SalvoPsych Hype! TSA Doorways Coordinators now see their way clear!

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1 SalvoPsych Hype! Newsletter of SalvoPsych an initiative of The Salvation Army and the Australian Psychological Society Volume 1, Issue 1 March 2012 TSA Doorways Coordinators now see their way clear! The fog has lifted! Despite it having been in place for the last two years, some people still haven t a clear picture of how the SalvoPsych scheme is meant to work. But now, thanks to a simple powerpoint demonstration and discussion by Assoc. Prof. Jacques Metzer, of the Australian Psychological Society, many of the Doorways Programme Coordinators are now much more in the know! The gathering, which took place at the Salvation Army Centre at Tea Tree Gully on February 3 rd, saw 15 TSA Coordinators together with TSA Community Support Services Director and SalvoPsych Chair, Margaret Davies in attendance. Jacques explained how the allimportant referral process works, how to identify appropriate clients of the scheme and how both the TSA and APS participants benefit from their involvement in this great initiative. It was as if there was a sudden awakening amongst the attendees, Margaret said, adding that the psychologists offering their services may expect an upsurge in referrals now that the processes have been explained more fully. Further explanatory sessions and discussions are planned to take place around the state during the coming year. Jacques and Sally Metzer at a Doorways Caseworkers meeting 1

2 SalvoPsych 2011 Review results in major changes An intensive review of the SalvoPsych Program which took place at the end of last year, highlighted the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the scheme. The outcomes of the review, which was designed and conducted by Organisational Psychologist Kathryn McEwen, are currently being implemented. The decision has been made to change the management structure of the SalvoPsych initiative, and also to formalize the name of the organizing Committee. The new SalvoPsych Steering Committee, allows for no less than 6 and up to 12 members, with equal representation from both The Salvation Army and the SA/State Branch of the Australian Psychological Society. Current office holders are: Margaret Davies (TSA) Chair, Kathryn McEwen (APS) Treasurer, Sally Metzer (TSA Volunteer) Secretary and Jacques Metzer (APS), the new One-to-One Programme Referral Coordinator. Other Committee members are: Kathryn McEwen (APS), Karen Osborne (APS), Sharon Brinkley (TSA), Tony Palombi (TSA) and Alana Bombardieri (TSA) *Anyone wishing to see a copy of the review can access it on the APS Website (go to: Membership /Members/ Groups/Branches/ South Australia/SalvoPsych Congratulations to SalvoPsych advocate Dr. Jill Benson, OAM Dr. Benson, who has given her full support to the SalvoPsych Programme, was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the recent Australia Day Honours List. She received the award for her service to medicine through contributing in the field of Mental Health, particularly for refugees and people seeking asylum, and to the indigenous community in South Australia. We are very proud to have Dr. Benson s words of encouragement printed in the SalvoPsych Brochure which is distributed to interested GPs around the state. 2

3 Calling all GP s around SA SalvoPsych needs you! A crucial component of the SalvoPsych Referral process involves the client being referred to a General Practitioner. After deciding that SalvoPsych is appropriate for the client, The Salvation Army Doorways Coordinator will make an appointment for the client at the nearest participating GP s practice. If need be, the Doorways Coordinator will actually take the client to the appointment. The GP may then formulate a Mental Health Care plan and refer the client onto a SalvoPsych psychologist. To inform GPs of their vital role in the success of the SalvoPsych programme, an informative article has been forwarded to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and also the Australian Medical Association for circulation on their e-newsletter sites. It should be circulated soon. It is hoped that a number of GPs will see the story and be motivated to contact the SalvoPsych Referral Coordinator Jacques Metzer to have their names included on a list of SalvoPsych friendly medical practitioners. If you know a medico who may be interested in being involved, please pass on his or her name to Jacques who will then make contact with the GP and forward the SalvoPsych GP Brochure. Easy! SalvoPsych 2011 Survey results show how committed you are! 78 members of the Australian Psychological Society offered their professional services to the Salvation Army clients through the SalvoPsych programme last year. 67 General/Clinical psychologists were practising within thirteen Salvation Army Regions, with some eight psychologists happy to see clients in more than one region. 3 Adelaide : Marion : 6 Norwood: 8 Arndale: 3 Playford: 10 Southern : 8 South East: 2 29 clinicians Eastern: 3 Mid North: 1 Pt. Augusta/ Whyalla: 2 Eyre Peninsula: 1 Yorke Peninsula: 3 Riverland : 0 Although accurate records have unfortunately not been kept during this period, a total of approximately 100 sessions have been conducted since the inception of the scheme. Eight Organisational psychologists offered and conducted mentoring, workshops and seminars to TSA clients and staff. One Health Psychologist offered and conducted two well-being seminars to TSA clients and staff. Interest is being shown by other APS members including Forensic and Clinical Neuropsychologists The Salvation Army is currently arranging rooms at some of their facilities for those psychologists who prefer to work on site. The Survey involved all participating psychologists being contacted personally by Sally Metzer either online or by telephone over a four week period during October/November, All but two participating psychologists replied. *Please note: Supplying information is a condition of the Memorandum of Understanding between The Salvation Army and participating members of the SA State/Branch of the Australian Psychological Society. (Refer 5.2 Participate in providing materials to APS and TSA to evaluate SalvoPsych ). Thank you to everyone who took part in this important survey!

4 Introducing Jenny Williams, SalvoPsych Representative on the APS SA State/Branch Committee I chose to become involved with SalvoPsych because I believe it is an excellent opportunity to combine professional psychological skills and programs with a community organization that is full of caring staff and volunteers dedicated to improve the life of others. In my first meeting with Margaret Davies, we discussed how Organizational Psychology best practice could be used to in service staff so that they could then pass on the knowledge in their programs and service delivery. My first delivery was on Managing Change, and I am hoping to visit some country areas this year combining SalvoPsych with my skills and experience in the sporting arena through local organizations so that it becomes an effective use of time and a coordinated approach to community needs. In my newly elected role on the APS State Committee I will now become the liaison between this Committee and the SalvoPsych Committee, where I hope to ensure that we develop innovative ideas and initiatives. It would also be great to recruit new psychologists to the cause ensuring that we use the opportunity to publicise how a great initiative and the combined goodwill of the two groups can help our community. Organisational Psychologist Karen Osborne, a member of the SalvoPsych Steering Committee, thinks it would be a good idea if more of her colleagues joined the SalvoPsych initiative. SalvoPsych is a life-changing partnership, she says. A large team of psychologists have already joined the ranks to provide counselling and therapy to people experiencing mental health problems. Why don t you join in too? To promote the message, Karen has produced and is circulating a flyer aimed at other members of the College of Organisational Psychologists in South Australia. What skills can you offer to support the team of Salvation Army workers who provide hands-on assistance? she asks. Karen believes that psychologists can benefit greatly from their involvement. It can be an opportunity to trial new ideas, gain experience in a new sector, and establish valuable networking contacts. Contributing to SalvoPsych is an opportunity to be of value to the community, she says. If you re an Organisational Psychologist and would like to be part of SalvoPsych, contact Karen on kosborne@adam.com.au M: Karen puts out a call to her professional colleagues

5 Client numbers building in the first quarter of the year. Client numbers building in the first quarter of the year. A total of eleven TSA clients have been referred to APS SalvoPsych psychologists since January, and the numbers are steadily increasing, according to One-to-One Referral Coordinator Jacques Metzer. It s been good to see a constant flow of clients, and also to be in touch with psychologists all over Adelaide who are glad that they are now having the opportunity to offer their time and professional services to the scheme, he said. *If you re a Doorways Coordinator and wish to refer a client to the SalvoPsych One-to-One programme, please contact Dr. Jacques Metzer, and he will arrange for a participating APS SalvoPsych psychologist to see your client as soon as he can. e: jacques.metzer@unisa.edu.au m : Message from Chairperson Margaret Davies It has been extremely exciting to be part of the continuing evolving SalvoPsych collaboration. Since its inception, this program has demonstrated how successful two renown organisations can be when they combined to help vulnerable members of the community. The key to the ongoing success of this program is the willingness of the participating psychologists to give generously of their time and passion and I am sure that in return they feel a sense of having helped people in need. The Salvation Army is very grateful to everyone involved and we look forward to further expanding this initiative. Margaret Davies Community Support Services Network Director The Salvation Army SA 5

6 A SalvoPsych case study SalvoPsych assists struggling TSA client: The Salvation Army provides people and families with advocacy during times of financial stress, assisting them with basic needs such as putting food on the table and maintaining housing arrangements. However, some clients needs go beyond the basic necessities and are searching for specialised assistance. The SalvoPsych initiative provides clients with the opportunity to access free psychological help, equipping people with the necessary skills to manage their lives comfortably during times which may be complicated and extremely stressful. As is to be expected, the situations vary for every client who presents to the Salvation Army. In July 2011, a client was seen for assistance in Emergency Relief Services and also expressed interest in seeking assistance from a psychologist. The client was in the midst of a relationship breakdown, had moved interstate and lost contact with his children. Bec Goudie, Doorways Caseworker at the Marion TSA at the time saw the client and commenced the referral process to a SalvoPsych psychologist. A suitable GP who supported the client with a Mental Health Treatment plan was found. The client then began seeing a local psychologist whom he could visit easily for sessions every three weeks. During this time The Salvation Army Caseworker supported the client with food assistance and financial counselling, therefore providing him with some stability in his current situation. Over the past five months the client has accessed psychological care which has helped to equip him with the necessary skills required to cope during a difficult and tiresome family breakdown. The client will have his final session with the psychologist in coming weeks but spoke recently of finally finding stable accommodation and planning visits to his children in the coming months. Although the road ahead will still be tough for this client, thanks to the SalvoPsych programme, he has been supported with professional help to rise above his situation and look positively towards the future, Bec said. Contact details: If you wish to contribute to this newsletter Please contact Sally Metzer on m: e: sallymetzer@hotmail.com 6