Mental Health Planning in Queensland.

Dr Aaron Groves Director of Mental Health.08/04/2011

Purpose & Scope of QPMHThe Qld Plan for Mental Health 2007-17 (QPMH):Provides a blueprint for reforming and improving the way we deliver mental health services.Is a Whole-of-Government plan which includes collaborative actions across a number of Government Departments & sectors. Provides evidence-based targets for service development. Is consistent with national mental health initiatives and policies.

The Process Broad consultation with internal/external stakeholders. Formation of expert groups to provide recommendations about the specific service development required over the next 10 years. Developed evidence-based parameters for planning of mental health services - Qld Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR). Established planning targets for five core mental health service components using the recommendations provided by the speciality groups and the benchmarks recommended by QCMHR. Developed the Qld Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017 & obtained funding to support implementation of the first stage of the Plan (2007-2011).

Guiding Principles

The QPMH articulates 6 principles to guide and support mental health reform:Consumer & carer participation Resilience & recovery Social inclusion Collaboration & partnerships Promotion, prevention & early intervention Evidence-based

Planning Targets

The funding commitmentQld Government investment since 2007

Priorities for ActionPRIORITY 1 Promotion, prevention and early intervention

PRIORITY 2 Improving and integrating the care system

PRIORITY 3 Participation in the community

PRIORITY 4 Coordinating care

PRIORITY 5 Workforce, information quality and safety

Planning Targets of the Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-17

Planning Target Assumptions Targets are a guide only. They need to be interpreted within the local service context. Districts still need to evaluate the demographics of their own population when considering how staffing targets apply at the district level.

Targets do not take into consideration local needs. It is assumed that issues specific to the district need local management.

Targets provide a framework to allocated resources to achieve:a more equitable distribution of services across the state;improve access to the full spectrum of services; and improve levels of service provision comparable to national standards.

Targets do not consider prevalence rates in each district. It is assumed that mental illness is relatively evenly distributed per 100,000 population.

Application of the planning targetsDeveloped service development plans for each district mental health service: what services are currently available in each districtwhat the target level of beds/staff should be by 2017 what growth is needed to meet the target Used these plans to guide new resource allocation: invest new resources to districts/programs that are comparatively less well resourced implement a system to review new positions (including vacancies of existing staff over time) to ensure that resources are being directed into services

Application of the planning targetsDeveloped an ongoing relationship with district mental health services to update, review and monitor service development to ensure that staff: understand the planning targets understand how the planning targets apply to their serviceunderstand how their service compares to other services understand what their priorities for service development are

Application of the planning targetsArticulated the principles of mental health reform:Consumer & carer participation Resilience & recovery Social inclusion Collaboration & partnerships Promotion, prevention & early intervention Evidence-based

Application of the planning targets Identified the priorities for investment: Promotion, prevention & early intervention Improving & integrating the care system Participation in the community Care coordination Workforce development, information, quality &safety

Application of the planning targetsDeveloped service development plans for each district mental health service: what services are currently available in each districtwhat the target level of beds/staff should be by 2017 what growth is needed to meet the target 4. Used these plans to guide new resource allocation: invest new resources to districts/programs that are comparatively less well resourced implement a system to review new positions (including vacancies of existing staff over time) to ensure that resources are being directed into services

Example

Example

Community mental health services

Community mental health services

Community mental health services

Application of the planning targets5. Developed an ongoing relationship with district mental health services to update, review, monitor service development. Ensure that staff: understand the planning targets understand how the planning targets apply to their serviceunderstand how their service compares to other services understand what their priorities for service development are

Application of the planning targetsDeveloped an evaluation framework to determine whether investment in mental health is making a difference.

Key Evaluation QuestionsKEQ1. Was funding expended in the intended way?KEQ2. To what extent has the infrastructure and capacity of the mental health sector increased?KEQ3. Has the quality of the mental health system improved?KEQ4. Have the initiatives impacted on people living with mental illness?KEQ5. Has the mental health of the community improved?

Making Plans - to make plans and project designs brings with it many good sensations; and whoever had the strength to be nothing but a forger of plans his whole life long would be a very happy man: but he would occasionally have to take a rest from his activity by carrying out a plan - and then comes the vexation and sobering up.(Nietzsche, 1878/1986: 231)