Low Res MH Quality Account 2018 FINAL

22 Monash Health
Family violence
The ‘Strengthening Hospital
Responses to Family
Violence’ (SHRFV) project
continues Monash Health’s
pledge to implement the
recommendations of the
Royal Commission into
Family Violence. We are
also implementing a Family
Violence Education Plan in
Monash Health’s Emergency
Departments to improve
the support for victims of
family violence.
A taskforce, chaired by Adjunct
Professor Cheyne Chalmers, Executive
Director Residential and Support
Services, Chief Nursing and Midwifery
Officer, has continued to meet to
discuss issues. We have recruited an
expanded project team to improve
access to training and implement
system changes. Updated policies
and procedures were finalised in
December 2017 and are now being
regularly accessed by staff. People
also telephone Social Work, South
East Centre Against Sexual Assault
and Family Violence (SECASA) or
the SHRFV team for a secondary
consultation as needed.
Training was delivered to 629 staff
during 2017-18, including nurses,
midwives, doctors, allied health
staff and managers. Of these
staff, 234 worked full-time in the
Emergency Department.
The training covered a general
introduction to family violence:
incidence, legislation, warning signs,
high risk groups and case studies.
Suggestions were made about how to
make a sensitive enquiry, respond and
refer. Some specific presentations for
midwives and for those working with
children were also delivered.
Monash Health staff personally
affected by family violence can now
access up to 20 days of paid leave and
the employee assistance program for
counselling. Both supports are being
used. Staff also can access specialist
agencies. Partnerships and service
links are important. Monash Health is a
member of the Southern Metropolitan
Integrated Family Violence Partnership,
which allows us to be informed and
contribute to developments in the
sector. Monash Health also works
closely with SECASA.
Marie’s
story
Marie, a 35 year-old mother, presented
to the Emergency Department with
a painful arm and some abrasions.
She seemed distressed and told staff
that she had a fall. Staff had received
training on family violence and how
to make a sensitive enquiry, but did
not ask anything at this time. They
responded to her immediate medical
needs including pain management,
reassurance and relevant diagnostic
imaging, which revealed a fractured
arm. Marie needed to go to theatre to
have the fracture properly set, so she
needed admission. Her partner stayed
by her side, often ‘telling her story’ for