Jennifer Montgomery

• Awarded Health Research Council Career Development Award to complete a 2 year self-directed project titled, "To what extent is trauma-informed care systemically implemented in Oranga Tamariki policies, models of care and practice to meet the needs of rangatahi in care and protection residences?".
• Established a Research Governance Group representative of key stakeholders to guide the project. This group includes clinicians, youth workers, Voyce Whakarongo Mai, and youth with lived experience.
• Conducted an indepth literature review and policy analysis to establish the current research gap in this area.
• Interviewing care experienced young people and staff to gather their views and experiences.
• Interpreting data analysis results to draw conclusions and develop solutions.
• Developing collaborative relationships with academics within the University, nationally and internationally to develop a community of research in this area.
• Presenting my research at national conferences to highlight current issues for youth in residences and potential solutions to improve health equity and health outcomes for this group.

• Leading a team of mental health clinicians to support the mental health and well-being needs of young people living in University Accommodation.
• Supporting team members individual strengths to enable them to perform to the best of their abilities and be a part of a strong and cohesive team.
• Building strong, respectful and collaborative relationships with a diverse range of services within the University and the community to promote the well-being and safety of the student community.
• Contributing to the strategic direction of the University’s Health and Counselling service by developing innovative processes to improve service delivery and providing clinical leadership and oversight.
• Providing therapeutic input for students with complex trauma.

• Provision of individualised assessment and intervention for young people aged 0-18 presenting with moderate to severe mental health conditions and their whānau.

Duties & Achievements:

• Clinical expertise in complex trauma, youth and trauma informed systems
• Trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Single Session Family Consultation, Sensory Modulation, educational and employment interventions, and complex risk formulation and management
• Provided clinical and operational leadership through engagement in MHAIDS OT Leadership group, MHAIDS Clinical Governance Group, MHAIDS Vicarious Trauma Health and Safety Pilot Programme and ICAFS recruitment panel
• Experience and training in working collaboratively with Māori and Pasifika populations and services
• Advocate for providing a culturally responsive service at all levels of care
• Strong interest in consumer and whānau involvement in service design and delivery. Member of Consumer Involvement Group.
• Experience working with Rainbow and former refugee populations
• Clinical supervisor to OT professionals, new graduates and students
• Organiser and leader of professional development days for MHAIDS OT Sector
• Educator on trauma informed care for clinical and non-clinical staff
• Established a Trauma Interest Group to ensure provision of best quality care for consumers, whānau and clinicians
• Subject matter consultant for ‘Let’s Get Real’ Te Pou trauma informed care initiative
• Developed Well-being Programme for Youth and presented on this topic to local schools, police and primary health organisations
• Established and led an Occupational Therapy service in ICAFS
• Strong relationships with MHAIDS services, paediatrics, primary health, Oranga Tamariki, education, Te Pou and Universities

• Member of Referrals Committee responsible for screening referrals and signposting clients to appropriate services
• Provided clinical assessment, individual and group intervention for young people and their families
• Liaised with community services and local schools

• Adult Inpatient Mental Health: provided mental health assessment and led individual and group treatment sessions; developed Clinical Practice Guidelines for intervention in self-harm
• Neurological Rehabilitation: provided Neurodevelopmental Therapy and Bobath handling techniques, cognitive retraining, seating and equipment prescription and vocational retraining; developed Clinical Practice Guidelines on management of the upper limb post-stroke
• Orthopaedics: Specialist Polytrauma OT, led a quality improvement project for clients on hip precautions, developed Clinical Practice Guidelines for best practice in amputee care, trained in ergonomics and management of lower limb amputees
• Hand Therapy: skilled in standardised hand and upper limb assessment, competence in splint fabrication, wound care, upper limb strengthening, sensory re-education and work hardening techniques