What does your day look like from sunrise to sunset?

I start at 08:00 in the office to catch up on admin/yesterday’s notes as others start arriving. Handover is at 09:30 and by 10:00 we’ve split the day’s tasks amongst us, ready to head down to see patients. If all runs smoothly, patients then head to an exercise class run by our team and then to the dining room or their own room for lunch. The afternoon often entails more admin work, but sometimes I see patients or their families to assist with discharge planning.

How does your service support the residents of south east London?

We support patients coming from hospital that are not at their functional baseline and would benefit from a 4 week stay with rehabilitation to facilitate a safe discharge to their homes. We also help patients in the community to avoid hospital admissions by stepping them up to bed- based rehab when appropriate.

What’s the best way of explaining your role in the team?

I’m the therapy team lead, we focus on the Social Work, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy needs of patients in our rehab unit to discharge them safely. Although I see patients, I also supervise and support staff and take part in shaping the Intermediate Care Strategy with support from seniors.

Tell us about a time when you felt you made a difference to someone

Our team treated a patient with rib fractures from a fall caused by alcohol dependency, as a team we set boundaries and delivered a consistent and kind message. Although the patient initially refused alcohol cessation support, our continued engagement led him to independently seek help. He later walked unassisted to a post box to send us a letter of appreciation.

What do you love about your role?

I like making an impact on patients’ lives, as well as enabling my team to do their job to the best of their ability. It can be challenging to motivate patients at times, as no one loves to do exercise, but seeing patients leave the service with more independence is deeply rewarding. Additionally, I work in a great team where we are attentive and adapt to each other’s needs.

What advice would you give to someone starting in this role or keen to work in a similar service?

I think honest communication is key. In this environment you can’t do it all alone, work with your team members to best benefit the patient. Everyone thinks differently and has different strengths. The team works best when we play to these strengths and value one another.