Our Proposal
It is pointless for a service to be in place if it is not being accessed by people. Currently the services available to homeless are not very ‘user friendly’ there are long waiting hours, complicated inclusion criteria and inflexible scheduling among other things.
We propose a mobile mental health check clinic, attaching ourselves to food delivery services already operational and successful in the area such as the meal programs offered by port phillip council and salvation army mentioned below. Our program will aim to be sustainable and easily accessible.
We propose to set up a mobile mental health clinic, quite simply, a van that can be driven and operate alongside current food vans that are frequented by the homeless community. We feel this would be the best way to connect with the homeless community as it can be difficult to encourage the homeless to utilise a drop in centre or stationary facility due to the nature of homelessness. The van will be driven and staffed by 2 mental health nurses and contain information and equipment necessary to provide mental health services and information.
Services that will be provided
Focus on engaging and connecting with the community and establishing trust
Assessment: conduct initial assessment of the homeless communities and individuals to identify need.
Assessment and screening tools: risk assessment, mental status examination, K10, HoNOS and care plan initiation.
Treatment: provide mental health treatment such as medication review and compliance, coping mechanisms and strengths/weakness of individuals, identify what supports can be put in place to improve mental health, including basic needs and living condition and initiate support services where appropriate.
Follow up review and referral service: for RDNS, psychiatry, general practitioner and outpatient and outreach services.
Assessment and screening tools: risk assessment, mental status examination, K10, HoNOS and care plan initiation.
Initial assessment takes a detailed history of the clients life and presenting problems, mental status examination, risk assessment, HoNOS, K10 and if required a depression and anxiety scale (DAS) and or/ mood questionnaire- the questionnaire also gives information about the clients lifestyle and physical health
Follow up review and referral service: for RDNS, psychiatry, general practitioner and outpatient and outreach services.
Our approach
Working within the homeless community will require the nurse to adapt a “working with vulnerable people” approach
“Vulnerable people” can be classified as people living with a mental illness or chronic condition/ disability and also people who are homeless and/or dealing with addiction. Vulnerable populations are more likely to experience poor health
Vulnerable clients need to be approached with care and the ability to develop trust and and a relationship with such clients is a major role for the mental health nurse.
Here is an example of a homeless outreach program that is successful in America, in this video the program co-ordinator talks about the importance of establishing trust with the homeless community for services to be successful.
Important aspects of nursing in the community with vulnerable people ie- homeless:
1-Understand the immediate and long term needs of the client and implement care plan accordingly
2-Recognise strengths and deficits in clients
3-Comprehensive assessment skills, monitoring and therapeutic care of the client’s illness
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