The West Moreton Health (WMH) Master Plan - Acute Mental Health Unit Committee is seeking to recruit up to six (6) consumer representatives to join the committee.
West Moreton is the state’s fastest growing region, with a population that is expected to almost double to 588,000 in the next 15 years.
For these reasons WMH has developed a staged Master Plan, including new infrastructure, new ways to provide care and strong partnerships with community members and other health providers. The WMH Master Plan will help ensure we continue to meet the healthcare needs of our growing and diverse community.
A new Acute Mental Health Unit (AMHU) is being delivered as part of Stage 1 of WMH Master Plan. Construction has commenced and is expected to be completed mid 2022 with operational services commencing late 2022.
The new purpose-built unit will offer the best available mental health care, assessment and recovery services for adults, including older people.
About the Committee
The establishment of the WMH Master Plan - AMHU Committee will support and give feedback on the creation of a new model of care and consumer flow for the facility as well as provide input and feedback around art health solutions.
Key aims of the Committee
The committee will act as a consultative body to contribute to the continued co-design of the new mental health facility. This will support our consumers and carers in providing a safe and nurturing trusted place while working towards achieving the best outcomes for consumers.
The committee is not a decision-making body. Responsibility for operational decision-making will remain with the Master Plan management team and responsibility for the AMHU will remain with WMH staff (together with patients and families).
This committee will:
- Support and give feedback on the creation of a new model of care for the facility and support working towards best care opportunities
- Inform and support the commissioning activities which would include the process of assuring that all systems and components of the new building are designed, installed and tested within the facility
- Support and give feedback on the consumer flow and the wayfinding (signage) of the new facility
- Provide input and feedback towards the arts and health working group for the new AMHU
- Actively identify areas of improvement to develop a consumer/career sensitive and inclusive culture evident in all service practices, procedures and frameworks
Why are consumer representatives involved?
Consumer perspectives on mental health are critical to ensure we provide patient-centred care. Consumer input is a critical part in the range of views to be heard in discussions to develop a better understanding of the recovery framework.
What is the commitment required by the consumer representative?
The committee meets at least twice a week for up to two (2) hours per meeting. There may also be a need for attendance at additional meetings that may be called at short notice. Meetings are held via an online platform (Microsoft Teams) during standard business hours.
The consumer representative will receive $40 an hour as a sitting fee for attending meetings which includes their time at the meeting and any other costs incurred to attend the meeting, such as parking and transport.
What kind of consumer are we looking for?
WMH is seeking a consumer who has experience in the following areas:
- Have a personal lived experience of mental health issues and recovery or experience as a mental health carer
- Be open-minded, compassionate and encouraging of different views and opinions
- Be willing to actively participate in and contribute to frank and respectful dialogue and debate
- Have a genuine interest in clinical ethical issues
- Have an excellent understanding of privacy and confidentiality and a high degree of personal integrity
- Be available to attend at least two to three scheduled meetings per week over the course of the project, as well as meetings called at short notice
- It may be necessary to be available in person when we are completing the move readiness of the facility to have this role more involved with the carers and consumers and the other peer workers who will assist in the process
- Willing to work alongside our well-established lived experience team
If you are interested in becoming a consumer representative for WMH Master Plan - Acute Mental Health Unit Committee, please complete the short Expression of Interest form and return this to wm.communityengagement@health.qld.gov.au by 12pm on Monday, 25 October 2021.
If you would like further information or assistance with the expression of interest form, contact West Moreton Health Senior Engagement Officer Trisha Hansen at wm.communityengagement@health.qld.gov.au or by phone on 0429 595 304.