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GANNAWARRA Mental Health

Information & Networking Session – 29th October 2013

OUTCOME REPORT

Overview

The first Mental Health ‘Think Tank’ was held on Tuesday the 29th of October 2013. The Gannawarra Mental Health Information & Networking Session was an initiative of the Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee and GLAM. The day was held in Kerang at Northern District Community Health Service. The aim of this session was to improve agency awareness of Mental Health and related services (provided locally and via outreach) in the Gannawarra Shire, and to engage and develop sustainable networks between staff in Gannawarra Shire based agencies and outreach services staff.

The session was focused around the following;

Gannawarra Shire Demographics

Locally based service providers presenting about their organisations and services

Outreach service providers presenting about whom they are, what they do, and how they provide services in the Gannawarra Shire as listed on the Gannawarra Shire SMPCP Mental Health & Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria) Resource.

Meet & network with local Mental Health & Related Service providers as well as agencies contracted to provide outreach services in Gannawarra Shire.

Our ‘Think Tank’ CHALLENGES, STRENGTHS & OPPORTUNITIES providing services in Gannawarra. Action areas to be determined using the lens of WORKING TOGETHER. How locally based and outreach service providers can effectively network and share information in the future to benefit communities in the Gannawarra Shire.

The above areas of discussion contributed to meeting the aim of the meeting which was to improve agency staff awareness of Mental Health and related services (provided locally and via outreach) in the Gannawarra Shire, and to engage and develop sustainable networks between staff in Gannawarra Shire based agencies and outreach staff.

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Presentations

Local Agency Presentations

The local agencies based within the Gannawarra Shire presented about the Shire demographics and their Agency’s services. Presentations were provided by the following;

Narelle O’Donoghue— Environmental Health Officer, Health and Wellbeing Planner - Gannawarra Shire Council. Click here for the link to the Gannawarra Demographics Presentation

Mandy Hutchinson—Executive Manager Community Wellbeing, Gannawarra Shire Council

Janette Gordon – Nurse Unit Manager, Acute Ward - Cohuna District Hospital

Suzanne Gray – Nurse Unit Manager - Kerang District Health

Bev Nethercote – Mental Health Support Worker - Mallee Family Care

Tricia Currie – Programs & Service Manager - Northern District Community Health Service

Other Agency Presentations

Each agency listed on the SMPCP Mental Health & Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria) Resource present at the meeting had the opportunity to provide a 2 minute presentation on their service. Refer to the SMPCP Mental Health & Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria) Gannawarra Resource for details please click here and see Appendix one for attendance list.

Outcomes

Key points discussed throughout the day

Identified Strengths:

The diverse range and quantity of existing services available to Gannawarra Shire

The strong sense of community

Increase in service delivery

Services all share a common vision (want what’s best for our community)

Willingness to challenge via advocacy

Willingness to share resources

Local service providers have knowledge of local family dynamics/connections

Local agencies working together

Willingness to travel/ accountability

Problem solving skills to adapt policy to local needs

Communication/ Partnerships

Challenges faced:

So many different outreach services coming ‘in’ to the Shire

Recruitment and retention of suitably qualified staff (full time & part time)

Lack of training and education for local staff

Housing

Maintaining consistency around services provided

Lack of public transport

Travel/ Isolation/ Accessibility

Large distances to remote clients/services

Lack of promotion/ knowledge

Low staff to client ratio’s

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Connecting with schools & case management

Wait lists to see psychologists/counsellors

Wait lists in general to health services

Accessing police/ambulances to transport patients to Bendigo/ specialist treatment facilities

Getting patients home from treatment facilities

Lack of focus on early intervention, support for families, parenting – supporting families in general, not just those at risk

Boundaries- different catchment services being responsible for one town

Further education needed on Service Coordination and Connectingcare, use of Service Coordination Tool Template

The culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community accessing services, cultural sensitivity awareness

Stigma towards services

Lack of collaboration with services – case plans, external services

Challenges for Schools

Parental consent for schools to access students past history in order to best support the young person (apply for the extra assistance these students’ require)

Being kept ‘in the loop’ from service providers

Lack of partnerships with service providers

Minimal involvement with outside agencies – case management wanted

DEECD Psychologists used for assessments majority of time

Education on mental illness’ – most common illness’ in schools are the ones you can’t see e.g.; depression, drug and alcohol abuse, and anxiety

Lack of confidence in confidentiality

Actions / Opportunities/ Working together “The thing is Partnership’s, we can do better together.” Partnerships

Build on relationships between agencies – strategies to be investigated; o Building partnerships at an organisational level not just individual workers o Schools and agencies working together better

Connecting up agencies who provide the same service up to ensure communication between one another and a more efficient service for clients and community and being persistent at this

Team approach - linking activities together, minimise duplication

Annual event focusing on networking and progressing work from this session

Gannawarra based agencies extended an invitation to agencies providing services into the Gannawarra Shire; o Use of office space (where appropriate) o Drop into local agency office and make presence known o To meet and continue building relationship o If local context needed encouraged agencies to contact

Service Coordination

Increasing knowledge of confidentiality, Privacy does not need to be a barrier of working together

Increasing understanding of service coordination practice e.g. appropriate referrals use of secure e-communication

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Potential changes to the SMPCP Mental Health & Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria) Gannawarra Resource were collated throughout the day: Name changes

Centrelink Swan Hill > Department of Human Services (Medicare, Centrelink, CRS)

Swan Hill Aboriginal Health Service > Mallee District Aboriginal Service (MDAS) – potential other changes to be confirmed

Haven > Haven, Home Safe (age 16+)

Mitchell Community Health > Nexus Primary Health Bendigo Health

Remove after hours service

Crisis Emergency- Emergency Department

Triage phone service is 24/7

VC screening tool for triage Mallee Family Care - check

Community Mental Health Support Service (Combining PDRSS/PHaMs)

Family Services (referral & from) Northern Districts Community Health Service - add

School Focus Youth Services

Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Service – Specialist Homelessness Service- add advocacy, No Interest Loans Scheme

Drink/Drug Driver program Other

DHS CPU services- Clarify the border lines through Leitchville

Kerang District Health Medical Practice - Remove

MIND- referrals via SCTT tool and www.connectingcare.com

St Luke’s - IHBO age (64) not (65), Family Services eligibility – 0-18 years

LMMML - Add MNIP Child Mental Health Program to

Add Bendigo Community Health Service - Standby

Feedback Form - Outcomes

Participants on the day were asked to complete a feedback form in relation to the following areas;

SMPCP Mental Health & Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria) Resource

Key outcomes from today’s session

Involvement in the SMPCP Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee

27 out of the 50 participants on the day completed this feedback form.

Results

Mental Health & Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria) Resource - section:

The results from this section of the feedback concluded that; 65.4% of the 27 responses had seen this resource prior to the session, through; SMPCP circulation via email/website and their workplace.

Thoughts about the resource were overall positive, the 24 responses to the question indicated that the resource was very “useful”, “valuable” and “comprehensive” particular praise was given to the service directory however constructive feedback was given that the service directory could be organised by “age groups” not service as this will make it easier to refer by presentation.

All 27 responses indicated they will use this resource in the future for making referrals, networking & connections with Gannawarra Shire, service mapping, and passing on to other staff members.

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Key Outcomes from today’s meeting - section:

The results from this section of the feedback concluded when indicating which were key outcomes from the participants attendance (more than one answer responses);

26 responses (96.3%) believe that the event Increased Knowledge

18 responses (66.7%) believe that the event Established better networks with local Gannawarra Shire Service Providers

17 responses (63.0%) believe that the event Established better networks with outreach Service Providers in Gannawarra Shire

13 responses (48.1%) believe that the event provided Commitment to engage with Service Providers in Gannawarra Shire on an ongoing basis

22 responses (81.5%) believe the event Improved awareness of services that you will refer to in the future

19 responses (70.4%) believe the event generated better understanding of outreach provider’s service delivery model

17 responses (63.0%) believe that the event created Better understanding of local Gannawarra Shire service provider’s delivery model

Involvement in the SMPCP Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee - section:

Out of the 27 responses 13 (48.1%) responded after the event that they would now like to be involved in the SMPCP Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee. Ongoing network meetings, listing service availability and contact number grouped by community, and the SMPCP to assist in actioning some of the opportunities identified were suggested to strengthen the SMPCP Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee’s work in the Gannawarra Shire. Overall the participants felt the day was “very useful” and “organised” and would like this session undertaken annually.

Summary of Outcomes

The Gannawarra Mental Health Information and Networking session provided an;

Opportunity for the Gannawarra based agencies to share local information about the Gannawarra communities, which included highlighting the area’s unique demographics hence importance of the session

Providers of mental health services to Gannawarra also had the opportunity to promote and share the services they provide to Gannawarra Communities and meet each other

Changes that need to be made to the SMPCP Mental Health and Related (Eligibility and Entry Criteria) Gannawarra resource were highlighted and items to consider in future reviews of the resources

Challenges, strengths and opportunities were captured with the main themes relating to;

Knowing each other and continually connecting up, especially with locally based staff

Offer made by local agencies to meet, use agency space etc

Time and distance are an issue in doing this well and how we might do this more effectively

The range of services coming into Gannawarra is great and diverse, further work regarding coordination needed – referral pathways, privacy/confidentiality and understanding of service system

Look to have an annual event to continually link up agencies in Gannawarra.

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Next Steps—Where to from here?

SMPCP Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee and GLAM to review outcome report and put strategies in place to address and progress the actions identified, particularly relating to the following;

1. Revising the SMPCP Mental Health and Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria) Gannawarra

Resources from the potential changes identified

2. Identified gaps in service and challenges be advocated for by the collective Partnership as

appropriate by GLAM and SMPCP

3. Agencies providing mental health and related services in Gannawarra to connect up with local

agencies and other agencies providing services in Gannawarra

4. Gannawarra Shire Council extended an invitation to agencies providing services into the

Gannawarra Shire – external agencies to connect with the local agencies regarding this offer

5. Agencies providing services in the Gannawarra Shire to connect up with the local schools;

building relationships and increasing communication

6. SMPCP Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee and the Partnership in general to consider

further strategies to support agencies to build relationships and partnerships

7. Plan an annual/ bi annual event in Gannawarra for mental health providers to come together and

network and share information about services being provided and discuss strategies to address

any identified challenges

8. SMPCP Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee to investigate a project or activity to implement

mental wellbeing and service coordination practice between SMPCP Member agencies eg. client/

consumer pathways – the focus could be supporting schools and agencies to work better

together.

9. SMPCP Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee progress work on the understanding of service

coordination practice, the importance and use of e-communication and confidentiality

10. SMPCP Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee encourage participants involvement in the

Committee.

Useful Links

Links to SMPCP Mental Health and Related Services Resource for; Buloke, Gannawarra, and Swan Hill

BULOKE Shire SMPCP Mental Health & Related Services(Eligibility & Entry Criteria) GANNAWARRA Shire SMPCP Mental Health & Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria) SWAN HILL RC SMPCP Mental Health & Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria)

All information from the day (including Resources) are available by visiting www.smpcp.com.au

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Appendices

Appendix One: Attendance and Apologies

Attendance: attendees names listed under organisation represented

Bendigo Community Health Service: Jeanette O’Brien

Bendigo Health: Ivane StClaire, Kerry Meiers, Sue Petrini, Paul Hurnall

Cohuna District Hospital: Janette Gordon

DHS Swan HILL: Jo Dacey, Kerri Gibbins

Department of Education & Early Childhood Development: Annie Stiecke

Department of Human Services (Centrelink): Nicole Maple

East Wimmera Health Service: Danny Stone

Gannawarra Shire Council: Lindy Mackay, Mandy Hutchinson, Narelle O’Donoghue,

Jess Keating, Sue Donnelly

Haven: Paul Herman, Craig Hunt

Kerang District Health: Sue Gray

Kerang Technical High School: Dean Smith, Michael Walker

Kerang Medical: Kate Harman, Leanne Cooke

Loddon Mallee Murray Medicare Local: Letitia Henderson, Cecilia Connellan

MADEC: Daryl Nicholson

Mallee District Aboriginal Service: Melanie Lane

Mallee Family Care: Tiarm Baskin, Tenille Thornton, Tim Clarke, Bev Nethercote, Rachel Johnson

MIND—Bendigo: Bronwyn Foran

Mallee Accommodation and Support Program: Stacey Kontogianis

Northern District Community Health: Jim Hirst, Tricia Currie, Diane Dean, Alex Carter, Rachel Pollock, Alexia Stephen, Claire Gillen

Rural Financial Counselling Service– North Central Kerang: Teresa Meulendijks

Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership: Bronwyn Hogan, Jess Merrett, Sarah Holloway

St Lukes Anglicare - Bendigo : Julie Sands, Sharlene Green

St Lukes Anglicare – Swan Hill: Di Lloyd, Donna Salathiel

Sunraysia Murray Group Training- Youth Connections: Deb Quin

Take Two Berry Street: Andrew Webster, Andrea Patton

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Apologies: Apology names listed under organisation represented

Bendigo Health: Xavier Moloney, Brendan Watson, Marty Andison, John Hermans

Department of Health: Melissa Knight

Department of Education & Early Childhood Development: Amanda Wheeler

Kerang District Health: Chloe Keogh

Kerang Technical High School: Catherine Dawson

Mallee Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Unit, Swan Hill: Alice Saville

Mallee District Aboriginal Service: Xavier Bisson

MIND Bendigo: Megan McDonald

Nexus Primary Health: Simon Gibbs

Swan Hill District Health: Jann Barkman, Elwyn Witney

Swan Hill Neighbourhood House: Lea Johnston

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Appendix Two: Promotional Flyer

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Appendix Three: Feedback Form

“Mental Health Services in Gannawarra Shire” Info

Agency Information & Networking Session

FEEDBACK FORM

29th October 2013

Introduction

The Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership would like your feedback in relation to the following areas;

o Mental Health & Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria) Resource o Key outcomes from today’s meeting o Involvement in the SMPCP Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee

Please take the time to respond to the following questions:

2. Buloke Information Session

Please indicate the key outcomes from your attendance at today’s Networking & Information Session

Increased Knowledge

Established better networks with local Gannawarra Shire service providers

Established better networks with outreach service providers in Gannawarra Shire

1. Mental Health & Related Services (Eligibility & Entry Criteria) Buloke Resource

Had you seen this resource before today’s information session?

No

Yes

If yes, where?

What are your thoughts about the resource? (Consider best features & improvements to be made.)

Will you use this resource?

No If no, why?

Yes es, how & when?

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Commitment to engage with service providers in Gannawarra Shire on an ongoing basis

Improved awareness of services that you will refer to in future

Better understanding of outreach providers service delivery model

Better understanding of local Gannawarra Shire service providers delivery model

Other: (please specify) _________________________________

The Southern Mallee PCP Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee and GLAM thank you for your involvement in today’s Mental Health Information & Networking Session, and for taking the time to complete this feedback form. Please note that no personal details will be used in the publication of results.

SMPCP Contact details:

Bronwyn Hogan (Executive Officer

PO Box 1752, Swan Hill Vic 3585

p. 5033 0722 m. 0427 554 409

e. bronwyn.hogan@smpcp.com.au

3. Future Direction

Would you like to be involved in the SMPCP Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee?

Yes

No If yes, please provide your Contact Details: _______________________________________

How do you suggest the SMPCP Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee can strengthen their work in Gannawarra Shire?

Any further comments?

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Appendix Four: A bit more about…

Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership (SMPCP)

The below three documents identify the Partnerships focus and structures over the next four years outlining how we will together work towards our Southern Mallee PCP Vision - ‘Happy and healthy people connected to vibrant rural communities’.

Southern Mallee PCP 2013 – 2017 Strategic Plan has been developed by Members of the Southern Mallee PCP and provides a broad overview of the Partnerships Purpose, Vision and Mission. The Plan also includes details about the two strategic priorities and their respective activity areas goals and objectives and the planning model in which the Partnership will operate over the next four years.

Southern Mallee PCP 2013 – 2017 Operational Plan articulates each of the two priorities goals, objectives, strategies and evaluation methods and tools to be implemented by Southern Mallee PCP Members during 2013 – 2017. SMPCP 2013 – 2017 Operational Plan reflects Member Agency’s commitment and contribution to the Plan by way of aligning priority issues and sharing responsibility for implementing objectives and strategies.

Southern Mallee PCP Integrated Planning Model outlines the alignment / integration of Plans and how these Plans are to be implemented together via the Southern Mallee PCP Partnership platform

Southern Mallee PCP 2013 – 2017 Strategic Plan

Southern Mallee PCP 2013 – 2017 Operational Plan

Southern Mallee PCP Integrated Planning Model

SMPCP Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee

The SMPCP Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee operates to enable agencies to come together to discuss the strategies to address the broad mental health and wellbeing issues in a collaborative way, this can focus on mental health service coordination and integration and mental health promotion etc. It is catchment wide committee (covering Local Government Areas of Buloke, Gannawarra & Swan Hill) and was established with the first meeting in February 2010. Meetings are held bi-monthly and rotate around the catchment and are attended by a range of SMPCP Member Agencies/ Associate Members & Others (Committee Members are representative of a variety of sectors; Education/ Employment/ Police/Disability/ Community/Centrelink/ Health & Welfare). These meetings have a strong focus on SMPCP activities based on Partnerships, Health Promotion and Service Coordination. 40+ agencies are included on the circulation list of the SMPCP Mental Health & Wellbeing Committee and videoconferencing can be made available for meetings.

GLAM

Gannawarra Local Agency Meeting (GLAM) meet bi-monthly or as required to provide a forum for Gannawarra local agencies to strengthen and build relationships, processes and systems that contribute to an effective service delivery environment which addresses the health and wellbeing needs of the Gannawarra community. Working Partners is open to local Gannawarra agencies including; Gannawarra Shire Council, Cohuna District Hospital, Kerang District Health, Northern District Community Health Service, Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership, Swan Hill Aboriginal Service - Kerang Aboriginal Community Centre and Loddon Mallee Murray Medicare Local. To become involved in the Partnership or for further information contact:

Bronwyn Hogan, Executive Officer, Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership

Phone: 03 5033 0722 Email: bronwyn.hogan@smpcp.com.au

Or visit the Southern Mallee PCP website at www.smpcp.com.au