Wairarapa Community PHO EOI - New Zealand Doctor

3.13 Integration of social care
Our Goal:
Action
Coalition of social
service providers.
Health System Organisation and Design
Comprehensive integration of social
service care
Action
Action
We will strategically and Expand our primary care
operationally align with teams by fully utilising
the Minsitry of Social skills and capacity of
Development. NGO support workforce.
This section has been included in the WCPHO EOI as a potential development
provided we can achieve the support to advance it through the Joint Clinical
Forum and with the NGO community. It represents thinking that is being
advanced in other parts of New Zealand that appears to have a “good fit” with
the needs of the Wairarapa. At this time of finalising this EOI response it
remains exploratory.
Many people in the
community have no single
place to go to where
everything and anything
could be asked and
answered. The result of
being moved from “pillar
to post” for many people
was increased distress,
problems steadily
worsening and before too
long a deterioration in
physical and mental
health that then required
higher cost intervention
Improved health outcomes through Integrated Services
Primary Health Care incorporated with social services planning is not a new
idea. The integrated health planning undertaken in the North West
Territories, Canada in 2004 36 highlights the results a client-centred approach to
the delivery of health and social services using collaborative, integrated
process of service delivery can achieve. All of the different social and health
service providers at the community level make up a primary community care
team and will establish collaborative processes for working together to meet
client needs.
This model has been used to good effect before now in two New Zealand
communities with the establishment of “Linkage” in 1998 – a physical
collocation of social and health services (Hamilton & New Plymouth). In brief
Linkage was a "one stop shop" concept with an early intervention focus, coordinating
multi-agency responses for individuals and their families.
Linkage centres in Hamilton and New Plymouth were deliberately established
in high foot traffic, busy public areas where a person could walk in off the
street and see someone immediately. Very quickly, a full needs assessment
could occur, an action plan developed and service co-ordination begin based
on whoever were the right agency and/or person to take a lead role.
The Community Wellness Centre concept may have benefits for the Wairarapa
– WCPHO will sponsor the relevant discussions and support planning. The
following interwoven approaches to integrated social services could apply 1 :
Coalition of NGO services
Integrating health and Ministry of Social Development response
One health and social service plan for individuals/whānau at risk
36 Integrated Service Delivery Model for the NWT Health and Social Services Systems,
March 2004.
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