, but not exclusive to: task specific training, transfer training, use of equipment, robotic therapy, cognitive therapy, visual scanning, upper limb therapy for both stroke and musculoskeletal injuries, fatigue management and energy conservation.
- Conducted home visits to complete functional reviews in the patient's home environment (.e.g transfers, kitchen, and shopping assessments) and make recommendations on equipment and simple home modifications.
- Worked in close collaboration with other medical and allied health disciples, doctors, builders, and families to assist patients to achieve their rehabilitation goals.
- Assessed and implemented pressure care plans including use of specialised equipment, positioning regimes, and educating to patients, family, and staff.
- Worked in collaboration with multiple service providers and funding bodies via GEAT, Home Care Packages, Transitional Aged Care, and NDIS.
- High level of time management organizational skills to manage both a community and inpatient caseload, whilst also job sharing the inpatient role.
- Maintained a high level of written documentation via patient notes, discharge summaries and report writing, as well as keeping accurate statistics of time taken.
- Guided OT Assistants with ADL retraining activities, and a final year OT Student on a 7 week placement.
- Assisted with implementing group quality improvement projects, e.g. ADL group.
Occupational Therapist
Eastern Suburbs Private Hospital
06.2021 - 03.2024
- Private inpatient rehabilitation setting for an extensive range of conditions and surgeries including general surgery, orthopaedic, stroke, neurological conditions (MS, PD, dementia), cancer/palliative, cardiology, respiratory, amputations, mental health, and general functional decline/geriatrics. Occasional service to the outpatients clinic was provided.
- Worked in collaboration with multiple service providers and funding bodies via the private health, Home Care Packages, Transitional Aged Care, NDIS, Enable, DVA, CTP, and Workers Compensation.
- Conducted comprehensive functional and standardized assessments as listed in the MVH job description above, to facilitate therapy and discharge planning.
- Implemented an extensive range of therapy modalities to assist patient's to reach their therapy goals and increase their safety and independence- as listed in MVH job description.
- Conducted home visits to complete functional reviews in the patient's home environment, and make recommendations on equipment and simple home modifications.
- Pressure care education and equipment prescription.
- Occasional seating and positioning assessments, with subsequent implementation of specialised seating equipment, e.g. for wheelchairs and seating aids (recline, tilt and power lift chairs).
- Worked in close collaboration with other medical and allied health disciples, doctors, builders and families to assist patients to achieve their rehabilitation goals.
- Maintained a high level of written documentation via patient notes, discharge summaries and report writing (NDIS, CTP, and HCP reports).
- Guided OT Assistants, students, and a new graduate OT (including providing 1:1 training and supervision sessions), and new Allied Health Staff to processes and procedures to assist with their learning.
- Completing quality improvement projects, e.g. developing shower and dress assessment forms and post operative precaution handouts.
Occupational Therapist
ORS Group
6 2021 - 06.2022
- Community based occupational therapy role working within the NDIS sector. Case load consists of neurological/neurodevelopmental conditions, learning and intellectual disabilities, and mental health conditions. Managing both a paediatric and adult caseload, up to 40 clients at a time.
- Conducted Functional Capacity Assessments and comprehensive reports to make tailored recommendations to facilitate attainment of client goals and advocate for funding needs in their NDIS Plan.
- Complete Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation assessments and reports to provide detailed recommendations on client’s care needs and required housing designs to promote independence and accessibility.
- Assistive technology assessments, equipment trials, and written applications to identify suitable low, mid, and high cost assistive technologies to promote safety and independence.
- Sensory processing assessments and development of tailored sensory strategies.
- Capacity building/therapy intervention with clients, families, and care staff with regards to self- care, domestic, and community based activities.
- Coordinated interventions with a multidisciplinary approach. Established compassionate and caring relationships with clients and their support networks.
- Strived to meet KPIs and reporting deadlines with consistent positive feedback on the quality of report writing.
Guest Services Agent (working Holiday in Canada)
Royal Canadian Lodge
08.2019 - 05.2021
Occupational Therapist
Altius Group
6 2017 - 7 2019
- Caseload consisted of work related physical, psychological, and brain injury claims, as well as non compensable claims (oncology, psychological, and maternity), in both the metropolitan and regional settings.
- Conducted thorough assessments (workplace/duty analysis, ergonomic, and pain assessments) to guide interventions and monitor progress.
- Developed and modified tailored Graduated Return to Work Programs (GRTWP) for injured workers which were supported by medical evidence and the injured worker’s abilities. This was developed in collaboration with the injured worker, their employer, insurer, and treating medical team.
- Facilitated conflict resolution between all parties to ensure a collaborative working environment.
- Specialised in ergonomics for computer based workstations, which included mass ergonomic assessments and training for multiple businesses.
- Maintained detailed computerised records and generated high grade reports which met scrupulous quality assurance reviews.
- Strived to meet individual and team billing/work outcome targets.
- Supervised final year occupational therapy students on seven week placements.
- During my time at Rehabilitation Services by Altius, I was nominated for Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association award for ‘Outstanding Return to Work Achievement (Physical Claim)’ and subsequently became a finalist.
Occupational Therapist
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
09.2016 - 06.2017
- Services were provided on a referral basis across the inpatient cardiology, respiratory, general surgery, endocrinology, immunology, and dermatology wards. 2 months of this role was completed as an OT Assistant.
- Given services were only provided on a referral basis, across multiple wards, stringent information collection, prioritising, and time management was required to ensure all patients were seen in a timely manner to prevent delays in discharges.
- Functional and cognitive assessments were completed with each patient to assess their level of function to inform discharge planning, and justify needs for equipment, home modifications, and services.
- Worked closely with the medical and allied health teams to create collaborative discharge plans.
- Clearly documented assessments and interventions in a manner that all professionals would understand, and would meet audit requirements.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy
Curtin University
02.2012 - 12.2012
Relevant Continuing Professions Development
- Frequent OT training covering a variety of topics, including: wheelchair skills, specialised equipment, MND, and respiratory conditions.
- Environmental Home Modifications- The Basics, March 2024.
- Stroke Ed Evidence Based Upper Limb Retraining after Stroke, 3 day workshop in Townsville, September 2023
- Weekly ESPH multidisciplinary service provision/training on various conditions (e.g. stroke, orthopaedics, and cardiology) and rehabilitation modalities. I have presented on the MoCA Assessment and Stroke Upper Limb Rehabilitation. I have also arranged external speakers to present on complex seating (Seating Matters) and home modifications.
- FIM certification completed December 2022.
- MoCA certification completed November 2022.
- Monthly ORS Training on topics such as: manual wheelchair prescription, forward/backward chaining and hierarchy of prompts, therapy planning/implementation, cognitive assessment and intervention, sensory processing assessment and intervention, and simple home modifications.
- 22-23rd October 2020 (online)- Seated posture, pain reduction and mobility for the elderly, presented by Sheila Buck, Occupational Therapist.
- 19-20th September 2019 (Vancouver)- More than 4 wheels: complex seating and mobility assessment and prescription for all ages, Presented by Sheila Buck, Occupational Therapist.
Referees
Yueh-Wen (Allie) Chen
Senior Occupational Therapist at Mona Vale Community Health Centre, Sydney, New South Wales
Phone: 9998 6100
Email: yuehwen.chen@health.nsw.gov.au
Abbie Swainson
Senior Occupational Therapist, Mona Vale Hospital, Sydney. New South Wales
Phone: 9998 6072
Email: Abbie.Swainson@health.nsw.gov.au
Timeline
Occupational Therapist
Mona Vale Hospital
04.2024 - Current
Occupational Therapist
Eastern Suburbs Private Hospital
06.2021 - 03.2024
Guest Services Agent (working Holiday in Canada)
Royal Canadian Lodge
08.2019 - 05.2021
Occupational Therapist
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
09.2016 - 06.2017
Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy
Curtin University
02.2012 - 12.2012
Occupational Therapist
ORS Group
6 2021 - 06.2022
Occupational Therapist
Altius Group
6 2017 - 7 2019
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