Authors: Lorna Downes, Vrinda Edan, Emma Cadogan
Year: 2017
Event: 2017 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Change, Innovation, Reform, Workforce, Lived Experience, Recovery
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
Abstract: The lived experience workforce (LEW) is growing across Australia, New Zealand, USA and UK.1,2 With this growth comes demand for strategies, tools and resources for appropriate support, learning and career development of the workforce.
In Victoria, the 10-year Mental Health Plan identifies the LEW as an important sector to grow and support 3, 4In 2016 two project officers were employed to identify the support and development needs of the Victorian paid LEW. Together with a Senior Policy Officer, the resulting Consumer and Carer Workforce Development Team (CCWDT) bring together consumer, family/carer, learning and development, and research expertise, with an understanding of government processes. Together with key stakeholders, the team are advancing the knowledge, skills and support of the paid LEW. The CCWDT provide advice to employers, develop and deliver training, and facilitate the sharing of resources to ensure the LEW in clinical and community settings are recognised, valued and supported in their work.
This paper discusses how the team commenced this work using a novel partnership approach and co-production principles. We will also demonstrate how we developed surveys of the LEW and their managers; will detail the findings of these surveys and the plan to support the LEW moving forward.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: Participants will learn how they can work with co-production principles to support the consumer and family/carer lived experience workforce in their organisation, geographic region or country.
Learning Objective 2: This topic is important and relevant for mental health services as there is a need to ensure that the growing lived experience workforce are recognised, supported and valued in their work.
References
Repper, J., & Carter, T. (2011). A review of the literature on peer support in mental health services. Journal of Mental Health, 20(4), 392-411. Viewed 08 March 2017 < http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09638237.2011.583947>
NSW Government 2016, Employer’s guide to implementing a peer workforce, a case for your organisation, State of NSW NSW Mental Health Commission, NSW viewed 8 March 2017 < http://peerworkhub.com.au/the-case-for-peer-work/>
Victorian Government 2016, Victoria’s 10-year Mental Health Plan Mental Health Plan, State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne Australia, viewed 08 March 2017, https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/publications/policiesandguidelines/victorias-10-year-mental-health-plan
Victoria Government 2016, Victoria’s 10-year Mental Health Plan Mental Health Plan Mental Health Workforce Strategy, State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne Australia, viewed 08 March 2017 < https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/publications/policiesandguidelines/mental-health-workforce-strategy >
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