actcoss text final.indd - ACT Council of Social Service

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health and social and emotional wellbeing services, through supported staff exchange placements and other strategies.’ 106 Action 4.4 proposes that the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service and other Aboriginal specific health services, ACT Health and Mental Health ACT work to: Develop and deliver improved culturally appropriate service provision in mainstream services, learning from the service delivery model at Winnunga-Nimityjah Aboriginal Health Service and other Aboriginal-specific services. 107 To advance this Action item, a framework for the coordination of Indigenous and mainstream services should be developed, defining the respective roles of government and community services in the implementation of mental health policy. We recommend that the policy make provision for the recruitment and training of additional Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing workers to be placed in mainstream government and community services. In addition, the policy should establish mechanisms for these workers to receive ongoing professional support in their roles. Finally, the ACT Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan 2003-2008 recognised the need for a specific CALD mental health strategy, with an emphasis on early identification. It proposed that the government would formalise linkages with relevant CALD communities, and provide training to these communities and specialist mental health practitioners. 108 Consistent with this framework, the ACT Action Plan for Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention 2006-2008 identified CALD communities as a priority population group. It outlines a ‘population health’ approach to mental health in CALD communities which ‘acknowledges the importance of culture and the migration experience in determining risk and protective factors that influence mental health.’ 109 These initiatives should be implemented as a priority, taking into account the specific cultural, social and economic context in which mental health problems occur and developing culturally appropriate support, treatment and care service delivery models. Community organisations reported that the fear of stigma with CALD communities currently acts as a critical impediment to early intervention. The strategy should address the particular perceptions of stigma arising within the CALD community around mental health. A CALD mental health policy should define the respective roles of government and community services in its implementation and recognise the existing network of multicultural and CALD specific community organisations, including the Transcultural Mental Health Network, with established links to relevant communities. We recommend that, in addition to the features already identified, the policy make provision for the recruitment and training of additional CALD mental health workers to be placed in mainstream government and community services. In addition, the policy should establish mechanisms for these workers to receive ongoing professional support in their roles. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 106 Action 4.2, at 20. 107 At 20. 108 See Actions 14, 15 and 16 at 68. 109 At 21. 39 Towards an integrated mental health service system in the ACT•June 2007 NO WRONG DOORS
conclusion This paper has undertaken an analysis of the community mental health sector in context. Having established the policy and theoretical framework in Part One, Part Two examined the relationships between community services and ACT government departments and services. Part Three then considered the intersectoral relationships between community mental health organisations and other parts of the community social service system. The starting premise of this paper is that best outcomes for mental health consumers and others affected by mental illness can only be achieved with service integration and, in particular, intersectoral collaboration. This is because of the complex relationships between mental illness, poverty, homelessness, alcohol and drug use, unemployment and other forms of disadvantage. As mental health consumers frequently require access to a broad range of social and community services, service coordination is essential to ensure that the diverse needs of service-users are met, and that gaps between services and sectors are addressed. The purpose of the paper was to evaluate the extent to which community mental health services are integrated into the broader social service system. ‘Integration’ has been measured by the extent to which referral and information-sharing networks exist, as well as the extent to which services coordinate, cooperate and collaborate with each other. This paper has sought to identify where linkages are currently weak or non-existent and to make recommendations to address these gaps and strengthen these relationships. In general, community consultations revealed that there is currently little systemic service coordination and integration. Linkages that do exist are often of an ad hoc nature, or based on individual staff contacts rather than entrenched inter-service relationships. There are few formal inter-agency agreements or joint projects, and no system-wide referral protocol exists. That said, some cooperative or collaborative initiatives were highlighted, and might provide models for other services. However, there is a clear need for whole-of-system approaches to the complex social issues associated with mental illness. This paper has taken the position that government has a key role to play in developing an integrated, collaborative service system. Firstly, by approaching relationships with the community sector in the spirit of coordination, cooperation and collaboration. Secondly, by supporting community organisations to collaborate with other community organisations, both within and across sub-sectors. A number of initiatives have been proposed in this paper by which the ACT Government could provide such support. In addition, a number of recommendations have been made to address service gaps. We urge the government and the ACT community sector to consider these recommendations, and together commit to a ‘no wrong doors’ approach to service delivery for those affected by mental illness. NO WRONG DOORS Towards an integrated mental health service system in the ACT•June 2007 40
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 24 and 25: 5. Commit to the development, with
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 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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