People and their families and carers are recognised by mental health practitioners as being part of a wider community, and mental health services are viewed as one element in a wider service network. Practitioners support the provision of coordinated and integrated care across programs, sites and services.
The mental health practitioner:
Between agencies
- Develops and applies a current local knowledge of other service providers and their roles, and works with the person, families and carers to make appropriate referrals
- In partnership with the person, identifies important issues that require collaboration and integration of care from different agencies, for example, accommodation
- Demonstrates current knowledge of service access criteria, procedures and protocols for partner agencies, including approximate waiting times
- Communicates effectively with other organisations and service providers including advocating on behalf of people, carers and families
- Obtains and documents required consent where applicable to share information with other agencies
- Coordinates or participates in interagency case conferences and fosters networks
- As identified in collaboration with the person, promotes access to physical health care, and other identified services, including general practitioners and the wider primary healthcare sector
- Demonstrates skills in negotiating a complex service network on behalf of people, families and carers
Within an agency or team
- Contributes discipline-specific skills and knowledge to interdisciplinary team practice
- Participates in interdisciplinary case conferences including partner agencies and other key stakeholders
- Demonstrates respect for team members, recognising diversity may exist between and within professions in approaches to mental health practice
- Communicates effectively across disciplinary and professional boundaries, using language that can be understood by all members of the interdisciplinary team
- Identifies important issues for and with the person, for example, physical, occupational or spiritual needs that require collaboration or integration of care from different disciplines within the team
- Involves other team members in care and support for the person, family and carer where appropriate
- Supports the integrity of team practice by collaborating in decision making, following team processes and sharing team responsibilities
- Clearly articulates their professional expertise and contribution to the team or service while valuing the person's lived experience