26Feb
Enhanced mental health support for Canterbury children
The Prime Minister has announced the first stage of the Government’s plan to deliver dedicated mental health support to primary and intermediate schools across greater Christchurch, the Hurunui and Kaikoura.
The first schools to benefit will be in east Christchurch and Hornby, where 13 primary schools and 2 secondary schools will share six dedicated staff, including community workers and health professionals.
This is the first step in a $28 million programme that will be rolled out rapidly over the next three years.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: “We all want our kids to have a happy and carefree childhood, but sadly for too many that’s not the reality in Canterbury. Since 2011, there has been a significant increase in demand for mental health services for children and young people in quake affected areas. We want to wrap more care and support around these children at an early age.
"This new approach will allow specialist support to be tailored to the needs of individual children, their families and communities. It’ll mean that, in their critical early years, young people get all the help they need to grow up safe, healthy and happy."
Canterbury Clinical Network will lead this programme through a newly-established, time-limited Mental Health Support in Schools Service Level Alliance (working title). After setting up an operating model and framework, the group will take a monitoring role as the programme is implemented. Read the draft Terms of Reference here.
CCN is now seeking nominations for membership of the new group. Perspectives sought include:
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Perspective
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Competency
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Consumer/Whānau
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Whānau experience of navigating support for mental health/learning support needs for young people.
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Ministry of Education Learning Support
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Key sector relationships with schools.
Currently implementing the new Learning Support Service Delivery model to Kāhui Ako.
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Kāhui Ako
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Frontline experience of operating in Kāhui Ako and experience of complex health and social need in schools.
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Canterbury Primary School
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Primary school leadership.
Experience of meeting the needs of diverse learners.
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Agency providing social services
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Partnership agencies in social service provision and complex need.
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Māori
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Mana Whenua.
Experience across education and/or Canterbury health system.
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Pasifika
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Pasifika leadership.
Experience across education and/or Canterbury health system.
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Specialist Mental Health
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Strategic leadership within specialist mental health services in Canterbury.
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Primary Mental Health
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Strategic leadership across primary mental health services in Canterbury.
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General Practice
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General practice clinical leadership, with a particular interest in child mental health.
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Ministry of Health
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Clinical Leadership for Mental Health Service provision.
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NGO – School based Mental Health
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Experience engaging schools.
Provider of mental health support to children families and whānau.
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NGO – Mental Health Provider
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Provider of mental health services to children and families/whānau.
Experience with Māori/Pasifika mental health.
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Canterbury DHB Planning & Funding
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Canterbury DHB leadership.
System navigation and statutory funder of health services.
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If you believe you fit one or more perspective/competencies listed above and would like the opportunity to contribute to the work of the new Mental Health Support in Schools SLA, please contact Clare Shepherd, CCN Facilitator, Mental Health Support in Schools SLA (phone 03 337 7736), for a confidential discussion or, alternatively, please complete the nomination form.
Nominations are open until 9am, Friday 2 March 2018
*Image designed by Freepik
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