South Auckland 4U Forum, 12 March 2007

Te Pou has the potential to be a central point in the web of mental health
services. I am hopeful that it will keep providing me with up to date
information regarding mental health developments" - Forum visitor

Final 4U Forum number 13 proved unlucky, with some of the resources not arriving from Nelson on time, but there was a really positive note on which to finish the 2007 forums - Manukau turned out in force with wonderful feedback, suggestions and ideas. Thank you to all visitors for making the effort.

Feedback:

Family
No nationally consistent way of incorporating family voice or engaging with families.

Outcomes measures
People need to be taught what good service and outcomes look like so they know what they should be able to expect.

Improve IT infrastructure and resources.

People need more training and awareness around utility of information collected.

Projects need to have clearly measurable outcomes outlined and evaluated.

Workforce
If we professionalise health workers too much, as in they must have qualifications before they start (egg, Community Support Workers), rather than use the more apprenticeship models that are informally used now, we may miss opportunities for people to try mental health careers and develop.

Core training needed for the health care assistants in mental health units.

Mental health units require consumer workers to advocate for service users and to be a resource to staff.

Increase the understanding around the role that PHs can play for service users.

More training in the areas of prevention and early intervention for staff.

Need national support for career mobility and recruitment.

Practical training for middle managers.

National support for linking PHOs, DHBs and NGOs to share learning and project updates etc. and use videoconferencing.

NGOs
NGOs need to have parity of conditions with DHBs.

 

Page last updated: 2 May 2008