Making a di erence in social care

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is one of the largest employers on the island and offers a myriad of health services. If you have an interest in healthcare, joining the organisation offers you flexibility to expand your knowledge and even change your career down the road

Almost as soon as Tenik Burgess discovered social work was her passion, she came to BHB.

“I first became interested in social work when I was working at the Department of Corrections,” she says. “I was in my early 20s and was working in the Programmes Department as a case management assistant and a programmes clerk.”

Becoming acquainted with the inmate cases, Tenik says she quickly realised that being a social worker was her calling.

“I’ve long had an interest in science and medicine, but I wasn’t going to be a doctor,” she says. “I discovered that being a social worker was a great way to assist people in need.”

Tenik completed her undergraduate degree at the University of the West

Indies’ Barbados campus and her master’s degree at New York University. On her breaks from school, she enrolled in the BHB Summer Student Programme. When she finished her studies, she joined BHB as an intern.

Tenik then spent eight years as a medical social worker assisting patients in almost all areas of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, including long-term care, palliative care (Agape House), emergency, dialysis, oncology, acute care and surgical.

“I think maternity and the children’s ward are the only areas I have not been assigned to,” she says.

Keen to increase her knowledge, build her experience and progress within her field, Tenik says she was looking for a change when the Community Intellectual Disability Team was forming in 2021.

“The Community Intellectual Disability Team was created to more effectively address the needs of this oftenunderserved part of our community,” she recalls. “I was drawn to the potential of what the team would provide and applied for the case manager position I currently hold.”

Tenik says her social worker skills are applicable to the job, which made the move seamless.

What does her new job entail?

“I coordinate intake assessments from clients in the community who require our service,” she says. “I help develop standard operating procedures, organise family meetings, and liaise with our community partners, including Aging and Disability Services, Child and Family Services, and The K. Margaret Carter Centre, a government-managed facility that provides support and training for adults with learning and physical disabilities.”

Tenik is also developing key processes for the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute as they relate to the intellectual disability population. These include policy guides that consider the complex needs of this population and how they transition between services.

As part of the Community Intellectual Disability Team, Tenik is working to determine what support is needed for clients at every stage of their development. She is also making sure the identified support is available and everyone knows about it.

“One of the most fulfilling parts of my job as a case manager is advocating for our clients,” says Tenik. “They are a population that oftentimes have been overlooked. I am proud to be part of a team that is moving them to be more integrated, visible, and confident members of society, and helping them to self-actualise and have a good quality of life.”

Tenik says BHB has nurtured her in her career pathway.

“I have been encouraged, mentored, guided, and given the opportunity to grow, be challenged and develop meaningful programmes and guides that will benefit our Bermuda community. I love my job and the support I’ve had working at BHB.”