Monash Health Annual Report

48
Carers Recognition
Act 2012
Monash Health recognises that involving
consumers, carers and community
members at all levels of our operations,
from the individual to the organisational
level, is a fundamental part of how we
improve patient experience and care.
To facilitate this, Monash Health has
implemented a Consumer, Carer and
Community Participation Framework
and Policy which sets the overarching
requirements and mechanisms for
participation in planning, designing care,
decision-making, quality and safety,
quality improvement and support for
consumers, carers and staff members.
Our patient-centred approach to care
is applied across all services and is
recognised as an active partnership
between patients, families, carers and
staff that ensures optimal outcomes for
the patient throughout their journey.
Patient-centred care embraces the
following principles:
• People are treated with respect
and dignity.
• Information is communicated in
a clear and open way.
• Patient, families and carers are
involved in decisions about their care
to the level that the patient desires.
• Care is delivered in a safe and
comfortable environment.
• Patients, family and carers are involved
in service design and delivery.
Monash Health is implementing a
strategy titled ‘Improving the Patient
Experience at Monash Health’,
which incorporates consumer and carer
participation and patient experience.
Patient, family and carer stories and
feedback are regularly used as part
of new staff induction, education
sessions, Chief Executive Forums
and Board meetings at Monash Health.
The framework, policy and plans
are aligned with the principles in the
Carers Recognition Act 2012 (Victoria)
and The Victorian Charter supporting
people in care relationships.
The Monash Health Mental Health
‘Consumer and Carer Relations’ program
employs consumer and family/carer
consultants. This group brings its
perspective to quality improvement
activities and facilitates engagement
and participation of consumers and
carers across the Early in Life and Adult
Mental Health services. They provide a
carer support fund, deliver a range of
staff training including ‘Family Inclusive
Practice’, support information provision,
provide education regarding navigating
mental health services, promote carer
recognition and provide ongoing support
to consumers and carers in mental
health including during changes to the
care relationship.
The ‘Families where a Parent has a Mental
Illness’ initiative establishes partnerships
in the community and supports families,
promotes participation in training and
education for staff and resources to
educate families and children.
In our subacute and aged care services,
consumer and carer advisors are
members of the quality and safety
committees and participate in project
groups for quality, safety and experience
improvement. In residential services,
regular resident, family and/or carer
meetings are held in all facilities, with
representation of carers on residential
committees, including the Medication
Advisory Committee.
Monash Health’s ‘Community Support
Options’ program provides a suite of
services that align to the principles
outlined by the Act. Our respite
funding streams enable breaks for
carers, supporting their ability to
continue their important caring
role. The Commonwealth Home
Support Program manual outlines our
requirements in relation to supporting
carers (respite funding streams).
National Competition
Policy
Monash Health continued to comply
with the Victorian Government’s
Competitive Neutrality Policy. In addition,
the Victorian Government’s Neutrality
Pricing Principles for all relevant business
activities have been applied by Monash
Health since 1 July 1988.