ConnectED

A project to improve the health and wellbeing of people with mental health and/or complex pychosocial needs who frequently use hospital services.

 

INTEGRATING CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH COMPLEX NEEDS

 

 

ConnectED is a HARP project that aims to reduce the preventable use of hospital emergency services by improving the health and wellbeing of people with mental health and complex psychosocial needs, who may be socially isolated or homeless, and who are like frequent users of hospital emergency and inpatient services.

 

ConnectED commenced in November 2003 and has an emphasis on developing relationships between the Emergency Department and local primary health care services in order to prevent avoidable emergency presentations and hospital admissions.  ConnectED workers are employees of different agencies that are collaborating to meet client needs. They are responsible to their agency for clinical standards and to ConnectED for project performance.

 

Agencies employ ConnectED workers to engage clients, meet their needs, facilitate access to services, build capacity within their own agency and collaborate with other service providers. The project incorporates a strong commitment to consumer participation and empowerment, outreach to rooming houses and SRSs, and ‘stop over’ beds to provide short-term accommodation.

 

ConnectED workers are employees of the different agencies and use agency’s policies, procedures and clinical standards, while working as a team and reporting for ConnectED project management and evaluation purposes. 

 

The project incorporates a commitment to a holistic, social model of health. Achieving change in complex systems requires a long-term vision, team work and persistence in the face of incremental gains and cultural barriers.

 

 

 

 

The ConnectED client is most likely to

·       be aged 15 to 69 years

·       have homelessness, social, alcohol and drug and/or mental health problems

·       be located in Port Phillip, Glen Eira, Stonington or Bayside

 

and likely to

·       have had three or more unplanned readmissions/presentations over the past 12 months

·       be at risk of unnecessary presentations to the Alfred Emergency Department.

 

People who are homeless or live in a rooming house or SRS, may:

·       have had one or more unplanned readmissions/presentations over the past 12 months, and

·       be at risk of unnecessary presentations to the Alfred Emergency Department.

 

All clients are eligible for flexible response funds that enable ConnectED Key Workers to responsively meet client’s immediate treatment and other needs.