A survey of recruitment and retention issues for occupational therapists working clinically in mental health

Abstract

Recruitment and retention strategies are required to retain occupational therapists in clinical mental health positions.

Relationships between job satisfaction, burnout, professional identity and meaningfulness of work activities for occupational therapists working in mental health

“…Results from this study also allow for the exploration of the influence of ‘generic working’ on work wellbeing. Existing literature suggests ‘generic working’ may negatively impact the wellbeing of occupational therapists in mental health, especially for those working in community‐based settings (Ashby et al ., ; Brown et al ., ; Ceramidas, ; Hayes et al ., ). This study provided a range of data to further explore this issue.…”

Factors associated with professional identity, job satisfaction and burnout for occupational therapists working in eating disorders: A mixed methods study

“…These competing pressures could increase exhaustion and this was articulated by participants in interviews: going ‘above and beyond’ their expected role to provide occupational therapy interventions. This finding is also consistent with other literature exploring occupational therapy roles in mental health settings where the pressure to provide ‘generalist’ interventions as well as occupational therapy‐specific interventions was identified as a source of stress (e.g., Ceramidas, ; Hayes et al ., ).…”

“…Access to professional supports and supervision has been highlighted as important for supporting professional identity and job satisfaction for occupational therapists in mental health (Ashby et al ., ; Hayes et al ., ; Scanlan et al ., ). The importance of supervision was also highlighted by participants in the current study.…”

“…Burnout in occupational therapists has been explored numerous times, and multiple explanations and risk factors have been put forward ranging from challenges to professional identity, the emotionally demanding nature of mental health practice, lack of professional mentoring and poor recognition of the value of the profession (Edwards & Dirette, ; Hayes, Bull, Hargreaves & Shakespeare, ; Scanlan & Still, ). Employees experiencing burnout are less likely to be responsive to individual patient needs and are more likely to leave their profession resulting in a loss of organisational knowledge which is detrimental to both consumers and the service as a whole (Aiken & Sermeus, ; Scanlan & Still).…”

The New Occupational Therapy Paradigm: Implications for Integration of the Psychosocial Core of Occupational Therapy in All Clinical Specialties

“…In the United Kingdom, it has been observed that recruitment and retention of occupational therapists in mental health settings is difficult (Edwards & Burnard, 2003;Hunter & Nicol, 2002). Similar problems have been reported in Australia (Hayes, Bull, Hargreaves, & Shakespeare, 2006). If many occupational therapists are choosing not to go into mental health practice, and some do not recognize the usefulness of psychosocial skills in their interventions, does it mean that we have failed to respond to Mary Reilly's (1962) call to reclaim the foundational principles of the profession?…”