Authors: St. Vincent’s Health (Melbourne)
Year: 2005
Event: 2005 TheMHS Awards
Subject:
Type of resource: TheMHS Awards
Award state: VIC
Award level: Finalist
Award category: Specialist Service or Part of a Larger Service
Abstract: The St. Vincent’s Mental Health Service (SVMHS) Extra Care Units (ECU) are secure units which provide psychiatric intensive care to acutely psychotic and/or suicidal patients within a 44 bed adult acute inpatient service. In 2002, SVMHS recognized the need to conduct a review process and implement changes that would ensure the provision of best practice in these units. A nurse was employed as ECU Coordinator, to conduct the review process and to facilitate the development of a best practice model of care for the ECU. An Extra Care Unit Advisory Committee was formed. Its terms of reference were intended to support the development of the new position of ECU Coordinator and to ensure that SVMHS was utilizing best practice principles, in providing a safe environment for both patients and staff and ensuring that treatment was provided in the ‘least restrictive environment’ as required by the Victorian Mental Health Act (1986).The SVMHS ECU Program is innovative, unique and successful as evidenced by its sustained improvement of treatment, programs, activities and physical environment over time.
Description of Facility/Organisation:
St. Vincent’s Mental Health Service is a publicly funded area mental health service under the auspices of the Sisters of Charity Health Service, Melbourne. It is responsible for the management of an adult area mental health service including a 44 bed acute inpatient service, two community mental health centres, each with approximately 350 registered consumers, a 20 bed community care unit and extended residential rehabilitation service. There are approximately 188 EFT clinical staff and a budget of $21,500,000 provided by the Department of Human Services, Victoria. The SVMHS also has responsibility for the following Victoria-wide, and specialist regional mental health services: the Victorian Dual Disability Service, The Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit, the Northern Dual Diagnosis Service, The Yarra Boroondara Primary Mental Health and Early Intervention Service, the Victorian Aboriginal Mental Health inpatient service, and the North-East Victoria Training Cluster (NEVIL)
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