Caroline Harrison, Inpatient Therapy Clinical Manager (Solent)
Caroline has been helping us develop the plans for the new rehabilitation unit, ensuring we deliver the highest standards in patient facilities and care. Here she tells us all about her job, how she’s been involved in the project so far and she’s even sent us this great photo of her dog, Hugo!
What does your role entail?
I’m an Occupational Therapist and also Inpatient Therapy Clinical Manager at Royal South Hants. My job is to support the therapy team so that we can deliver the highest standard of patient care; this covers everything from ongoing assessments on the wards to treatment planning and the full discharge process. We also take on students for work placements in both occupational therapy and physiotherapy roles, which means we are responsible for taking on the role of practice placement educators.
With regards to the new unit, I’ve actually had the pleasure of being involved from day one. Mark Maffey really wanted the input of the clinical team, which is where we came in. We took part in discussions about the unit (and its needs) as well as visiting various other hospital sites with similar units to see what worked well and what could potentially work for us. This was great as we were able to speak directly with the teams there and find out what really stood out for them: even down to the smallest details, like which way the doors should open and the benefit of hand sensor bins vs foot controlled bins.
As part of the process, we also taped off a side room space to visualise elements of the new unit. This quickly showed us the importance of an additional ceiling track hoist – something Mark immediately fed into the plan. The team has been incredibly responsive to our needs throughout.
It’s been such an interesting project to be a part of . Clinically, it isn’t something we often get the chance to get involved in, so it’s really exciting. For as long as I can remember, I’ve worked in an environment where we need to ‘make do’. What this new unit – and Mark – have given us is the ability to think bigger, to open our eyes to so much more. The new unit is going to be state of the art with absolutely no compromises. It’s going to open up so many opportunities for the team and our patients and I cannot wait!
Tell us about your career and what led you to where you are now?
When I qualified, I worked in junior rotations in an acute setting for orthopaedics and medical oncology. From the start, the most rewarding part of my job was building relationships, especially with older patients. Over time, I worked in many multi-disciplinary teams which all seem to have rolled into this current role!
However, it’s the many patients that I have worked with who have enhanced my skills and interests. I’ve supported a variety of conditions from a wide range of patients with holistic treatments. I’m truly passionate about patient care… which, I guess, is what led me to where I am now.
What are the biggest challenges of your role?
From an environmental perspective, our services are currently spread across two wards and a separate therapy department. This means therapists have to move patients between spaces and lug equipment between all three of them. And that’s without considering the store room on a totally different level. Logistically, this is tricky and it takes a lot of forward planning – you can’t just nip around the corner into the ward or to grab a piece of equipment. It adds an additional workload to an already busy team. From a more extreme perspective, if we have a clinical emergency it’s that much further to get to the ward. This is one of the many things that I’m excited for with the new department: everything in one place. The efficiency will be so much higher.
What is your favourite part of the role?
I’d have to say, meeting patients with complex needs and abilities, utilising my occupational therapy skills to unpick their challenges for the best possible outcome.
At the core, it comes back to patients. Even if they have the same diagnosis, no two are ever the same. We could have two patients both with a fractured hip, but it’s their journey and life experiences up to us meeting that makes them so unique. As such, it’s our job to give them a unique service and support. That’s so interesting as a therapist. The job is super stimulating with every day bringing a new challenge. What could be better than that?
Are you going on holiday anywhere this year?
We’ve already had our holidays! Back in half term, we took the family over to France where the kids seemed to grow fins overnight! While we won’t be going abroad again, we will be taking lots of weekend trips and camping escapes.