Personal Helpers and Mentors Program Index - Macarthur Disability Services





	Personal Helpers and Mentors Program - Index
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	What is the personal Helpers and Mentors Program?
	The Personal Helpers and Mentors Program is one of the key initiatives of the Australian Government’s mental health reform package announced in the 2006 Federal Budget, and is also part of the Australian Government’s contribution to the COAG National Action Plan on Mental Health. A key element of the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program is its emphasis on community support and social connection as an integral component of recovery.
	How will the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program be delivered?
	The Personal Helpers and Mentors Program will be delivered by non-government organisations who have demonstrated experience in, and capacity for, achieving outcomes for people with severe functional limitation as a result of severe mental illness.
	The role of a Personal Helper and Mentor
	Personal Helpers and Mentors will support program participants in their recovery journey, building long term relationships and providing holistic support. They will ensure that services accessed by program participants are coordinated, integrated and complementary to other services in the community.
	The PHAM team at MDS Head Office.
	A Personal Helper and Mentor will:
	Help participants to better manage their daily activities and reconnect to their community Provide direct and personalised assistance through outreach services Provide referrals and links with appropriate services such as drug and alcohol and accommodation services Work with participants in the development of individual Recovery Plans which focus on participant’s goals and recovery journey Engage and support family, carer and other relationships Monitor and report progress against the participants Individual Recovery Plan.
	Program eligibility
	The Personal Helpers and Mentors Program will assist people aged 16 years and over whose ability to manage their daily activities and to live independently in the community is severely impacted as a result of severe mental illness. A person does not need to have a formalised clinical diagnosis of a severe mental illness to be able to access the program. Participants will be offered a clinician as part of the program and will be helped to connect to appropriate medical and health supports for assessment and treatment. Participation in the Personal Helpers and Mentors program will require a functional assessment. This assessment will determine an individual’s level of functioning in managing their daily activities and living independently in the community. This assessment process is intended to assist both Personal Helpers and Mentors and the participant to develop an individual Recovery Plan. This Recovery Plan will be regularly reviewed by the service provider and the participant to see if there has been a positive change in the participant’s level of functioning and progress in their recovery journey.
	Who is not eligible to participate in the program?
	People who are not eligible for assistance with the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program are: People who are assessed through the Personal Helpers and Mentors functioning assessment instrument as not having a severe functional limitation resulting from a mental illness; People under the age of 16 years; People whose functional limitation prevents them from being able to make an informed decision to participate (including in conjunction with any legal third party where appropriate); People who do not provide informed consent for data to be provided to FaCSIA for program purposes; People with co-morbid conditions or dual diagnosis (i.e. drug and alcohol dependence, Acquired Brain Injury, intellectual disability) who are unwilling or unable to address their non-mental illness related issues. The program will only be successful if both co-morbid conditions and mental health issues are addressed simultaneously; People receiving assistance through residential mental health services, or patients in psychiatric or acute care hospitals; People under the management of a state or territory judicial system; People who live outside of the 2560 postcode.




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