A survey of recruitment and retention issues for occupational therapists working clinically in mental health.
BACKGROUND
Mental health services Australia-wide have difficulty recruiting and retaining clinical occupational therapists.


METHODS
A survey of occupational therapists to identify factors that could influence their retention or loss from clinical mental health practice was undertaken.


RESULTS
Typically, respondents were female, aged 30 years or younger, working full-time at a grade 2 or 3 level, and had worked entirely in mental health. The main positive aspects that respondents identified about their positions were the 'social/emotional environment', 'aspects/nature of their roles', and 'using occupational therapy skills'. The main position constraints were 'insufficient time/workload' and 'insufficient use of occupational therapy skills/generic nature of work'.


CONCLUSIONS
Recruitment and retention strategies are required to retain occupational therapists in clinical mental health positions.
Hayes
Robyn
R
School of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. r.l.hayes@latrobe.edu.au
Bull
Belinda
B
Hargreaves
Kevin
K
Shakespeare
Kate
K
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007325:Institutional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007587:Job Description; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D024382:Professional Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult