Service Coordination Strategy Project
Start date: May 2011
Estimated completion date: May 2012
This work relates to progressing recommendations 3 & 5 of MHCC’s 2010 Sector Mapping Project around continuity of care and pathways and linkages between services. More
Recent work undertaken by MHCC that is relevant to the Service Coordination Strategy project includes:
MHCC Care Coordination Literature Review and Discussion Paper (September 2011)
MHCC has conducted an international research and practice literature review on the concept of best practice in service/care coordination. The literature review findings have resulted in a proposed model for service coordination. MHCC will consult with MHCC members and other interested people regarding the content of the Discussion Paper and subsequent directions for the Service Coordination Strategy at six Regional Forums to be held during August. You can also provide written submissions responding to the 12 questions included in the Discussion Paper by 2 September. Feedback received in response to the Discussion Paper will help inform directions for the Service Coordination Strategy.
MHCC Scoping Report – NSW GP Divisions (April 2011)
MHCC undertook this scoping activity in recognition of new primary mental health care structures and services that are to be developed through sector development related to National Health and Hospital Reform (i.e., the proposed role of Medicare Locals). The report highlights mental health programs and partnerships underway in NSW GP Divisions and makes recommendations for strengthening partnerships and service coordination between GP Divisions/Medicare Locals and the community sector. This work has also been made available to Local Health District (former Area Health Service) mental health services for comments toward achieving improved service coordination.
MHCC Discussion Paper – Team Care Model (October 2010)
MHCC has asked international mental health consumer consultant, Mary O’Hagan, to independently review this role delineation/service coordination document from community sector, consumer, human rights and recovery perspectives. This task was prompted by sector concern about this document being adopted at a state-wide level in the absence of broad sector consultation (see “Briefing Paper for February 2009 MHCC Board Meeting: Role Delineation Between Government and Non-government Service Providers”). The review was provided to HNEMH and is being considered for the next version of the Team Care Model document which is undergoing evaluation.
Project Background
This work relates to progressing recommendations 3 & 5 of MHCC’s 2010 Sector Mapping Project:
Recommendation 3: Mental health consumers have access to the range of CMO service types and experience continuity of care between components of the mental health service system.
Recommendation 5: CMOs develop and adopt a Care Coordination Strategy that will promote pathways and linkages across the mental health sector.
The mental health sector in Australia consists of a complex and increasingly fragmented mix of public/government, private for-profit and not-for-profit non-government community-managed organization (NGO/CMO) service providers with multiple layers of commonwealth and state/territory government policy, planning, and funding levers. This mental health service delivery environment requires that close attention be paid to the knowledge and skills needed to achieve effective and integrated service coordination. This concern is also reflected in Action 18 of the Fourth National Mental Health Plan to:
Improve communication and the flow of information between primary care and specialist providers, and between clinical and community support services, through the development of new systems and processes that promote continuity of care and the development of cooperative service models.
The evidence for service linkages in primary mental health care was recently reviewed and clinical, service and economic efficiencies demonstrated for working with people with depression (“Effectiveness of service linkages in primary mental health care: a narrative review part 1”, Fuller et. al., 2011). The need for health services to have strengthened collaborative partnerships with the community sector is noted (e.g., housing, employment etc.) as is the need for more research about collaborative approaches when working with people with psychosis.
The Service Coordination Strategy will consult with MHCC members, people affected by mental illness, communities and other stakeholders to develop best practice guidelines for achieving service coordination that facilitates recovery. MHCC promotes service coordination approaches that support consumer self-directed care (see “Care Planning Processes: From Managed Care to Self Directed Care”, Helen Glover 2006). Elements of this approach are included in the “COAG National Action Plan on Mental Health Care Coordination Principles and Implementation Guidelines” and “NSW COAG Mental Health Group: Care Coordination In NSW”.
For more information about the Service Coordination Strategy please contact Tina Smith, Senior Policy Officer, tina@mhcc.org.au or Ph 9555 8388 Ext 111.