Authors: E Kristensen and J Gilhotra, NSW
Year: 2002
Event: 2002 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Strategic Planning & Mainstreaming, book of proceedings
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
Abstract: While it is considered standard practice to have a strategic plan for mental health services, there are special challenges in developing such a plan. This paper will document the process of developing a strategic plan for Western Sydney Area Mental Health Service and highlight some of the challenges.
To guide the strategic planning process, a Reference Group was formed, chaired by the Area Director. This Reference Group represented many of the key internal and external stakeholders involved in the delivery of services to people with a mental illness. A significant part of the planning involved the conduct of consultations with service providers, consumers and carers, and to plan the consultations a sub group was convened by the Manager, Mental Health Services Development. Many of the strategies identified in these consultations formed the basis for the Plan.
It took approximately 12 months for the Plan to be developed, commencing with the first Reference Group meeting, and concluding with the documentation of the Final Draft. Challenges included: organisational restructures affecting some of the stakeholders; setting priorities; addressing the volume of National and State policies and plans; inadequate time to adequately address some issues; the structure of the consultation process; and linking the Strategic Plan with other local mental health related plans.
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