actcoss text final.indd - ACT Council of Social Service

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9. Youth aged between 18 and 25 years of age were identified as an area of unmet need. This requires a coordinated response to ensure that this population group receives treatment and support in an age-appropriate setting. 10. There is a need for improved and coordinated services for Indigenous and CALD mental health consumers due to the lack of coordination between specific and mainstream services. Efforts should be made to make mainstream services more accessible for Indigenous and CALD potential service-users. 11. A conceptual and service segregation persists between disability and mental health which undermines advocacy as well as services for dual-disability clients. 12. Participants highlighted the need for more faceto-face contact between workers and managers from different community organisations to establish networks and referral links. There is currently no forum for cross-sectoral planning and networking around mental health service issues. 13. The resource, time and logistical challenges of collaboration were identified, and the need for government support and incentives to collaborate was emphasised. 14. There is a need for clearer protocols around entry, discharge and transfers between services. 15. A review of organisational structures is a necessary pre-requisite to collaboration. 16. Lack of awareness about community mental health services was cited as a problem for potential service-users, community sector workers, clinical workers and government service staff. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendations to improve the relationship between the community sector and government 1. Develop inter-departmental service agreements to facilitate a whole-of-government approach to mental health. 1 2. Conduct periodic training in the terms and implications of the Social Compact and the Community Sector Funding Policy for all new staff in the government sector, and regular information and review forums for community sector workers. 3. Ensure meaningful community participation in any review of the distribution of resources in the sector and ensure that distribution criteria remain flexible. 4. Review the impact of MOUs between government departments and community sector agencies, to improve their effectiveness. 5. Commit to the development of sectoral MOUs and consider the adoption of a ‘Primary Care Partnerships’ model of coordinated service delivery. Recommendations to improve the relationship between the community mental health sector and others parts of the community social service system 6. Engage in the mapping of community sector service delivery to those affected by mental illness, identifying service gaps and needs. 2 7. Fund and facilitate a permanent ACT crosssectoral mental health planning network, involving community sector service managers, front-line workers and consumers. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1 2 This recommendation is consistent with Recommendation 1(d) of the Mental Health Council of Australia, Not for Service: Experiences of injustice and despair in mental health care in Australia (2005) at 17 This reflects recommendation 6 of The Australian Psychiatric Disability Coalition Inc and The Head Injury Council of Australia Inc, Trying Desperately: The Role of Non-Government Organisations in an Integrated System of Care for People with Psychiatric Disability or Acquired Brain Injury, Tony Wade and Associates P/L, Brisbane, May 1995 at 9. This was also recommended by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Report of the National Inquiry into the Human Rights of People with a Mental Illness, (1993) (‘Burdekin Report’). This paper is intended to be a contribution to the mapping process, but more detailed research needs to be undertaken. 7 Towards an integrated mental health service system in the ACT•June 2007 NO WRONG DOORS
8. Encourage and support the development of collaborations and partnerships between community sector service providers and with government, observing the principles embodied in the Social Compact. 9. Fund organisations to engage in case management and service coordination. 10. Develop clearer protocols around entry, discharge and transfers, between and within the government and community service systems 3 . 11. Community organisations review internal structures to ensure that they are supportive of collaboration. 13. Support the community mental health sector to adequately train workers, including crosssectoral training and staff exchanges. 14. Investigate options to improve consumer information services, for example, establishing a central information and referral shopfront and/or a central telephone information line able to provide information about government and community mental health services. 15. Develop specific mental health policies targeting vulnerable population groups, including youth aged 18-25 years and members of Indigenous and CALD communities. 12. Develop and facilitate an integrated dualdiagnosis strategy. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3 This reflects recommendations made by the Mental Health Coordinating Council, Building Effective Non Government Mental Health Services in NSW, 15 November 2005 at 3. NO WRONG DOORS Towards an integrated mental health service system in the ACT•June 2007 8
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 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 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

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