Maintaining hope: the intrinsic role of professional support
The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
ISSN: 1755-6228
Article publication date: 9 January 2017
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the supportive aspects of a team approach for a remote mental health team that report high stability in senior clinical roles, in a region where voluntary turnover is typically high.
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative research study examines the reflections of team members on their role and job characteristics through informal semi-structured interviews.
Findings
The extant themes identified as supportive aspects of the team approach included engagement and both personal and professional support. The intrinsic role of support in remote work environments, and the impact of intrinsic job satisfaction through client-focussed practices further supported low turnover, improved stability and consistency of service provision.
Originality/value
Continued support for existing experienced health professionals will contribute to workforce stability in remote regions where needs are complex and continuity of care is improved by consistent, reliable services. With health professionals working in remote Australia reporting high levels of job satisfaction; it follows that the next steps involve minimising dissatisfaction through effective workforce support mechanisms. Health professionals already working in remote regions, suggest that this is about engagement and personal and professional support through flexible work systems. While the findings of this study may not be generalisable, the authors suggest that these supportive aspects are transferable to other multi-disciplinary team settings.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr Jeff Nelson in the research design and data collection components of the study. The authors thank the remote child and youth mental health team for their support, input and patience throughout the project – without your participation this would not have been possible. The authors also thank Queensland Health and James Cook University for their in-kind support for this project.
Citation
Onnis, L.-a.L. and Dyer, G. (2017), "Maintaining hope: the intrinsic role of professional support", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 13-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-04-2015-0014
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited