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.