Evaluation of the Bringing them home and Indigenous mental health programs
11.3.3 Develop national guidelines for all four programs
Table of contents
- Acknowledgements
- Study Team
- Glossary
- Executive Summary
1. Introduction- 2. Methodology
- 3 Overview of the four programs
- 4 Literature review
- 5 Key outcomes and achievements of the programs
- 6 Key limitations of the programs
- 7 Management and administrative issues
- 8. Workforce issues
- 9. Issues related to the four programs
- 10. Likely future demand
11. Conclusions and suggested future directions- 11.1 Key findings of the evaluation against the Terms of Reference
- 11.2 Good practice principles
- 11.3 Recommendations for suggested future directions
- 11.3.1 Ensuring Link-Up and BTH services have a stronger focus on first generation Stolen Generations members
- 11.3.2 Actions to address workforce issues
- 11.3.3 Develop national guidelines for all four programs
- 11.3.4 Extending the geographical reach of the programs
- 11.3.5 Improving the operation of SEWB RCs
- 11.3.6 Encouraging evaluation and good practice activities
- 11.3.7 Provide additional funding for complementary programs
- 11.3.8 Enhancing coordination between Link-Up and BTH services
- 11.3.9 Improve processes for accessing records
- 11.3.10 Research
- Appendix A: Stakeholders consulted
- Appendix B: Literature review
- References
Another key area for suggested future action is developing national guidelines for each program. This is a particularly critical need for the BTH Program and the SEWB RC Program.
For the Link-Up and BTH programs these guidelines could include guidance on, for example:
- their aims and intended target groups
- examples of standard protocols which should be developed around key issues (eg referral between Link-Up and BTH services, case closure, archiving standards for records management eg definitions of 'active' and 'inactive' clients)
- staff skills required
- human resources issues such as Occupational Health and Safety, time in lieu etc
- good practice principles and models in service delivery, including models to facilitate skill-sharing between team members who do not have all the skills/ qualifications ideally required for their positions
To complement the national guidelines, a national or State-level training program should be implemented (tied to other training forums where possible) to educate program staff about the guidelines and their requirements.
State OATSIH Offices should also be more proactively involved in monitoring and supporting the funded services, in order to encourage adherence to the above guidelines.