News Flash

Public Service Association (PSA) Industrial Officer Sue Cummins along with officials from Australian Nurses & Midwifery Federation (ANMF) and SA Salaried Medical Officers Association (SASMOA) has commenced meeting on a monthly basis with the Mental Health Unit.  This forum is to provide for communication and consultation in relation to the implementation of the Adult Community Mental Health Reform.  This means that the Union Officials will no longer be attending the current Working Groups:

    Community Mental Health Workforce training Development & Transition             Group, and
    Community Mental Health ICT Finance Asset Procurement Group

The first meeting held on Wednesday 1 September 2010 discussed:

TERMS OF REFERENCE
The draft Terms of Reference were discussed and amended.  The agreed draft TOR is being amended and final sign off of the document will be at the next meeting.

COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTRES
An update was provided by management:

INNER SOUTH – Completion of construction has been delayed until January 2011 due to bad weather and some industrial strike action.

EAST – Crown Law has been drafting the 15 year lease agreement.  This agreement is currently being reviewed by SA Health and should be finalised within the next month.  Once agreement has been signed off an announcement on the location will be made, with occupancy expected in September/October 2011.

NORTH, NORTH-EAST AND WEST – The decision has been made to go to market seeking Expressions of Interest at the same time for these 3 sites.  The brief will describe the preferred geographical locations and preferred high level criteria.  The planned completion date for all these sites is 2011/12.

OUTER SOUTH – The SA Government has requested that an economic analysis be undertaken on the Outer South Site to determine whether it is more cost effective to do a build on own land versus a sell land and lease it back arrangement.  A Project Team is being established to undertake this analysis.  No completion date has as yet been announced.

Consultation on the Inner South site is part of the GP PLUS Industrial Forum and PSA Industrial Officer Margie Lindley regularly attends those forum.  If PSA members have any concerns or comments please contact Margie direct via email mcl@cpsu.asn.au

The PSA is continually raising the issue of immediate lack of space for Outer South and as this is the  last new centre on the schedule to be built/leased then short term accommodation should be investigated.  Discussions are occurring with the South Region regarding the potential use of the building next door to Adaire Clinic where space might be available.

Concerns were raised in relation to when consultation would commence on the Eastern Site and there was a request for information on the User Groups that would be reviewing the Site Plans.  It is not clear what these groups would be responsible for and what would be the membership of these groups.  Management have agreed to report back at the next meeting.  The Committee suggested that a couple of staff who attended the Marion User Group be invited to participate and to share learnings from the Marion development.

PSA tabled a document of concerns and OHS&W issues that exist at the North-East Site at 4 Smart Road.  This document has now been forwarded to management for follow up and resolution.

ORGANISATION STRUCTURE

The PSA and other unions provided comments in relation to the last draft document that was received. In particular, the PSA's concerns focused on the under resourced team structures, the lack of relief staff and the Allied Health Professional Structure not being implemented.  Particular concerns have also been expressed about the merging of the Senior Social Worker and the Senior Practitioner roles without consultation.  It appears there has been no comparison work done on the new Allied Health Professional Structure in relation to the Job & Person Specifications and the correct classification of the new roles.

A further separate meeting was held today with the PSA and management regarding the Senior Social Worker Roles and the Allied Health Profession Structure within Mental Health.  Discussions are continuing after some initial investigative work is being undertaken to identify these officers.  The PSA will keep members informed of the progress of this matter.

The next meeting of the industrial forum is scheduled for the Wednesday 6 October 2010 at 1.30 pm.