actcoss text final.indd - ACT Council of Social Service

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5. Commit to the development, with the community sector, of sectoral MOUs and consider the adoption of a ‘Primary Care Partnerships’ model of coordinated service delivery In order to improve service integration at a systems level, ACT Health should re-consider the development of MOUs with service subsectors, like that previously contemplated for the Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program (SAAP) sector. Such MOUs have the potential to promote collaboration and cooperation in service delivery approaches for people with mental health issues who are service-users of non-mental health services, for example, SAAP, community housing and alcohol and drug services. Sectoral MOUs also have the potential to provide stability in the ongoing relationship regardless of staff changes. They provide a guide for dealing with common clients, an outline of referral procedures and a framework for addressing the issues faced by those with complex needs. In addition, sectoral MOUs can provide a framework for case management (identified as an area of unmet need) and for cross-sectoral training. Further, the ACT Government should explore the possibility of developing a model of coordinated care informed by the Victorian Primary Care Partnerships model. This could provide a framework for service coordination and identify service partnerships. It could also provide a structure within which whole-of-system service planning could take place. 23 Towards an integrated mental health service system in the ACT•June 2007 NO WRONG DOORS
Part 3: The relationship between the community mental health sector and other parts of the community social service system Introduction This Part engages in an analysis of current relationships between the community mental health sector and other parts of the community sector. In doing so, it explores the impact of service integration, or the lack thereof, on outcomes for service users and the community. Analysis is informed by consultations, in which participants were asked about the extent to which community services were coordinated and linked. Several indicators of service linkage were used, including referral and information sharing networks, joint projects, formal agreements, case management and coordination. These indicators formed the basis of consultation questions, and are consistent with those frequently used in ‘collaboration’ literature. 72 It should be noted that the boundaries of the community mental health sector are not fixed, with a number of non-mental health specific organisations performing functions which fall within the service range of the sector, in addition to functions which lie outside. For example, a number of organisations provide accommodation services in addition to mental health services, while others provide a range of social, emotional and wellbeing services in addition to alcohol and other drug services or primary health services. Therefore, the expressions ‘sector’ and ‘sub-sector’ in this context should be understood flexibly. The focus on particular subsectors is not intended to reflect a belief that service areas need to be considered discretely. Rather, the boundaries and transitions between sub-sectors (for example, between the mental health and the alcohol and other drug sectors) should ideally be seamless and the service system well-integrated. The need for a coordinated system response The prevalence of mental illness among service users across the spectrum of services was a recurring theme in consultations. This is reflected in the priority allocated to mental health in the strategic plans of a number of non-mental health specific community sector peak bodies, as informed by their members (e.g. Youth Coalition, ACTCOSS). Conversely, mental health consumers who participated in consultations indicated that, in addition to mental health services, they frequently accessed employment services, long term and crisis accommodation services, community legal centres (for example, the Welfare Rights and Legal Centre), free food services, church welfare and crisis services (e.g. Salvation Army), multicultural and migrant services and alcohol and drug services. The importance of mental health services was recognised by all of those consulted from across the community service spectrum. This is consistent with the most recent Community Sector Survey Report, in which survey respondents highlighted health services (including mental health and alcohol and drug services) as the services most needed by their clients. 73 Consumers who responded to a recent MHCN survey indicated that service cooperation and knowledge about services was a ‘preferred service response’. They identified ‘consistent service provision that focuses on maintaining connections’ as a preference. 74 In addition, they responded that services would be easier to access if ‘good networks of services [were] in place including health professionals.’ 75 Only 50% of respondents indicated that they had been linked with another service following their time in inpatient services. 76 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 72 For example, Provan and Sebastian (1998), ‘Networks within networks: Service link overlap, organizational cliques, and network effectiveness’, Academy of Management Journal 41: 453-463 at 460, quoted by Dr Rae Walker, Collaboration and Alliances: A Review for Vichealth, September 2000, published by Victorian Health Promotion Foundation at 17. 73 ACOSS Community Sector Survey 2007 at 87. 74 ACT Mental Health Consumer Network, Consumer Experiences of Mental Health Services in the ACT: Results of a survey about consumer experiences of mental health services, January 2007 at 3. 75 Ibid at 5. 76 Ibid at 7. NO WRONG DOORS Towards an integrated mental health service system in the ACT•June 2007 24
Page 2 and 3: no wrong doors Towards an integrate
Page 4 and 5: Table of contents ABOUT ACTCOSS....
Page 6 and 7: executive summary The purpose of th
Page 8 and 9: 9. Youth aged between 18 and 25 yea
Page 10 and 11: part 1: introduction BACKGROUND AND
Page 12 and 13: care’ initiatives as a key fundin
Page 14 and 15: A belief in the value of coordinati
Page 16 and 17: to effective collaboration include:
Page 18 and 19: THE ACT SOCIAL COMPACT Relations Go
Page 20 and 21: health sector has long been ‘unde
Page 22 and 23: Consultations conducted in the deve
Page 26 and 27: Failures of service coordination an
Page 28 and 29: esults for the individual concerned
Page 30 and 31: development of clear guidelines of
Page 32 and 33: and by the reluctance of some parti
Page 34 and 35: payments, they may live in public h
Page 36 and 37: work most effectively when working
Page 38 and 39: seeking help with other services. U
Page 40 and 41: health and social and emotional wel
Page 42 and 43: eferences Government policy documen
Page 44 and 45: appendix B CONSULTATION QUESTIONS T

actcoss text final.indd - ACT Council of Social Service

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