Mental Health Enrolled Nurse Consultation Day
This took place on 24th February 2021.
CMHL held a virtual consultation with Mental Health Enrolled Nurses (ENs) from across Victoria, to understand their learning and development priorities, and begin strategic planning and visioning for the workforce.
Introduced mental health enrolled nurses to Dave Barclay (consumer workforce) and Lorna Downes (family/carer workforce).
25 Enrolled Nurses from 14 Area Mental Health Services were consulted. These areas included community teams, inpatient units, education, secure extended care units, older persons care, prevention and recovery care, clozapine clinics, forensicare, mobile support and treatment teams.
Through this day we discovered what makes enrolled nurses unique, what enrolled nurses want, and what the top workforce development priorities were. Key findings from the day can be found here.
Mental Health Enrolled Nurse Forum
The theme for the 2021 Victorian Mental Health Enrolled Nurse Forum was Reflect, Empower, and Reform. ENs from across the state came together to celebrate their workforce and connect with each other. The event showcased presentations from ENs working in different areas of the mental health sector. Michelle Castro, an EN Educator from NWMH, discussed her role as an EN leader. Natasha Verspeek shared her diverse range of experiences that led to her EN career. And the cutest presentation was from Sue Bennet, Pam McIntosh, and Julie Duffy of Grutzner House who shared their resident chooks with attendees while presenting on their implementation of Safewards. In addition to EN presentations, Reece Jones provided a peer worker perspective and Jacara Egan presented on cultural safety. Nursing and Midwifery Health Program and Safer Care Victoria on clinical supervision and wellness support available to nurses.
The wellness stream provided attendees with replenishment and connections via sensory modulation for worker wellbeing, ANMF and HACSU connections, and even Delta Therapy Dogs! We celebrated the day with a special performance from young rapper Lily Kato! The CMHL EN Educators were supported by senior CMHL staff to lead the event from planning through to delivery of the day, demonstrating what EN leadership looks like in action.