Kia ora from Paul and Scott
The Mental Health and Addiction Change Programme consists of four workstreams that work together, even as they progress independently. As the programme has progressed it has been encouraging to see new connections and collaborations developing between these areas of work.
Te Whare Ahuru acute inpatient unit welcomed a new Kaumatua to their team last month. It is great to have Koro Meke on board to support tāngata whaiora and the service. Alongside working in Te Whare Ahuru with our kaimahi and tāngata whaiora, Koro Meke’s mātauranga will be invaluable with both the Kaupapa Māori and Acute Inpatient Mental Health workstreams. Meet Koro Meke below.
We are in the process of finalising the Local Adult Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Service change proposal. We want to make sure that we have taken the time to accurately reflect your input and get the proposal correct, so this will be shared with MHAIDS kaimahi in June, later then we had previously hoped.
In the meantime, other connected projects in the Community Mental Health and Addiction workstream are moving ahead, such as an increased focus on Peer Support. Find out about the latest developments in this project, below.
In this pānui you will also find a spotlight on the Wairarapa CAMHS team, which is just one of the teams commencing or refreshing their approach to the Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA) as part of the Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health workstream.
Paul Oxnam Scott Ambridge
Executive Clinical Director, MHAIDS Executive Director, MHAIDS
Community Mental Health and Addiction
Peer Support – Understand, Strengthen and Grow
In collaboration with Lived Experience leaders, MHAIDS, Strategy Planning and Performance, Te Rōpū Whakatau and people from within Te Ao Māori, Pacific and Disability spaces, we have developed an approach to Understand, Strengthen and Grow peer support in our local area.
As part of this system-wide work, we are piloting embedding peer support into MHAIDS teams – with an opportunity for teams to work with community NGO partners to integrate peer support. This offers exciting opportunities for learning and development, as we evaluate the process as we go.
We received applications from seven teams across MHAIDS who were keen to embed peer support. We were really encouraged by the level of engagement, and plan to include all the teams who expressed an interest in ongoing learning and development opportunities. This means teams will have the knowledge and competency to embed peer support, as we seek to grow beyond this pilot in the future.
Four MHAIDS teams have been shortlisted for this pilot opportunity, and our evaluation panel will be visiting with each team during May. We’re using the Te Pou CPSLE guide for clinical teams and funders as our anchor for evaluation.
The evaluation panel is made of up of members from Lived Experience, Māori, Pacific and Disabled partners, alongside clinical and operations leadership. The evaluation panel are excited to be visiting the teams and getting to know them in the places they work each day.
It is anticipated that once the team/s are selected we will work together with our NGO partners, our panel, and the MHAIDS teams to co-develop what peer support within MHAIDS will look like, and how it will be supported to thrive.
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Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Choice and Partnership Approach revisited
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Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are focusing on redevelopment of the use of the Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA).
Each team across the district is working together to develop implementation plans for the refresh. The Wairarapa CAMHS team (pictured) has taken up the challenge with enthusiasm, despite not having used CAPA previously. A small team covering a large area, team members worked together to pilot the approach. The pilot worked so well that after a three-month trial, it was adopted as standard procedure.
Find out more about the work they have been doing and the difference it has made for the team
on our website.
Kaupapa Māori workstream update
Since stepping into the role of Project Manager for the Kaupapa Māori workstream, De’arna (Dee) Sculley has been meeting with representatives of organisations that deliver mental health services across the district and beyond, with a specific focus on Te Awakairangi/Hutt Valley.
To name but a few, Dee has met with mana whenua, kaupapa Maōri services, NGOs and PHOs, MHAIDS Hutt Valley providers, regional and national services, and the Māori iwi liaison police service. She has really appreciated the willingness of people to meet with her.
“Despite people being so busy, they have prioritised seeing me,” she says. “That’s really encouraging. People have been very interested, keen and supportive.”
The goal is to build relationships and start to plan kaupapa Māori services in the Hutt Valley. Recurring themes include the need for accessible, local and outreach services, a focus on the Whānau Ora model, and ‘one-stop-shop' services.
Dee is now planning next steps for the workstream, which will include a series of wānanga to bring local Kaupapa Māori stakeholders into one room to share ideas. She is also looking for ways to bring together Māori kaimahi from teams in the Hutt Valley to share knowledge and build capacity.
Dee has also been collaborating with other workstreams and projects in the Change Programme, such as the AoD Collaborative and the peer support and MHACs workstreams.
A korowai for the service: New Kaumātua welcomed to Te Whare Ahuru
Earlier this month Te Whare Ahuru welcomed Koro Meke (Michael) Keepa as Kaumatua/Cultural Advisor.
Tāngata whaiora and whānau at Te Whare Ahuru often request cultural support, and having a dedicated kaumatua means it will be close at hand.
“Every one of us has an attribute, a reason they were put on this earth,” said Koro Meke. “I have the attribute of manaaki – caring for people. When people see a kaumatua they have that respect. They open up, whereas they may close down in front of other staff.”
Koro Meke will also have a strong role in working with the project team for the new acute inpatient unit in the Hutt Valley, as well supporting the kōrero on how Kaupapa Māori services will look in Te Awakairangi.
Read more here.
