Annual Report 2021/22

Improving Care Integration

Joint Planning

Central and Eastern Sydney Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Regional Plan

Development of the Central and Eastern Sydney Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan occurred in 2018, with implementation commencing in 2019. The current plan is due to conclude in 2022 and we are currently reviewing the impact of the plan. The Regional Plan committed the CESPHN, Sydney LHD, South Eastern Sydney LHD, St Vincent’s Health Network and the Sydney Children’s Hospital to work together to achieve integration in planning and service delivery. The regional planning process was supported by peak bodies (Being NSW, NSW Mental Health Carers, and the Mental Health Coordinating Council). The Regional Plan established a platform to engage with other key agencies and stakeholders in the pursuit of shared priorities identified by the community.

The Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan has been particularly useful in supporting a consistent and collective approach to workforce capability and support, with several initiatives enabled through regional planning including:

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training and Professional Development Resource
Commissioning to grow and develop the peer workforce strategy
Commissioning culturally safe services strategy

Tools were also developed by or in partnership with the Regional Plan committees to support service navigation and transitions in care:

Activities of regional planning partners have led to some progress in enhancing data intelligence and data sharing, including:

Developing competencies in using the National Mental Health Services Planning Framework
A regional approach to comparing, reporting, and improving experiences of consumers and carers at the regional level in Central and Eastern Sydney
Joint Review of Adverse Events protocol
Joint Periodic Data Reporting

Formal implementation of the current Regional Plan has concluded, collaborative work will continue into 2022 with the development of the next iteration and scoping of joint service plans.

Health Literacy Initiative

The NSW Mental Health Commission provided funding for PHNs to improve organisational health literacy responsiveness from December 2020-June 2022 through their Health Literacy Initiative grant. After consultation with internal and external stakeholders CESPHN implemented a suite of activities, including:

Development of a cultural responsiveness action plan for CESPHN
Promotion of service navigation tool Headstart.12,494 wallet cards, postcards, and posters were distributed through events and care settings through a combination of offline and digital marketing, monthly users increased to over 1,600 in June 2022
Promotion of e-mental health tools through CPD events in partnership with Black Dog Institute and This Way Up, reaching 139 GPs, practice nurses, and allied health professionals
Health literacy responsiveness training to 51 staff at three community organisations that support culturally diverse communities (with a further event planned for 2022-23)
Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid instructor training and iAssist training for Aboriginal community organisations and leaders