News Flash

The PSA has written to the Director Mental Health Operations at Department of Health regarding the draft Model of Care for CAMHS.

PSA members have forwarded detailed feedback to the PSA outlining a number of concerns with the proposed Model of Care. Listed below are some examples of the concerns raised:

• The proposed changes are workforce and service focused, not client focused and propose no real solutions.

• Proposal concentrates on the restructure of adolescent services but does not address other groups such as mothers with mental health issues, 4 – 5 year olds and 6 – 10 year olds.

• CAMHS is not able to currently meet demand however the proposal will increase the client base to age 25 years. Additional funding will be required to meet this expansion of service.

• Organisational governance of CAMHS needs to prioritise aligning with other children's services, rather than aligning with adult mental-health services.

• Assessing risk through a central triage intake system needs to incorporate an infant and preschooler developmental risk assessment, not just a child adolescent focused risk assessment structure.

• CAMHS needs to maintain a multi-disciplinary team approach that provides opportunities for specialist skills and a variety of evidence based approaches, not just generic workers.

This list of concerns has been sent to Director Mental Health Operations at Department of Health with an explanation that the list is only a representative cross section of the concerns raised by PSA members.

Concern about loss of salary sacrifice benefits should governance arrangements change has also been communicated to Department of Health.

The South Australian Government Wages Parity (Salaried) Enterprise Agreement 2006 at Clause 22 outlines consultative principles. These principles clearly state at Clause 22.1.2

that Employers and Agencies consult in good faith, not simply advise what will be done. Clause 22.1.1 states “consultation involves the sharing of information and the exchange of views between employers and persons or bodies that must be consulted and the genuine opportunity for them to contribute effectively to any decision making process”.

The PSA does not believe that appropriate consultation has occurred, nor have the views raised by PSA members been considered.

The PSA has requested an urgent meeting with management to discuss this issue.

The PSA would like to hear from any PSA member who may wish to nominate to attend meetings with management in the capacity of Worksite Representative.

The PSA encourages non members to consider joining the PSA thereby consolidating their strength as a group to negotiate the change process.

For enquiries please contact Ted Szarek on phone 8205 3213 or email tcs@cpsu.asn.au

PSA WORKING FOR ITS MEMBERS

27 August 2009