Consumer, Carer and Family Engagement
Consumer Carer and Family Engagement refers to the promotion of a range of interventions and practices that ensure all staff are considerate of, and sensitive to, a consumer’s carers and care environment when providing care and supporting recovery.
MSAMHS supports CCFE interventions as key to consumer recovery. This means importance is placed on recovery of a consumer’s social relationships and family role (e.g. as a parent, daughter, contributing family member) and engagement acknowledges the impact of mental health difficulties and addiction, not just on the individual but on carers, parents and others who share a familial connection to the consumer.
While consumers of MSAMHS are the focus of care, it is also acknowledged that services can more broadly promote longer term positive mental health outcomes and highlight the important role carers play in consumer recovery while supporting carers to identify their own needs and engage with supports.
About the CCFE Capability Framework
The focus of CCFE interventions is usually on both the individuals and the relationships between carers and the consumer and seeks to promote a better environment and improved mental health outcomes for the consumer, carer and the whole family. There are a range of CCFE interventions this Framework refers to including provision of information, psychoeducation, strengthening care networks and referral, peer support services, Single Session Family Consultation, specific family assessment strategies, family therapy interventions, Let’s Talk intervention and group programs such as Family Connections, Our Space, and Know, Be, Do.
This CCFE Capability Framework assists staff to be aware of and incorporate into regular practice CCFE principles according to their capability and professional scope of practice. The Framework provides staff with a greater awareness of CCFE and its application for working with individuals with mental health issues and/or addictions, along with capabilities to identify, refer, support, educate and provide care to individuals in an inclusive, recovery-focussed and non-judgemental way.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge and thank the many staff from steering groups, focus groups and working groups who offered their time and expertise to provide consultation on the Therapy Capability Frameworks. We appreciate the level of experience and effort that went into the recommendations as their contributions have made these documents more robust, inclusive and meaningful. All contributors are listed by name in the Close Report presented to the project sponsor, the Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Branch (MHAODB). We would also like to express our appreciation for the funding contributed by MHAODB to enable the completion of this phase of the Therapy Capability Framework project.
Co-Authors of this document (listed alphabetically):
- Karen Alexander – Social Worker, MSAMHS
- Sarah Craig – Senior Psychologist, Workforce Development Officer, MSAMHS
- Teresa Fawcett – Consumer Consultant, Social Inclusion and Recovery, MSAMHS
- Alan Gude – Team Leader, LADDERS, MSAMHS
- Paul Hickey – Social Work Professional Lead, PAH, MSAMHS
- Geoff Lau – Director, Therapies and Allied Health, MSAMHS
- Jillian Le Gros - Clinical Nurse Consultant, Recovery, Resource and Partnerships Program, MSAMHS
- Karen McCann – Team Leader, Social Inclusion and Recovery, MSAMHS
- Cathy Renkin – KOPMI Program Manager, MSAMHS
Additional specialist contributors: Michelle Combo (Team Leader, Way Forward, MSAMHS), Elizabeth Truong (Manager, QTMHC), and Renee Lee (Rehab Therapy Aide, Alternatives to Admission, MSAMHS).