NorthWestern Mental Health at a glance NorthWestern Mental Health is one of the largest publicly-funded providers of mental health services in Australia. A clinical division of Melbourne Health, NorthWestern Mental Health (NWMH) operates in partnership with Northern Health (Northern Hospital, Broadmeadows Health Service and Bundoora Extended Care) and Western Health (Sunshine, Williamstown and Western Hospitals) to deliver a comprehensive range of specialist, community and hospital-based mental health services to the communities of northern and western metropolitan Melbourne. NWMH s acute services are integrated with mainstream health services. NWMH aims to ensure that the people who live in the northern and western regions of metropolitan Melbourne are provided with high quality mental health services that are responsive to their needs, based on a recovery framework and best practice, delivered by the best clinicians. NorthWestern Mental Health provides treatment services in the community, acute inpatient, residential and specialist services as well as consultation and education to a population of around one million people and a wide range of health and welfare organisations. Currently, NWMH is funded to operate a total of 518 beds: 191 acute psychiatric beds 165 aged care residential beds 80 community based rehabilitation beds 26 secure extended care rehabilitation beds 16 specialist beds for eating disorders and neuropsychiatry 40 Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) Services Vital partnerships with the psychiatric disability support services (NGO) sector, consumer and carer organisations, the community health sector, general practitioners, private psychiatrists, local government and universities all assist NorthWestern Mental Health in to achieve its goals. at a glance
NWMH Statement of Purpose Leading to mental health NWMH Key Focus Areas Connecting our consumers and carers with care they need through our own services and those of our partner organisations. Associate Professor Ruth Vine, Executive Director of NorthWestern Mental Health. Working Together NorthWestern Mental Health s 1,700 person strong multidisciplinary workforce is primarily comprised of the disciplines of medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, clinical psychology and social work. Multi-disciplinary teams of clinicians work in acute and rehabilitation inpatient services, community mental health services, and residential services including community rehabilitation units, hostels and nursing homes. A strength of NWMH is the combination of a regionally organised grouping of specialist services, together with strong academic partnerships, that has proven to be the best way of providing sustainable high quality services and attracting and retaining high quality staff to work in the north and west regions of Melbourne. This also ensures that psychiatry, as a speciality, remains robust, stable and relevant. Empowering our consumers and carers and the community by involving them in decisions about their services and treatment. Combining research, education, training and clinical services to improve our response to the changing needs of our consumers and carers. Sharing our knowledge widely to improve the lives of those who use mental health services. Our Values Respect for the rights of people We treat our consumers and carers with dignity and give them as much choice as possible. By listening, and acknowledging their personal opinions and beliefs we get a better understanding of their specific needs. Caring - to improve the lives of people We believe our care can help to improve people s lives. We don t just treat people with mental illness, we care for them, and about them. Our dedication encourages a sense of hope. We take the time to listen and connect people with the right service. Whether that service is ours or one of our partners. Integrity - to stand by what we say and do We are accountable to consumers and carers and to each other. Our professional standards and pride in our work ensure that we stand by what we say and do. We talk openly about our actions because it helps us to grow and develop more effective relationships. Unity - for a better service We are united in placing the needs of our consumers and carers first. Within our teams we listen and learn from each other and respect our colleagues clinical judgement. To connect our clients and carers with different types of care, we build partnerships with other organisations based on trust and a mutual understanding of capabilities. Discovery - through learning We look for ways to improve by being open and reflective. We are willing to listen, learn and change the way we do things. Our courage and passion creates new approaches to mental health care. Through our research, education and training we develop our workforce, improve clinical care and cultivate new leaders in the field. Harvester Clinic Sunshine
Teaching and Research The services provided by NorthWestern Mental Health are built on a solid foundation of association with Victoria s leading tertiary and research facilities. A critical factor in NorthWestern Mental Health s ability to attract and retain mental health clinicians to services in the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne has been a longstanding and very active collaboration with The University of Melbourne s Department of Psychiatry. NorthWestern Mental Health trains more psychiatrists than any other program in Australia and rotations occur throughout all parts of the service. The University of Melbourne s School of Postgraduate Nursing, through the Centre for Psychiatric Nursing, and the Department of Psychology also play an important role in teaching and research. NorthWestern Mental Health has partnered with Australian Catholic University to fund the Foundation Chair in Mental Health Nursing based at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Substantial clinical academic partnerships with La Trobe University in the disciplines of social work, psychology and occupational therapy and with Victoria University in undergraduate nursing also provide a strong base from which clinical staff are supported in research and clinical practice. Each year, a vast number of students actively participate in clinical placements within NorthWestern Mental Health. Through this, NorthWestern Mental Health has a key role to play in the education and development of an emerging mental health workforce. NorthWestern Mental Health is the primary clinical base for the Mental Health Research Institute. This significant collaboration has seen the Institute establish partnerships with NorthWestern Mental Health at Sunshine Hospital, The Northern Hospital, and The Royal Melbourne Hospital. The development of clinical academic centres at Sunshine, Coburg, Epping, Parkville and The Royal Melbourne Hospital has played a pivotal role in ensuring that services are decentralised, accessible and integrated with teaching and research in mainstream settings. The strength and depth of these partnerships helps to create a rich professional culture, which greatly assists NorthWestern Mental Health in attracting and retaining high quality clinicians. To meet the ongoing professional development needs of staff across all clinical disciplines, NorthWestern Mental Health has a well-established Mental Health Training and Development Unit. Staff are actively encouraged to participate in a wide range of evidence-based training workshops and service development initiatives aimed at practice improvement, team development and service responsiveness. Continuous Service Improvement NorthWestern Mental Health strives to provide services that are based on evidence and best practice to meet the needs and preferences of patients and clients, their families, carers and the community. Understanding what we do and the impact it has on consumers and their families is central to the performance of NorthWestern Mental Health. Emphasis is placed on transparent performance measurement and performance review to facilitate improved decision-making and service delivery. NorthWestern Mental Health has developed an extensive systems approach to quality management and performance benchmarking. Processes in difficult areas such as service access, transfer of care, risk management, prescribing patterns and the use of high dependency units have been improved significantly. Clinical staff and managers are engaged in an ongoing process of examining and enhancing the interventions that are practiced within their service. A culture of reflective practice is actively promoted, and in doing so staff are encouraged and supported to alter their practices to incorporate the latest evidence of effective interventions in major psychiatric disorders. A robust information technology platform for communication and information management supports the quality management and service improvement processes. North West Area Mental Health Service, 130 Bell Street Coburg
Consumer and Carer Participation NWMH has a strong commitment to the involvement of consumers and carers in the development, delivery and evaluation of mental health services. Consumer and Carer consultants are employed across NWMH to provide advice and input into improving the quality of care provided to people with a mental illness and their families. They are also routinely involved in the staff selection process. NWMH has an active Consumer and Carer Advisory Group. Celebrating Mental Health Day Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Given the rich and diverse range of cultures in northern and western Melbourne, and the high proportion of people from non-english speaking backgrounds, it is vital to ensure services are sensitive to the cultural needs of clients and their families. NWMH has a close working relationship with the Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit, and there are designated ethnic mental health portfolio holders throughout the service. In some of the adult programs, bi-lingual case managers are employed. Addressing the Needs of Families and Children NWMH is recognised for its family focussed approach to service delivery and for its work with children of parents with mental illness. A diverse range of therapeutic interventions, including groups, and peer support programs are offered across NWMH. The Wellness Trail Artwork created by the residents of the St Albans Community Care Unit, Creative Group
Speciality Services Within NorthWestern Mental Health, a number of regional and state wide programs have national and international renown for innovative approaches to service delivery and for pioneering work in clinical research. These include: Orygen Youth Health and its Research Centre Substance Use and Mental Illness Treatment Team (SUMITT) Secure Extended Care Unit at Sunshine Hospital Telepsychiatry Neuropsychiatry Eating disorders (Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders, CEED) Triage Service is a 24-hour service which acts as a triage point for all referrals and provides an initial assessment and then referral to the most appropriate service. NorthWestern Mental Health is a partner with: St.Vincent s Hospital to manage the Victorian Dual Disability Service The University of Melbourne, Department of Nursing, to manage the Centre for Psychiatric Nursing The Royal Melbourne Hospital to manage the Victorian Mental Health Library NorthWestern Mental Health Services NorthWestern Mental Health is comprised of seven programs: Centralised Triage North Western Aged Persons Mental Health Program Adult Area Mental Health Services (four) Orygen Youth Health Celebrating 10 year anniversary of the John Cade building Centralised Triage Service The Centralised Triage Service provides advice or help for youth, adults and aged in need of mental health care. The service can be contacted via a single telephone number 1300 TRIAGE (1300 274 243) at any time of day, seven days a week. Centralised Triage Service
Aged Persons Mental Health Program The specialised area of Aged Persons mental health is one which is continually growing in terms of demand for service - reflecting both the nation s ageing population and incidence of mental illness and mental health problems in the community. The interaction of two key factors within this sector the frailty and lack of independence that comes with age, and the additional complexity of mental illness - means that people being cared for in this program have extremely high needs. North Western Aged Persons Mental Health Program provides a comprehensive range of services to people aged 65 years and over. It is a highly specialised and comprehensive service and includes three aged psychiatry assessment teams, three acute inpatient units and a number of residential accommodation facilities (including psychogeriatric nursing homes and hostels). Community bus handover Aged Psychiatry Assessment and Treatment Teams provide assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and case management, helping to prevent unnecessary hospitalisation and minimise the length of stay in acute inpatient facilities. Inpatient Care provides voluntary and involuntary short-term management during an acute phase of mental illness, until recovery enables the person to be treated in a community-based setting. Residential services inpatient services for people with high levels of persistent cognitive, emotional or behavioural disturbance. The specialist multi-disciplinary Aged Psychiatry Assessment and Treatment Teams (APATT) service the entire north western and south western regions of metropolitan Melbourne. They are key components of the Program and operate within geographical boundaries: Mid West and South West APATT - Cities of Brimbank and Melton (including Sunbury), Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Wyndham. North West and Inner West APATT - Cities of Hume, Moreland, Moonee Valley and Melbourne. Northern APATT - Cities of Darebin and Whittlesea. These teams are the first point of contact for elderly people who have been referred to the program for assistance. They work with the individual and their family to assess the severity of the person s mental illness and recommend an appropriate form of treatment and/or support. In keeping with the charter of mental health service provision, the individual is referred to the least restrictive service or facility possible. In all instances, there is a shared care arrangement with a general practitioner. Supporting people with less severe mental illness to live in Commonwealth run, community-based residential settings has become an important priority for Aged Persons Mental Health Program. A multi-disciplinary team of specialist staff work in partnership with community-based nursing homes to equip staff with the skills necessary to manage the challenging behaviours often associated with mental illness in the elderly. Orygen Youth Health Orygen Youth Health Clinical Program (OYHCP) provides specialist mental health services for young people aged between 15 and 24 years of age who live within three of NWMH s four Adult AMHS catchments (North West, Mid West and Inner West), and the South West Adult AMHS catchment (Werribee Mercy), which is outside the NWMH adult catchment areas. Clinical services are provided to young people with serious mental health disorders within the community, and within an inpatient setting for episodes of acute mental disorder. The Clinical Program offers specialist interventions for a range of disorders including psychosis and mood disorders, co-morbid substance use disorders and personality disorders. It services include: Youth Access Team triage, crisis intervention and community based assessment and care. Orygen Inpatient Unit acute hospital inpatient care, Continuing care teams - individual case management, intensive outreach services and family involvement. Psychosocial Services - group programs, youth participation and peer support program, vocational services and family peer support. Community development - consultation, training and education. OYH services a catchment area of almost one million people and provides treatment to approximately 800 young people each year. For further information see www.oyh.org.au The Orygen Team
Adult Area Mental Health Services NorthWestern Mental Health provides mental health services to adults aged between 16 and 65 years who have, or are at risk of developing, a severe mental illness. This service is provided through four adult Area Mental Health Services (AMHS): Inner West AMHS (cities of Melbourne and Moonee Ponds), Mid West AMHS (cities of Brimbank and Melton), North West AMHS (cities of Moreland and Hume) and Northern AMHS (cities of Darebin and Whittlesea). Each adult Area Mental Health Service comprises the following programs: Acute Inpatient Unit specialist treatment for people experiencing an acute episode of mental illness who require treatment and care in a hospital in-patient unit setting. Community Teams integrated multidisciplinary teams across Area Mental Health Services, enabling the delivery of highly responsive, person-centred specialist mental health care across the catchment. Each team is responsible for delivering the same wide range of responses to meet individual and family/carer needs and preferences, in order to facilitate their clinical and personal recovery. The care we offer individuals and their family/carers occurs across three pathways of care: Acute Inpatient Unit specialist treatment for people experiencing an acute episode of mental illness who require treatment and care in a hospital in-patient unit setting. Community Teams integrated multidisciplinary teams across Area Mental Health Services, enabling the delivery of highly responsive, person-centred specialist mental health care across the catchment. Each team is responsible for delivering the same wide range of responses to meet individual and family/carer needs and preferences, in order to facilitate their clinical and personal recovery. The care we offer individuals and their family/carers occurs across three pathways of care: Brief targeted interventions Longer term targeted interventions; and Consultative response Within these additional responses, including an urgent response to a crisis, an increase in the need for intensive support or medication support may be required and provided at any time. The clinicians within each Community Team work collaboratively with the consumer and their family/carers to develop a recovery plan to meet individual recovery goals. Community Care Unit (CCU) provides treatment and rehabilitation for people with serious mental illness and psychosocial disability, in a community-based residential setting, with 24-hour nursing support. The aim of the CCU is to equip individuals with the daily living skills they require to live independently. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Feedback Suggestions Complaints Feel comfortable to confide 2011 Artwork by Emma Richardson Acrylic on canvas Tell Us What You Think NorthWestern Mental Health values feedback, suggestions and complaints to help identify areas for improvement and address gaps in the service to build a better service for our community. What happe Your submissi appropriate st that you woul within 30 day What do we The informatio areas for impr With your feed service for our Want to spea If you ve got a discuss but do age you to sp service s consu Not Satisfied If you have no you are unsat complaint you Victorian Chie Free call: 1300 Or write to: Chief Psychiat Level 17, 50 Lo Melbourne 30 Victoria, Austr OFFICE USE ONLY Received: Date & sta Initial RiskMan entry RiskMan ID number Date closed & staff n Prevention and Recovery Care Services (PARC) services are a supported residential service for people experiencing a significant mental health problem but who do not need or no longer require a hospital admission. PARC services aim to assist in averting acute inpatient admissions and facilitate earlier discharge from inpatient units. PARC services are a partnership between Mental Health Community Support Service (MHCSS) and NWMH. The Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit at Sunshine Hospital is a regional service, managed by Mid West Area Mental Health Service, It provides intensive treatment and rehabilitation in a secure in-patient setting, for adults with persistent psychosis who are at risk to themselves and others.
Taking Services Forward NorthWestern Mental Health will continue to build on the reforms for mental health services in Victoria. We will strive to deliver the best possible care for consumers and carers by encouraging and promoting a culture of excellence in teaching, research and service delivery that remains relevant, responsive and respectful. NorthWestern Mental Health Level 1 North, The Royal Melbourne Hospital Grattan Street Parkville VIC 3052 www.nwmh.mh.org.au Phone: 03 9342 7705 Fax: 03 9342 8216 The principles of collaboration and partnership will form the basis of our relationships with consumers, carers, our community and stakeholders, to deliver a mental health service that meets the needs and preferences of the community we serve. A philosophy of openness and transparency in our performance will continue as we acknowledge the rights of our community to access information about the quality of care that is provided. Within the objectives of clinical governance, we will strive to deliver sustainable, accountable and consumer-focused quality care, while respecting the rights of the individual. SERVICE CONTACT DETAILS Triage Services - NorthWestern Mental Health Ph: 1300 Triage (1300 874 243) NorthWestern Mental Health (Directorate) 1 North, The Royal Melbourne Hospital Grattan Street, Parkville Vic 3052 Ph: 03 9342 7705 NorthWestern Aged Persons Mental Health Program (administration) Harvester Building, 4C Devonshire Rd Sunshine Vic 3020 Ph: 03 9288 7150 Fax: 03 9312 0811 Adult Area Mental Health Services Inner West Area Mental Health Service The Royal Melbourne Hospital (Cities of Moonee Valley and Melbourne) Waratah Level 2, 641 Mt Alexander Rd Moonee Ponds Vic 3039 Ph: 03 9377 3400 Fax: 03 9375 7211 Eating Disorders Unit John Cade Building, The Royal Melbourne Hospital Grattan Street, Parkville Vic 3052 Ph: 03 9342 4033 Fax: 03 9342 4031 Neuropsychiatry Unit John Cade Building, The Royal Melbourne Hospital Grattan Street, Parkville Vic 3052 Ph: 03 9342 4033, or 03 9342 4034 Fax: 03 9342 8483 Mid West Area Mental Health Service (Cities of Brimbank and Melton including Sunbury) Harvester Building, Devonshire Road, Sunshine Vic 3020 Ph: 03 9300 8600 Fax: 03 9300 8699 Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit Sunshine Hospital, 176 Furlong Road, St Albans Vic 3021 Ph: 03 8345 1220 Fax: 03 8345 1900 North West Area Mental Health Service (Cities of Hume and Moreland) 130 Bell Street, Coburg Vic 3058 Ph: 03 9355 9700 Fax: 03 9355 9701 Northern Area Mental Health Service (Cities of Darebin and Whittlesea) The Northern Hospital 185 Cooper Street, Epping Vic 3076 Ph: 03 8405 8881 Fax: 03 8405 8892 Orygen Youth Health 35 Poplar Road, Parkville Vic 3052 Ph: 03 9342 2800 Fax: 03 9387 3003 Substance Use and Mental Illness Treatment Team (SUMITT) Drug and Alcohol Service Building 5, Royal Park Campus Poplar Road, Parkville Vic 3052 Ph: 03 8387 2202 Fax: 03 8387 2667 Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders (CEED) Building 5, Royal Park Campus Poplar Road, Parkville Vic 3052 Ph: 03 8387 2673 Fax: 03 8387 2667 NorthWestern Mental Health is a division of Melbourne Health. Item number: F28-205386 Version 4 November 2014