Creating a platform for co-location and collaboration Matt Riley EACH Social and Community Health
Introduction Over the past few years, EACH Social and Community Health has been involved in several formal initiatives designed to establish effective partnerships between Gambler s Help, community managed mental health, alcohol and other drug, family and legal services.
GHE /EHADS Co-location Project
Gamblers Help Eastern Service Overview GHE provides an integrated treatment approach for people experiencing harm from gambling who reside in the Eastern Metropolitan Region. The provision of services is coordinated between Gambling counseling Specialist gambling & financial counseling Community education and tailored support projects.
EHADS Service Overview Eastern Health Alcohol and Drug Specialist Services (EHADSS) provides a comprehensive range of specialist clinical and support services to individuals and their carers/families experiencing alcohol and drug problems and associated comorbidities.
The Link For GHE Problem gamblers often have a co-occurring substance use condition Between 19 and 35 per cent of problem gamblers may have had an alcohol use disorder at some point in their life About a quarter of problem gamblers in gambling treatment may have had a drug use disorder at some point in their life About half of problem gamblers smoke. Co-occurring conditions background paper Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation March 2014
The Link For EHADS Services As part of sector reforms as of the 1 st of September 2014 AOD services will be mandated to use a generic screening and assessment tool. This tool included screening questions for Gambling and Financial related concerns. The co-location project offered a number of benefits prior to the implementation of the mandated screening tool. These Included Building staff relationships Allocating resources such as office space Establishing effective working environment.
What Helped? A history of collaborative work in the region A history of successful joint projects in the region A Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) signed off by senior management prior to the co-location Attending EHADS team meeting prior to commencing at the co-location site.
MoU Agreement GHE GHE will provide a Gambling Counselor on a weekly basis for four hours GHE will work in a collaborative and respectful way with Eastern Health Alcohol & Drug Staff, fostering the principles of integrated treatment to achieve the project objectives of the MOU.
MoU Agreement EHADS EHADS will provide a suitable working space to achieve the objectives of the MOU EHADS will work in a collaborative and respectful way with Gamblers Help Staff fostering the principles of integrated treatment to achieve the project objectives of the MOU
Project Objectives GHE To work in collaboration with Eastern Health Alcohol & Drug staff to provide integrated recovery focused treatment for the consumers of the service. To strengthen relationships between the services To provide assessment for individuals & families experiencing harms related from gambling To provide brief interventions for individuals & families experiencing harms related from gambling To provide secondary consultation To increase awareness of the prevalence of gambling as a co morbid presentation To implement appropriate referral pathways to gambling services. These objectives were agreed upon and included in the MoU
Project Objectives EHADS To work in collaboration with Gamblers Help staff to provide integrated recovery focused treatment for the consumers of the service. To strengthen relationships between the services To obtain increased awareness on the prevalence of gambling as a co morbid presentation To provide consultation and up skill Gamblers Help staff on Alcohol and Drug problems as a significant comorbidity to gambling. To promote the use of the Individual Recovery Plan ( IRP) by Gambler s Help staff. These objectives were agreed upon and included in the MoU
Maximising Opportunity Co-Location EHADS Boxhill Group Work SSW Secondary consult Regional Withdrawal Unit Group Work Regional IPU
Service Promotion GHE & Other Each Social and Community Health EHADS & Other Eastern Health Services
Outcomes as of July 2014 22 Secondary Consultations to EHADS Staff. 35 Single Session Counselling 12 warm referrals (3 way phone conversation) Group Sessions Conducted fortnightly at MH & AOD Services
GHE /RMC Co-location Project
Ringwood Court The same nuts and bolts The need was supported by The Problem gambling and the criminal justice system report released by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation with one of the key recommendations being : To involve Gambler s Help services to work closely with criminal justice stakeholders to increase criminal justice staff understanding of problem gambling and awareness of Gambler s Help programs. An established relationship already existed with the Chief Magistrate of the Court and our Alcohol and Drug Services. There was 3 months of planning with court staff prior to the commencement of the project.
How did we develop relationships in such a fast paced environment? Informal chats with court staff ( Hallway Conversations ) Solicitors Legal aid staff CISP Salvation Army Staff Administration Staff Secondary Consultations with court associated programs. Attendance at court support meetings.
Outcomes 25 Secondary Consultations with court & affiliated staff. 15 Single Session Counselling sessions delivered at the courts. 16 warm referrals F/C GHE 3 Court Hearings attended
The Four Core Elements For Success A collaborative and supportive approach from all involved. Up skilling staff to support project objectives. (SSW) Engagement skills Top Down Bottom Up Approach ( Buy In ) Professional Development Reciprocal value Shared Values Trust Cooperation Social Capital Identifying already established relationships Aligning with existing projects Maximising existing relationships and resources
Support Mechanisms For Sustainability Promotion of the project internal and external. MoU and partnership agreements. Promotion of demonstrated outcomes Evaluation outcomes. Having a person mentored and trained. to provide back up. Reciprocal values and cooperation.
Questions