Services to People with Severe and Complex Mental Illness by PHN: Case Study Project, College of Mental Health Nurses
The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses engaged HMA to undertake the Services to People with Severe and Complex Mental Illness by PHN: Case Study Project. The project aimed to understand models of care for people with severe and complex mental illness that are supported by Primary Health Network (PHN) commissioned agencies. In addition, the project described the employment arrangements applying to Mental Health Nurses (MHNs) working within programs funded by PHNs.
To collate this information HMA undertook a series of case studies at seven PHNs across Australia, including PHNs in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. Case studies involved consultation with PHN Program Managers, Mental Health Nurses, and members of the acute public mental health services in each catchment.
The case studies collected information on PHN commissioning arrangements, scope of practice of mental health nurses, equity of access, demand management processes, and employment arrangements of mental health nurses. The information was used to develop an evaluation framework to measure the mental health outcomes for users of PHN commissioned mental health services.
This project was completed in April 2019.