S101: Carer/Family Peer Support
Tracks
Track 9
| Friday, August 28, 2015 |
| 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Fitzroy Room |
Speaker
Tanya Goodison
Program Manager - Community
North West Area Mental Health Service
Embedding carer peer support in an adult community mental health service: evidence, implementation and evaluation
Abstract
Carers play a central role in recovery for consumers living with mental illness, but some still live with considerable social isolation, burden and uncertainty about how to best support their loved one. Drawing on an evidence-based model (Single Session Family Consultation), a program to embed peer support for carers in a community mental health setting was implemented and evaluated. Using a flexible referral framework, a Carer Peer Support Worker (CPSW) role was integrated within ‘core business’. The CPSW offered a range of supports by phone, face to face and outreach, providing emotional support, practical information and strategies. Interpreters were accessed to support CALD families.
Over 131 families were referred to the CPSW over the first 8 months, demonstrating need. Surveys of 45 carers found that after contact with the CPSW, they felt heard and understood, more hopeful, less alone and learnt good ways to cope. Focus groups with staff revealed they had greater awareness of carer issues and saw the CPSW as part of the multidisciplinary team. The evaluation indicates that the program flexibly met carer needs, maximised resources to support a large number of families, and overcame many of the barriers to successful implementation of carer support services.
Over 131 families were referred to the CPSW over the first 8 months, demonstrating need. Surveys of 45 carers found that after contact with the CPSW, they felt heard and understood, more hopeful, less alone and learnt good ways to cope. Focus groups with staff revealed they had greater awareness of carer issues and saw the CPSW as part of the multidisciplinary team. The evaluation indicates that the program flexibly met carer needs, maximised resources to support a large number of families, and overcame many of the barriers to successful implementation of carer support services.
Biography
Tanya Goodison is an Occupational Therapist with 11 years experience working in acute, community and forensic mental health in Australia and the UK. Tanya is currently the Broadmeadows Community Team Program Manager within North West Area Mental Health Service.
Johanna Tracey has cared for and lived in a family with mental illness and draws on her lived experience when working with carers. She has previously worked as a Carer Consultant, Carer Engagement Worker and is now employed as a Carer Peer Support Worker. Johanna has a Masters in Art Therapy.
Cate Bourke
Carer Support Coordinator, Adult MHS and Youth & Family Advisor Coordinator, Child & Youth MHS
Eastern Health Mental Health Program
Findings from fifteen years of delivering carer peer support in a clinical mental health service.
Abstract
The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index (2007) indicates the group of Australians with the lowest subjective wellbeing are carers, while research by SANE (2007) indicates that a majority of Australian mental health family carers (56%) have experienced a deterioration in their physical and mental health as a result of their caring role. Services that address the impact of caring on the everyday activities and health of carers therefore have a valuable role to play. One such service, Carers Offering Peers Early Support (COPES) was developed in a Victorian adult mental health service in 1999. In 2001 COPES was awarded the TheMHS Gold Award for innovation. Now, fifteen years later, operating on a partnership model, between Eastern Health and Eastern Access Community Health (EACH)and MIND, COPES continues to provide a carer peer support service in a clinical setting , reaching over 500 carers per year.
This paper summaries almost 15 years of providing a mental health carer peer support service. We will cover the building and maintaining of collaborative relationships as well as the strategies, structures and evaluation processes that have contributed to the program’s success. In also covering the challenges we have encountered we hope to identify pitfalls to avoid.
This paper summaries almost 15 years of providing a mental health carer peer support service. We will cover the building and maintaining of collaborative relationships as well as the strategies, structures and evaluation processes that have contributed to the program’s success. In also covering the challenges we have encountered we hope to identify pitfalls to avoid.
Biography
Cate works at Eastern Health's Mental Health Program as Carer Support Coordinator for the Adult Mental Health Service; and Youth and Family Advisory Coordinator for the Child and Youth Service. Cate's life and work as an occupational therapist has been shaped by her experience as a carer.
David has been a Carer Peer Support Worker for Eastern Health COPES for seven years. Dave is employed at Eastern Access Community Health (EACH), which recently extended the COPES model to their community setting. Over the years Dave has championed options for partner support, including many years facilitating the EACH Partner Support Group.
Marina has worked at Box Hill COPES for over four years, spending much of this is time working at the adult inpatient unit in Box Hill. and more recently for the new CYMHS (Child & Youth) COPES service. Marina is employed at MIND after ARAFEMI Victoria's recent merger with MIND.
Janne McMahon
Chair and Executive Director
Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network (Australia)
National Carer Project: A 'practical Guide for working with carers of people with a mental illness'
Abstract
Public and private mental health services have a responsibility to identify and work with carers. Much of the ongoing care for people with long term mental illness and disability is now provided via initiatives such as the Partners in Recovery, Personal Helpers and Mentors Scheme and in time, the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
There is much research which clearly demonstrates that engaging and involving carers has a positive influence on the physical, mental and psychosocial outcomes for consumers. What is lacking is clear nationally consistent practical guidance for working with and supporting carers.
A Consortium has been formed to develop a Practical Guide for Working with Carers of People with a Mental Illness. These are:
- Mental Health Carers ARAFMI WA Inc.
- MIND Australia
- Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network (Australia)
- Mental Health Council of Australia
- Mental Health Carers ARAFMI Australia
The main aim of this Project is to provide practical guidance in working with carers in a meaningful, mutually beneficial way using a partnership approach. The underpinning principle is that carers are equal partners in care.
The Guide will assist providers in meeting their obligations under the National Standards for Mental Health Services, Standard 7 – Carers.
There is much research which clearly demonstrates that engaging and involving carers has a positive influence on the physical, mental and psychosocial outcomes for consumers. What is lacking is clear nationally consistent practical guidance for working with and supporting carers.
A Consortium has been formed to develop a Practical Guide for Working with Carers of People with a Mental Illness. These are:
- Mental Health Carers ARAFMI WA Inc.
- MIND Australia
- Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network (Australia)
- Mental Health Council of Australia
- Mental Health Carers ARAFMI Australia
The main aim of this Project is to provide practical guidance in working with carers in a meaningful, mutually beneficial way using a partnership approach. The underpinning principle is that carers are equal partners in care.
The Guide will assist providers in meeting their obligations under the National Standards for Mental Health Services, Standard 7 – Carers.
Biography
The Project Officer is Judy Hardy. She has worked in mental health for the last 40 years. She was South Australian Director of Mental Health, has undertaken a wide range of projects, has been a representative of nine National Committees and is a member of the AMHOCN Carer Experiences of Service Provision Advisory Panel.
Mr Patrick Hardwick is the Project Chair and has been a carer advocate for a number of years. He is a Board member of Arafmi WA (as Chair) MHA and Deputy Chair of PMHCCN. He has been a member of many National Reference Groups, Steering Committees and Working Parties.
