Building collaborative cultures of care

within NSW mental health services

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Trauma-informed recovery oriented approaches

Trauma-informed recovery oriented systems and processes of care prioritise self-determination. Organisations ensure well-supported flexible pathways out of inpatient care, co-designed with the person to maximise strengths of people with lived experience.

In practice

  • Establishing and implementing personalised and accessible care plans, recovery and wellness plans, and safety plans that outline care preferences and values.
  • Coordinating meetings with the person of lived experience, carers, families and kinship groups which includes medical officers and multidisciplinary teams.
  • Providing meaningful goal-directed activities specific to a person's overall needs and strengths, rather than determining interventions solely on the presence or absence of risk.
  • Promoting activities that enhance the person's ability to engage with others, and to develop coping skills and self-esteem.
  • Supporting the person to address the issues that led to their admission – this may require access to other parties, including family and allied health professionals such as psychologists or occupational therapists as well as peer workers and non-government organisations.
  • Reporting on the person’s progress to the person of lived experience, carers, families and kinship groups as well as medical officers and multidisciplinary teams.
  • Structure ward systems and activities to improve person of lived experience safety, experience and outcomes – for instance, orientating people to the unit (for example, using video orientation) to support wayfinding, establishing flexible visiting hours and allowing access to mobile phones.

Examples

National framework for recovery-oriented mental health services

The framework highlights key capabilities and response required for the mental health workforce to operate in accordance with the trauma-informed recovery approach.

https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-pubs-n-recovfra

Systems, practices and care planning

Whose plan is it anyway?

Queensland Alliance successfully promoted service planning to support personal recovery and self-direction.

https://paperzz.com/doc/9467619/whose-plan-is-it-anyway

Systems, practices and care planning

Implementing trauma informed care practices to strengthen collaborative cultures

Aim of the project was to have a positive impact on consumers, clinicians and the clinical environment by embedding trauma-informed care principles into clinical practice (through identification, support and better collaboration with consumers).

Systems, practices and care planning

Introduction of a new engaging model of care

Launched The Mental Health Patient Safety Program to improve quality of care provided to consumers.

Systems, practices and care planning

Destination unknown

The Far West Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Service: Destination Unknown – This is a short film that allow service users, their families and the community to understand the pathways through mental health services and what services look like.

http://www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/index.php?select1=Mental%20Health%20and%20Drug%20&%20Alcohol

Systems, practices and care planning

Introduction of a strengths-focused consumer model

Support collaborative working and recovery-orientated practice in the community through adoption of the strengths model among the mental health team.

Systems, practices and care planning

Development of calming tools

Calming tools were developed to introduce collaborative trauma-informed practices in response to the high rate and frequency of use of coercive practices within the child and adolescent mental health unit.

Systems, practices and care planning

Wagga Wagga mental health unit

Wagga Wagga Mental Health Unit received an award for its mental health recovery program (MHRP), a free residential, voluntary program of psycho-education, care and support for people with a mental health issue.

https://www.mlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/about-us/newsroom/media-releases/mental-health-award-for-mlhd

Systems, practices and care planning

40 days of gratitude

This is a template for a gratitude journal.

http://www.fwlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/UserFiles/files/Directorates/MHDA/40 DAYS OF GRATITUDE booklet.pdf

Systems, practices and care planning