MHCSS Intake Assessment
Presenter Phil Watson
Neami – MHCSS provider
2014
What changed?
•
Services now known as Mental Health Community Support Services
(PDRSS->MHCSS)
•
There are 2-3 MHCSS providers in each region. Consumers have a
choice of which service most suits their needs
•
Service providers funded to offer Individual Client Support Packages
•
Groups facilitated in a range of community settings
•
Fewer providers (45-16)
•
Referral process through catchment Intake Assessment service
Benefits of the reform
• Integrated funding will ensure tailored support to meet
individual needs
• Referral process is more central and accessible
• Priority access for those who are most in need
Intake Assessment
Intake Providers
• Neami, EACH, ACSO
• DoH wanted a consistent intake process
across the state
• Standard Eligibility Screening Tool
Neami MHCSS Intake
• 12 staff based at Fairfield office
• 5 regions: Bayside, Frankston-Mornington Peninsula, Inner
North, North West & South West.
• Predominantly phone support
• Phone and face to face interpreting services for people of
non English speaking backgrounds
• Provisions for face to face meetings with Intake to facilitate
access & MHCSS provider engagement for comprehensive
assessment where required
Role of Intake
• Complete Eligibility Screening Tool to
assess eligibility for MHCSS support
• Facilitate referrals to relevant community
and health services
Eligibility criteria
People eligible to receive MHCSS will:
• be 16 - 64 years of age
• have a disability that is attributable to a
psychiatric condition and
• have impairment or impairments that are
permanent, or are likely to be permanent
and
Eligibility criteria continued
• have an impairment or impairments that results
in substantially reduced psychosocial functioning
in undertaking one or more of the following
activities:
o communication
o social interaction
o learning
o self-care
o self-management; and
• have an impairment or impairments that affect
their capacity for social and economic
participation.
Individual client support
packages (ICSP)
MHCSS providers
• Recovery Orientated
• Flexible packages of support
• Not a package of money
• Groups in the Community – Targeted
Residential Services
•
Intake’s role to manage referrals to youth and
adult residential rehabilitation services and
support accommodation services
•
Advertise vacancies.
•
MHCSS regional bed based selection panels
decide on nominations (panel consists of a
representative from intake, clinical services,
facility with vacancy)
Questions and discussion.
Neami MHCSS Intake 1300 379 462
EACH MHCSS Intake 1300 785 358
ACSO MHCSS Intake 1300 022 760
Mon-Fri 9-5
Our vision
Full citizenship for all people living with a mental illness in Australian society
Our mission
Improving mental health and wellbeing in local communities
Neami MHCSS Intake 1300 379 462
Mon-Fri 9-5
Session outline
• Background & rationale for new system,
• How will Intake Assessment work?
• Individual Client Support Packages,
• Referrals for: Adult and Youth Residential
Rehabilitation Services and Supported
Accommodation Services.
• Tandem and VMIAC: How can consumers and
carers engage with services, and what are the
new service obligations for consumers and
carers.
• Questions and discussion
Background
In April 2011, the Department of Health
(Victorian Government) undertook a
consultation process to seek feedback from
consumers, carers and service providers on
the PDRSS system
Federal announcement of intention for a
National Disability Insurance Scheme
2011 Consultation Themes
Consumer, carer and service providers provided consistent
feedback:
• The system was very difficult to navigate
• People want tailored support to better meet their
unique recovery goals
• Program funding was rigid, and people want programs
to be integrated in order to flexibly respond to
consumers individual needs
• A lot of consumers felt that they didn’t have a choice of
service
Reform process
• In 2012, the Minister for Health announced significant
changes to the PDRSS sector based on consultation and
feedback
• The Department of Health released tenders for the new
MHCSS funding in 2013
• Successful providers were announced in May 2014
• Changes were implemented on August 1st
Background
• DoH specified phone based intake
systems
• DoH had 3 centralised intake pilots
(Peninsula Support Services, EACH &
Inner South Community Health)