Recognising innovation and improvement across western Sydney at the Mental Health Services Quality Awards
August kicked off with the Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) Mental Health Service (MHS) Quality Awards, showcasing the success and achievements of the service and acknowledging staff contribution to safety and quality.
The event opened with an acknowledgement of lived experience to acknowledge all people who have a personal experience of mental illness and suicide.
“The preferences, wishes, needs and aspirations of these individuals are at the heart of all the work we do. Their perspective is essential to defining and achieving our goals and their courage continues to inspire and drive that we do”, said executive director Mental Health Services, Professor Bill Brakoulias.
“This event really acknowledges and highlights the innovation and improvements that have occurred across the mental health service to improve the level and the quality of care that we’re providing our patients.
“There are people here today who have been acknowledged at a state level for what they’ve done and it’s very validating to see people in other local health districts trying to replicate our work because we’ve had so much success in creating better care for our patients.”
Towards Zero Suicides mental health project officer Rowena Saheb represented the Western Sydney Local Health District’s mental health service Towards Zero Suicides at the event, which won two of the day’s six awards.
“I think what makes our services innovative is that they have been co-designed with people with lived experience, as well as health professionals,” explained Rowena.
“So you have the consumer voice embedded in the way we plan, the way we deliver, and in the way we might redesign our services in the future.”
Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees:
Award: Integrated Value Based Care
- Adult Community Mental Health Services
Within 12 months achieve above 80% seven day post discharge follow ups and reduce 28-day re-admissions to hospitals below NSW state average through value based collaborative partnerships.
Award: Excellence in Aboriginal Health Care
- WSLHD Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Community Outreach
The WSLHD Aboriginal Mental Health Team aim to increase access and engagement of Aboriginal people experiencing psychological distress and wellbeing issues with community mental health services by 50% in 12 months.
Award: Health Research and Innovation
- WSLHD MHS Department of Psychology, Anxiety Treatment and Research Unit
Decreased consumers’ anxiety symptom scores by at least 10% from pre to post treatment and the number of consumers requiring further individual treatment sessions after the eight-week program by 50%.
Award: Consumer Safety First
- Blacktown Acute Care Team
Within 12 months, decreased the rate of 000 Police Mental Health call presentations and Police Custody presentations to Emergency Department to less than 50% by providing care in the community.
Award: Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services
- Towards Zero Suicides Team – Safe Haven
To partner with persons with lived experience and health professionals to co-design a non-clinical suicide prevention drop-in service as an alternative to ED for persons experiencing a suicidal crisis, including ideation.
Award: Transforming Consumer Experience
- Towards Zero Suicides Team – Suicide Prevention Outreach Team (SPOT)
To provide an integrated mobile outreach crisis management service as an alternative to presenting to ED for persons experiencing a suicidal crisis, including ideation.
Award: YES Survey champions
- Parramatta Acute Care Team
The aim of this program was to increase the rate of consumer and carers experience of service questionnaires to 100 return rates monthly from the Consumers and Carers feedback of the Acute Care Team.
