Mental Health and Addiction Pathway Update

Careerforce is developing career pathways for the mental health and addiction (MHA) support workforce. This project includes a review of the current Mental Health National Certificate Level 4 and National Diploma Level 6.

The project started in March 2009 and is expected to last approximately two years.

The bulk of the work in 2010 will focus on qualifications or unit standards in specialist mental health and addiction areas. We will be again calling on employer groups to give expert input into these specialist areas.

Current Status

Careerforce is currently completing the analysis of feedback from the consultation on the proposed National Certificate in Mental Health and Addiction Support (level 4).

This consultation comprised eight separate surveys – one of which was on the compulsory section while the other seven surveys were on the seven elective topics.

It was pleasing that 94 people provided feedback on at least one of the surveys, with many respondents completing more than one survey. This is the largest number of responses to any of the consultations held this year. We hope to be able to release a summary of the results of this consultation in late July 2010.

Work on reviewing the current National Diploma in Mental Health Support Work (Level 6) is about to commence and is expected to last at least 12 months. The composition of the external reference group, which will provide oversight to this project, is currently being finalised.

Preliminary work is underway to analyse the usage of the current diploma, and to profile some of the career progressions and experiences of recent graduates. If you have graduated with the national diploma and would like to share your experiences with Careerforce, contact Margaret Vick. 

Click here to view a two page overview of this project

 

Groups Formed to Support this Project

External Reference Group

An external reference group has been set up to provide oversight to this project. This group includes representatives from employers, the Ministry of Health (MOH), District Health Boards (DHB), Non Government Organisations (NGO), the Public Service Association, and members of the five Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Development Centres - namely Te Pou, Te Rau Matatini, The Werry Centre, Matua Raki and Le Va.

Members of the MHA External Reference Group in Wellington Back row: Mark Pearce, Quinton Bush, Barbara Purvis, Marg Adamson, Glenn Barclay, Gut Burns, Keith Knight, David Bradley Middle row: Roz Sorenson, Heather Casey, Chrissie Cope Front row: Margaret Vick, Sally Hallmark, Laurie Te Nahu, Katie Richardson, Bronwyn Dunnachie , Emma Dore Absent: Richard Woodcock and Annemarie Wille

Sector Panel

A sector panel has been established to develop the content of specific aspects of a qualification. This panel includes representatives from adult mental health, child and youth, addiction, Kaupapa Maori, Pacific, consumer and peer support, forensic, residential service providers and the Ministry of Health.

Background - Why is Careerforce Doing this?

The project was initiated because of ongoing feedback from the MHA sector who were dissatisfied with the current qualifications and their relevance to the workplace. Sector feedback has included:

• A lack of diversity within the current qualifications, particularly in areas such as child and youth and addiction.
• More flexibility in the qualifications with support workers being able to move across the health sector without having to begin training again.
• A need for qualifications in culturally specific roles and an updating of cultural information
• An option of stair casing from a lower level or 'entry' qualification, especially for workers who have either never studied before or have English as a second language.
• Incorporating mental health and addictions competency frameworks, e.g 'Let's get real'.

More Information

Contact Margaret Vick for more information on this project.

Margaret Vick
Project Manager
Careerforce (Community Support Services ITO Ltd)
margaret.vick@careerforce.org.nz
0800 277 486
027 658-8007

Other Mental Health and Addiction Developments

Resources make qualifications more relevant for mental health and addiction

Careerforce has launched resources to support mental health and addiction employers provide their staff with the Foundation Skills (Level 2) and Core Competencies (Level 3) national qualifications.
 
The new resources provide specific mental health and addiction examples and case studies designed to make these workplace based qualifications more relevant to the mental health and addiction sector.
 
Mental health and addiction employers interested in finding out more about offering these qualifications to their staff should contact Penny Rogers on 027 6753284.  

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