Authors: Nicola Hancock, Bridget Berry, Daya Henkel, Marilyn McMurchie, May Wei Su, Suzy Glover, Diane Paul
Year: 2022
Event: 2022 TheMHS Conference
Subject: clinical, peer support, workforce
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
Abstract: PANEL PRESENTATION: Peer-STOC - Peer worker delivered support to navigate post-discharge complexity: systemic and workforce related outcomes
Nicola Hancock, Bridget Berry, Daya Henkel
Peer Supported Transfer of Care (Peer-STOC) is a NSW-wide initiative, designed to provide additional person-centred and recovery-focused supports to individuals with complex mental health needs as they transition to home or community after an inpatient admission. Peer workers, employed by Local Health Districts, are embedded within multi-disciplinary community teams to deliver this innovative program.
A team of both lived experience and non lived experience researchers from The University of Sydney and Australian National University were engaged to conduct an independent evaluation. The aims of this presentation are to: 1. Provide an overview of the program and why NSW Health chose to commission an independent evaluation, and 2. Share and discuss some of our findings – specifically the impacts and outcomes of the program for peer workers and the mental health system more broadly. Peer workforce and systemic outcomes, whilst predominantly positive, also highlighted the challenges of implementation and these findings provide insights of value to future program expansion and development.
PANEL PRESENTATION: Navigating the mental health system from the outside: the GP perspective
Marilyn McMurchie, May Wei Su
The wait for services is characteristic of health care.
Seeing a person in distress can be challenging for a clinician, particularly if there is a sense of impotence about resolving this. We have an excellent health system in Australia for emergencies, but where care is considered less acute there can be a prolonged wait period prior to first appointment, which can heighten distress.
Specific types of presentation are associated with longer waits, including those from CALD, presenting with non-psychotic illness, or somatic symptoms. A model of care which supports complex care within primary care would improve overall patient outcomes.
Re-framing the anticipated wait prior to appointment can be useful in further information gathering, setting expectations for specialist review, addressing client safety, providing alternative coping strategies and exploring existing family or other supports.
General Practice is uniquely situated to support the person awaiting appointment, by continuing to engage in opportunities addressing the presenting issue, as well as health promotion.
The ideal would be a streamlined health service minimising wait times, particularly for complex care. In navigating the complexity…. integrating services and communication to ensure that time is best spent will ensure we make a difference in improving overall health outcomes.
PANEL PRESENTATION: Enhancing clinical handover in mental health settings through the use of ISBAR
Suzy Glover, Diane Paul
Aim
To enhance clinical handover in mental health settings through the use of ISBAR
Method
A number of sources including serious incident review identified the need to strengthen clinical handover practices. The use of a structured tool such as ISBAR was identified as key in strengthening handover with clinician’s requesting educational resources to support this practice.
Co-designed clinical handover videos were developed depicting a consumer’s journey through a number of transitions of care from initial contact to discharge.
Consumer and carer peer worker input facilitated a focus on consumer and carer involvement in clinical handover including demonstrations of both person-side handover¹ and the role of the consumer peer worker in handover.
The videos were piloted across two clinical areas and positively evaluated in terms of increased understanding of value of ISBAR in supporting clear, concise and safe clinical communication.
Navigating complexity
Health care provision can be complex and challenging to navigate with potential for important information to be missed or miscommunicated during transitions of care. The videos provide insights for all in the demonstration of communication that occurs between clinical teams with a focus on how clear concise clinical communication is supported through the consistent use of the ISBAR tool.
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