Take Two - Third Evaluation Report More than Words ... - Berry Street

severe emotional and behavioural disturbance caused
by abuse and neglect” (DHS, 2002c, 3). The submission
brief noted that the intent of the service included:
• To enhance children’s emotional and behavioural
functioning.
• To enhance their safety and wellbeing.
• To work with children involved with child protection,
whether they were at home or in placement.
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• To work with those identi ed as needing specialised
therapeutic interventions due to abuse and neglect.
In order to meet these objectives, the intensive
therapeutic service was expected to undertake a number
of tasks. Table 4 outlines these tasks according to the
brief and some of the activities undertaken by Take
Two in response. These tasks were either associated
with the provision of a direct clinical service and/or to
contribute to the broader service system.
Table 4.
Tasks Required of the Therapeutic Service According to Submission Brief (DHS, 2002c)
along with some Activities Subsequently Undertaken by Take Two
Submission Brief Tasks Summary of Associated Take Two Program Activities
Establish a state-wide, integrated
service, with local services and
centralised management. Locations
of services to be agreed by DHS.
Establish positions: clinical director;
4 metropolitan teams with 1 senior
clinician and 4 clinicians; and 5
rural teams with 1 senior clinician
and 2 clinicians. Establish a senior
clinical position within the Secure
Welfare Service.
Establish strong working
relationships with other services;
e.g. child protection, placement
services, Secure Welfare, CAMHS,
alcohol and other drug services and
other services.
Develop a practice framework to
ensure linkages and coordination
between this and other services
and to underpin the therapeutic
interventions.
Develop a tool to assist in screening
and assessment of children at risk
of developing severe emotional and
behavioural dif culties.
Provide training about the needs
and responses to children who have
experienced abuse and neglect for
child protection and other services
that work with child protection
clients.
Provide consultation to services
providing care and support to child
protection clients.
Undertake research to achieve
better outcomes for client group
and disseminate knowledge.
Provide DHS with data regarding
service provision as required,
including use of electronic data
collection systems.
Employ staff with requisite
quali cations and experience.
• Clinical teams established in every region in Victoria by the beginning of 2004.
• Locations of services decided in consultation with regional DHS management.
• Centralised management established.
• Nine clinical teams and management established across the state as per requirements.
• In addition to requirements, an Aboriginal clinical position was established.
• A senior clinician was appointed within Secure Welfare as per requirements.
• For a period of time, a short-term increase in funding enabled two clinical positions
within Secure Welfare.
• Establishment of central and regional advisory groups for rst few years of program.
• Participation in local and statewide networks with other services.
• Partnering with placement services as part of therapeutic foster care and therapeutic
residential care initiatives.
• Establishment of framework outlining practice and guiding principles.
• Undertook extensive literature review, which is added to.
• Establish and disseminate focus on care teams.
• Ongoing development of a more detailed framework.
• Developed, piloted and modi ed the HCA as core referral document.
• Integrated the HCA into CRIS.
• Provided training to the eld on the HCA and referral process.
• Established training team to provide internal and external training.
• Training also provided by clinical and research teams as required.
• Training strategy in place providing regular and ad hoc training, particularly to child
protection and placement services. Training to other services provided on request.
• Consultations provided to child protection on a regular basis across the state and to
other services on an ad hoc basis.
• Research team established.
• Outcomes framework and research strategy developed and endorsed by T2RAC and DHS.
• Ethics approval received from appropriate bodies.
• Clinical outcome measures integrated into clinical teams and analysed on a client and
service-wide basis.
• Dissemination occurs through major evaluation reports, conference presentations, and
peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Provided monthly data to DHS regarding target numbers.
• Provided annual data to DHS involving more detailed data analysis
(except when agreed not to do so).
• Process of establishing a computerised client information system.
• Linking in with DHS CRIS system for referral interface.
• Staff employed across all areas of work, from range of disciplines including social work,
psychology, psychiatric nursing and occupational therapy.
Frederico, Jackson, & Black (2010) “More than Words” – Take Two Third Evaluation Report, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia