Integrated staffing model for residential mental health rehabilitation
Abstract
Purpose
A novel integrated staffing model for community-based residential rehabilitation services is described. The purpose of this paper is to achieve synergistic gains through meaningful integration of peer support and clinical workers within rehabilitation teams. Key features include the majority of roles within the team being held by persons with a lived experience of mental illness, the active collaboration between peer and clinical workers throughout all stages of a consumer’s rehabilitation journey, and an organizational structure that legitimizes and emphasizes the importance of peer work within public mental health service delivery. This staffing model is not anticipated to alter the core rehabilitation function and service models.
Design/methodology/approach
The emergence of the integrated staffing model is described with reference to the policy and planning context, the evidence base for peer support, and the organizational setting. A conceptual and contextualized description of the staffing model in practice as compared to a traditional clinical staffing model is provided.
Findings
There is a potential for synergistic benefits through the direct collaboration between horizontally integrated peer and clinical specialists within a unified team working toward a common goal. This staffing model is novel and untested, and will be subjected to ongoing evaluation.
Originality/value
The integrated staffing model may provide a pathway to achieving valued and valuable roles for peer workers working alongside clinical staff in providing rehabilitation support to people affected by serious mental illness.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the contribution of Micah Bernoff and Misha Byrne of the Strategic Momentum Group for their assistance in facilitating improved conceptual clarity around the integrated staffing model and the development of the infographic presented in Figure 2. Additionally, the Brook RED Centre played an important role in assisting the initial conceptualization of the PSW roles.
Citation
Parker, S., Dark, F., Vilic, G., McCann, K., O'Sullivan, R., Doyle, C. and Lendich, B. (2016), "Integrated staffing model for residential mental health rehabilitation", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 92-100. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-12-2015-0043
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited