Elna Kingsley
Summary
An experienced Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of international and local New Zealand experience working in various settings, including community, private practice, hospitals, and medico-legal field. Possesses excellent communication skills, leadership, and attention to detail. Thrives in fast-paced environments, loves to work as part of a team, and enjoys collaborating with colleagues.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Occupational Therapist
TBI Health
08.2023 - Current
- Recommend equipment to use in-home to maximize opportunities for wellness.
- Provide interventions and treatments to improve patient abilities to perform daily activities, manage symptoms and prevent injury.
- Coordinate interventions with multidisciplinary treatment team.
- Provide education to empower patients and families to understand conditions, treatments and treatment options for managing symptoms.
- Establish compassionate and caring relationships with patients.
Senior Occupational Therapist
APM Workcare
04.2022 - 08.2023
- Keyworker on Training for Independence (TBI) and Concussion contracts
- Supervision of students and junior employees.
- Provided interventions and treatments to improve patient abilities to perform daily activities, manage symptoms and prevent injury.
- Established compassionate and caring relationships with patients.
- Coordinated interventions with multidisciplinary treatment team.
- Provided education to empower patients and families to understand conditions, treatments and treatment options for managing symptoms.
- Performed assessments during treatment to determine progress according to goals.
- Consulted with direct-care staff to implement best methods to achieve therapy goals.
- Adapted environments by making changes to patient homes, workplaces and school environments to promote safety, independence and participation.
- Helped patients with cognitive and mental health conditions to improve ability to think, learn and memorize.
Locum Senior Occupational Therapist
Active+ Silverdale
02.2022 - 04.2022
- Keyworker on Training for Independence, Vocational Rehabilitation, Concussion, Sensitive Claims and SRNA contracts
- Worked with children, adults and elderly within the community and residential facilities or schools.
- Recommended equipment to use in-home to maximize opportunities for wellness.
- Evaluated patients to determine readiness to drive and for necessary modifications to vehicles.
- Provided clinical services to clients with various physical, mental and emotional impairments.
- Helped patients with cognitive and mental health conditions to improve ability to think, learn and memorize.
- Performed evaluations and assessments to recommend best treatment for individual patients.
Senior Occupational Therapist
ABI Rehabilitation
08.2021 - 02.2022
- Recommended equipment to use in-home to maximize opportunities for wellness.
- Customized standard plans to meet individual abilities and needs.
- Adapted environments by making changes to patient homes, workplaces and school environments to promote safety, independence and participation.
- Provided interventions and treatments to improve patient abilities to perform daily activities, manage symptoms and prevent injury.
- Coordinated interventions with multidisciplinary treatment team.
Senior Occupational Therapist
Active+ Albany
07.2019 - 10.2020
- Assessed clients' physical work capacity following an injury, compiled and implemented safe return to work programmes (SAW contracts)
- Assessed elderly, adults and children's needs for social rehabilitation and equipment in the community (SRNA contracts)
- Assessed and treated elderly and adult clients with various types of injuries or physical conditions and developed rehabilitation programmes to improve their level of independence and community integration (Training for Independence contracts).
- Recommended equipment to use in-home to maximize opportunities for wellness.
- Provided interventions and treatments to improve patient abilities to perform daily activities, manage symptoms and prevent injury.
Medico-legal Occupational Therapist
Rita Van Biljon Private Practise
08.2013 - 03.2019
- Conducted in-depth medical-legal and functional capacity assessments and developed intervention programmes and recommendations for medical negligence and injury claims
- Provided expert witness testimonies in court
- Trained junior therapists and provided mentoring in assessment, report writing and compiling rehabilitation programmes.
- Performed evaluations and assessments to recommend best treatment for individual patients.
Senior Incapacity Consultant
Pro-Active Health Solutions
05.2009 - 05.2013
- Analysed ill-health retirement and incapacity leave applications for South African Police Force and National Prosecuting Authority and provided written recommendations to employers
- Referred clients for psychiatric and medical evaluations by specialists
- Compiled rehabilitation plans to facilitate a return to work and to ensure that adequate support systems were in place
- Evaluated patient conditions, histories, and goals
Branch Manager and Seating Specialist
Shonaquip CC
05.2006 - 01.2008
- Conducted assessments for adults and children with physical disabilities to determine the need for assistive devices and prescribed appropriate equipment
- Assessed acute hospital patients for assistive devices and participated in discharge planning
- Performed workplace assessments for persons with physical disabilities to determine the need for appropriate assistive devices or environmental adaptations and provided recommendations to employers accordingly
- Fitted customized equipment and trained clients and caregivers
- Provided training on seating and positioning principles at hospitals (public and private), residential facilities, and schools
- Managed and mentored branch staff and liaised with head office
- Planned budget and developed branch.
Senior Occupational Therapist
Life Healthcare Rehabilitation
01.2005 - 04.2006
- Provided acute rehabilitation to inpatient adults and elderly following injury, mental health conditions, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, multiple trauma, spinal cord injuries, and joint replacements
- Provided individual and group therapy sessions in close working relationship with medical doctors, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, and social workers
- Worked within an integrative multidisciplinary framework to ensure a comprehensive treatment approach
- Conducted vocational assessments of outpatients and provided recommendations to employers
- Assessed and ordered assistive devices to facilitate independence at home and discharge planning
- Supervised final-year university students
- Facilitated family meetings and meetings with employers.
Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Reading Primary Health Care
08.2003 - 07.2004
- Trained and supported care staff at a school for children with severe physical and intellectual disabilities on seating and positioning and the use of special equipment
- Assessed children with special needs and implemented treatment programs in mainstream schools
- Consulted parents and school staff to develop school-based programs to meet identified needs
- Advised schools on equipment, adaptations, and physical disability concerns and liaised with the Department of Education regarding service provision and development
- Contributed to the overall development of the paediatric occupational therapy service, including waiting list management, supervision, and mentoring of junior therapists.
Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Midland Health Board
05.2002 - 02.2003
- Provided an occupational therapy service as part of a multidisciplinary team to children (0-18 years) with sensory and physical disabilities on an outpatient basis, in schools and in homes
- Children with the following conditions were treated: spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscle dystrophy's, visual and hearing impairments, specific learning difficulties, and sensory integrative dysfunctions
- Developed treatment programs following assessment to improve motor, functional, and cognitive skills
- Provided a seating and positioning service for physically disabled children to enable participation in activities
- Assessed children's specialist equipment needs in liaison with equipment-company representatives.
Community Occupational Therapist
Department Of Health
02.1999 - 03.2002
- Delivered a community occupational therapy service to children and adults with various physical conditions (strokes, head injuries, burns, orthopaedic conditions, rheumatology, hand injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, and developmental delays
- Provided interventions and treatments to improve patient abilities to perform daily activities, manage symptoms and prevent injury.
- Coordinated interventions with multidisciplinary treatment team.
- Provided education to empower patients and families to understand conditions, treatments and treatment options for managing symptoms.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy
University of Pretoria
South Africa12.1998
Skills
- Direct Care Staff Oversight
- Acute Rehabilitation
- Case Management
- Rehabilitation Plans
- Goals and Performance
- Staff Training
- Injury Prevention
- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
- Acute and Rehabilitative Care
- Clinical Reasoning
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Progress Evaluation
Timeline
Senior Occupational Therapist
TBI Health
08.2023 - Current
Senior Occupational Therapist
APM Workcare
04.2022 - 08.2023
Locum Senior Occupational Therapist
Active+ Silverdale
02.2022 - 04.2022
Senior Occupational Therapist
ABI Rehabilitation
08.2021 - 02.2022
Senior Occupational Therapist
Active+ Albany
07.2019 - 10.2020
Medico-legal Occupational Therapist
Rita Van Biljon Private Practise
08.2013 - 03.2019
Senior Incapacity Consultant
Pro-Active Health Solutions
05.2009 - 05.2013
Branch Manager and Seating Specialist
Shonaquip CC
05.2006 - 01.2008
Senior Occupational Therapist
Life Healthcare Rehabilitation
01.2005 - 04.2006
Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Reading Primary Health Care
08.2003 - 07.2004
Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Midland Health Board
05.2002 - 02.2003
Community Occupational Therapist
Department Of Health
02.1999 - 03.2002
Bachelor of Science - Occupational Therapy
University of Pretoria
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