Each month JustOT would like to recognise one of our locums for their personal achievement and commitment to the Occupational Therapy service.

Name: Jess Gleeson

Profession: Occupational Therapist

Where are you from? Brisbane, Australia

Current Locum position? Band 6 Occupational Therapist for the Hospital at Home Team, this is a rapid response, short term, intensive rehab service.

What do you like about your job?
I have been involved in the development of the service and helped/helping to shape the service for the long term. Working very closely with 1 other OT and 2 Physio’s and 7 nurses makes for lots of skill sharing with Physio’s.
I have always had a preference for community-based work and the HUGE variety of client groups it covers e.g. Orthopaedic, Neurological, General frailty, degenerative conditions, dementia
The best thing about my job is the people I work with. I have worked in the office I work in now since 2008 as a locum (on and off in varying teams) and the teams are all brilliant!

Personal achievements within your role?
Development of service has been a huge part of this role, which is something completely new for me. Promoting the OT service and making very strong links between our service, hospital wards, GP’s and district nurses
Training of new staff members
Completely new skills set in terms of typically “physio” treatment e.g. mobility progression, strength and balance retraining.

How do you unwind from work?
Run/go to the gym.
Sometimes go for a drink or do something “London” to remind me why I live in this city in the winter!!!
I am trying to learn the guitar. I wish I could say I practiced after work to wind down but unfortunately the things listed before this one generally take precedence and poor Ruby (my guitar) is quickly gathering dust!