Presenter Phil Watson Neami – MHCSS provider MHCSS Intake Assessment 2014

What changed? Services now known as Mental Health Community Support Services (PDRSS->MHCSS) There are 2-3 MHCSS providers in each region. Consumers have a choice of which service most suits their needs Service providers funded to offer Individual Client Support Packages Groups facilitated in a range of community settings Fewer providers (45-16) Referral process through catchment Intake Assessment service

Benefits of the reform Integrated funding will ensure tailored support to meet individual needs Referral process is more central and accessible Priority access for those who are most in need

Intake Assessment

Intake Providers Neami, EACH, ACSO DoH wanted a consistent intake process across the state Standard Eligibility Screening Tool

Neami MHCSS Intake 12 staff based at Fairfield office 5 regions: Bayside, Frankston-Mornington Peninsula, Inner North, North West & South West. Predominantly phone support Phone and face to face interpreting services for people of non English speaking backgrounds Provisions for face to face meetings with Intake to facilitate access & MHCSS provider engagement for comprehensive assessment where required

Role of Intake Complete Eligibility Screening Tool to assess eligibility for MHCSS support Facilitate referrals to relevant community and health services

Eligibility criteria People eligible to receive MHCSS will: be years of age have a disability that is attributable to a psychiatric condition and have impairment or impairments that are permanent, or are likely to be permanent and

Eligibility criteria continued have an impairment or impairments that results in substantially reduced psychosocial functioning in undertaking one or more of the following activities: o communication o social interaction o learning o self-care o self-management; and have an impairment or impairments that affect their capacity for social and economic participation.

Individual client support packages (ICSP) MHCSS providers Recovery Orientated Flexible packages of support Not a package of money Groups in the Community – Targeted

Residential Services Intake’s role to manage referrals to youth and adult residential rehabilitation services and support accommodation services Advertise vacancies. MHCSS regional bed based selection panels decide on nominations (panel consists of a representative from intake, clinical services, facility with vacancy)

Questions and discussion. Neami MHCSS Intake EACH MHCSS Intake ACSO MHCSS Intake Mon-Fri 9-5

Our vision Full citizenship for all people living with a mental illness in Australian society Our mission Improving mental health and wellbeing in local communities Neami MHCSS Intake Mon-Fri 9-5

Session outline Background & rationale for new system, How will Intake Assessment work? Individual Client Support Packages, Referrals for: Adult and Youth Residential Rehabilitation Services and Supported Accommodation Services. Tandem and VMIAC: How can consumers and carers engage with services, and what are the new service obligations for consumers and carers. Questions and discussion

Background In April 2011, the Department of Health (Victorian Government) undertook a consultation process to seek feedback from consumers, carers and service providers on the PDRSS system Federal announcement of intention for a National Disability Insurance Scheme

2011 Consultation Themes Consumer, carer and service providers provided consistent feedback: The system was very difficult to navigate People want tailored support to better meet their unique recovery goals Program funding was rigid, and people want programs to be integrated in order to flexibly respond to consumers individual needs A lot of consumers felt that they didn’t have a choice of service

Reform process In 2012, the Minister for Health announced significant changes to the PDRSS sector based on consultation and feedback The Department of Health released tenders for the new MHCSS funding in 2013 Successful providers were announced in May 2014 Changes were implemented on August 1 st

Background DoH specified phone based intake systems DoH had 3 centralised intake pilots (Peninsula Support Services, EACH & Inner South Community Health)