WA Primary Health Alliance is seeking interested GPs to join an Advisory Group that will contribute to a co-design process to develop and pilot a new Initial Assessment and Referral service for GPs managing patients with or at risk of mental illness, who can be appropriately managed in primary care.
Based on the Commonwealth’s National Guidance on Initial Assessment and Referral for Mental Healthcare, PHNs are required to develop and implement a process that enables GPs and other eligible “point of entry” referrers into PHN commissioned services to undertake or have undertaken on their behalf an initial assessment, multi-domain formulation (analogous to a mental health care plan) and specific referral options, including to treatment and treatment support services (which can be actioned and coordinated if requested). GP referrals and initiated on-referrals will be managed by the service within a measurement-based care framework, so that GPs can track patient progress across any episode of care. Assessments will be undertaken by appropriately trained, experienced and supervised clinicians who referring GPs will be able to contact directly if required. The service will be free and designed to meet the needs of GPs and their patients.
Scope
The GP Advisory Group’s participants will provide real world expertise and input into the design of the Initial Assessment and Referral gateway, by contributing to key decision making within the project’s scope and identifying preferred solutions, in building the basic service model architecture.
The GP Advisory Group will not be required play a role in selecting which provider will be commissioned to deliver the initial assessment and referral service.
Roles and Responsibilities
The GP Advisory Group’s key roles and responsibilities will be to assist in the design and testing of the Initial Assessment and Referral service model, and subsequent to its pilot, the planning for its widescale implementation.
This will include:
- The assessment battery and necessary screening tools as required
- The referral/care pathways, processes and workflows
- The clinical governance framework and clinical protocols
- The refinement and improvement of the service model throughout the project, making specific and relevant recommendations as appropriate
- Identification and mitigation of risks associated with the initial assessment and referral process risk
- The above list of duties is not exhaustive, and the GP Advisory Group may also be asked to undertake other functions as they arise.
Frequency
It is anticipated that the GP Advisory Group will meet on a monthly basis for up to two (2) commencing in August 2020.
Membership
Whilst we recognise that many GPs have an interest in mental health, we are also particularly keen to involve practitioners who work with people experiencing significant socio-economic disadvantage and/or are from identified priority populations (ATSI, CaLD, LGBTI)
Thus, WA Primary Health Alliance is seeking Expressions of Interest from:
- GPs who have expertise and/or experience in primary mental health care
- GPs who work with people experiencing significant disadvantage and barriers to accessing appropriate mental health care
- GPs who are committed in improving these services irrespective of expertise and/or experience.
Participation Fees
- Members will receive a participation payment for their engagement on the Advisory Group, as per WA Primary Health Alliance’s Paid Participation Policy.
Applying
If you are interested in nominating for the GP Advisory Group, please complete the Expression of Interest form that can be accessed here: https://phexchange.wapha.org.au/initial-assessment-referral-project
Process
A selection panel, led by a GP Consultant/s, and with members drawn from WA Primary Health Alliance’s Metropolitan Clinical Council and WA Primary Health Alliance staff, will appoint members to the GP Advisory Group, based on the information provided in the Expression of Interest form. WA Primary Health Alliance will be seeking a membership that reflects a diversity of experience, interests and geography. Successful candidates will be notified by 6 July 2020.
If you require any further information about this position and the expression of interest process, please contact:
Lee Luttig, Stakeholder Relationships Officer lee.luttig@wapha.org.au