Kia ora from Paul and Scott
It has been an exciting few weeks for the Mental Health and Addiction Change Programme, as design workshops for the Local Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Service wrapped up. We would once again like to thank everyone for their crucial input into the design process. See below for a recap of next steps. A few people have sought clarification on the difference between the Local Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Service, and the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs.
The hubs will be physical places in the community, from which many different services and supports will operate, including peer support and leadership. It is crucial that any Hub model is community-led with mana whenua and co-designed with peers, which will make sure each Hub is tailored to the needs of its community.
While the Local Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Service will work closely with the Community Hubs, it is not expected that they will be based within the hubs full time. Further work needs to be completed on linkages and pathways across these systems. Find out more in the FAQs.
Wishing you all a relaxing Easter break.
Paul Oxnam Scott Ambridge
Executive Clinical Director, MHAIDS Executive Director, MHAIDS
Community Mental Health and Addiction
Local Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Service: Next steps
Following on from the design workshops, we are in the process of seeking further feedback from groups such as Māori and the Primary Care sector, to make sure we have fully canvassed all the perspectives needed to move forward.
The change proposal is likely to be released in April. Subject to the consultation process it is intended that the first changes will start rolling out around July this year.
We will be in touch soon with more details about the consultation. If you have any questions, please contact MhaChange@ccdhb.org.nz.
Wakaiti Saba Dr Alastair Willis
Group Manager Clinical Director
Mental Health and Addiction Services
One year on: Intake and assessment roles
Last year new intake and assessment roles were established in each of MHAIDS’ Adult Community Mental Health teams and Child & Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) teams. The first Intake and Assessment Clinician roles were established in Kāpiti in early 2022.
Deborah Kinvig stepped into the Kāpiti CAMHS role last April. She carries out phone assessments of tamariki and rangatahi who have been referred to the service, alongside their whānau.
“When assessing young people, it’s important to establish trust and rapport,” she says. “My being local helps rangatahi and whānau to feel more comfortable. Talking to someone who is living in their community establishes a kind of walking-alongside feeling.”
Deb’s knowledge of local organisations means she can help identify the right service to support the young person. That might be through the Kāpiti CAMHS team or via an NGO provider.
Hear more from Deb here.
AoD collaborative update
The Alcohol and other drugs (AoD) collaborative group is a firmly established and valued network for those working in the sector.
Its current focus is on how to address the needs of priority groups identified through the Model of Care, as well as making sure the voices of AoD stakeholders are heard and responded to across the ecosystem as the change programme progresses.
Engagement with key stakeholders is taking place across the collaborative, seeking to identify keys to success and future sustainability. Project leads are working to strengthen a Te Tiriti-guided approach, to ensure leadership by Māori is prioritised, actioned and supported.
Planning is underway for a proposed refresh of the project’s Model of Care, to make sure it aligns with the Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whaiora national work programme and the existing models of care across the District.
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Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Specialist service and NGO share story at international conference
A compelling case for collaboration was made at the CAPA International Conference in February.
MHAIDS Kaiārahi Infant, Child, Adolescent & Family Service (ICAFS) and NGO Family Works gave a joint presentation about their shared contract, under which ICAFS clients are seen by Family Works staff with the supervision of an ICAFS psychiatrist.
“This collaboration has reduced wait times for clients, and being seen in an NGO rather than a specialist Te Whatu Ora mental health service has decreased stigma for some families,” says Clare Couch, Team Leader of ICAFS, who presented alongside Shelly Evans from Family Works.
Other benefits include development of a close working relationship between the speciality service and the NGO, and increased capacity for Family Works staff to manage clinical work.
Refreshing use of the Choice & Partnership Approach (CAPA) is a key part of the Community Child & Adolescent Mental Health workstream, and workshops to develop this have been taking place since last year.
Acute Inpatient Mental HealthUpdate from the building project
Having completed the concept design phase, we are now in the preliminary design stage of the project. This phase involves more detailed planning around the how the different areas and functions of the building will interrelate to one another to enhance the therapeutic benefit to tāngata whaiora, as well as improving the experience of staff. These areas broadly cover; the front of house, bedrooms/living areas, therapy spaces, sensory and safe care, and staff support areas.
As part of this phase, the user groups are considering how other necessary support services (e.g., food supplies, cleaning, and maintenance services) are provided within the environment with minimal disruption.
It is exciting to see the project develop to the next stage and while this work is occurring the clinical leadership team will be exploring how the vision for the model of care will be realised. Early work is underway to explore opportunities to align the model of care work with other existing projects and to create an implementation plan.
