Phone: +61 8 9481 4888
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Mental health nursing support in the community. Perth Clinic’s Outreach Program helps connect your treatment with everyday life.
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CARE
Connecting care with everyday life.
The Outreach Program provides mental health nursing care and support in the community, helping people continue their recovery outside the hospital environment. It is commonly used following discharge from Perth Clinic, but where clinically appropriate, it may also be considered as an alternative to hospital admission or to help reduce the length or frequency of hospital stays.
To access the Outreach Program, you need to be under the care of a Perth Clinic accredited practitioner. Your treating team will consider your individual needs, current circumstances and treatment plan when discussing whether Outreach is appropriate and how community-based nursing support could fit alongside your broader care.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A starting point for conversations
with your treating team.
Talk with your Perth Clinic accredited practitioner or hospital team about how you are managing and what support you may need outside hospital. They can consider whether Outreach is appropriate for your circumstances and explain how a referral can be made.
If Outreach is included in your care, the team will discuss what support will focus on, how and where visits will be arranged, and who will be involved. This gives you an opportunity to understand the purpose of the program and how it fits with your existing treatment plan.
Mental health nurses provide assessment, treatment and practical recovery-focused support in the community based on your individual needs and care plan. This may include monitoring your mental wellbeing, supporting treatment goals and helping you manage the transition between hospital care and everyday life.
Your progress and individual needs will be reviewed as your care continues. Your treating team can discuss any adjustments to your care plan and explore additional services or supports that may be appropriate for your ongoing recovery.
A CONSIDERED APPROACH
Outreach is planned around your individual needs, so arrangements can differ from person to person. Before care begins, your team should explain where visits can take place, how often support is planned, how your care will be reviewed, any costs involved and how to contact the team between visits. You should also understand what to do if your needs change or you require urgent help, as Outreach is not a substitute for an emergency response service.
YOUR QUESTIONS
Understanding how Outreach works can help you and your support network prepare for care in the community and know what to discuss with your treating team.
No. Outreach is commonly provided after discharge from hospital, but this is not the only way the program may be used. Where clinically appropriate, it may also be considered as an alternative to admission or as part of a plan to reduce the length or frequency of hospital stays.
Access to Outreach is arranged through your Perth Clinic accredited practitioner or treating team rather than by self-referral. They can discuss your needs, explain the referral and assessment process, and determine whether the program is appropriate for your circumstances. A referral or enquiry does not automatically mean the service will be suitable.
A family member, carer or other support person may be able to be involved where appropriate and with your agreement. Talk with your team about who you would like involved, what role they may have and what information you are comfortable being shared, while maintaining your privacy and preferences.
The frequency and arrangement of visits can vary depending on your individual needs and care plan, rather than following the same schedule for everyone. Your treating team can explain how often visits are proposed, where they will take place and how the schedule may be reviewed as your needs change.
No. The Outreach Program provides planned community-based care and should not be relied upon for an immediate emergency response. Your treating team should explain what to do if your mental health worsens or you need urgent help, including which emergency or crisis services to contact.
ACCESSING CARE
Ask your treating team about Outreach, or email Perth Clinic for information about accessing the program.
For general enquiries. Please avoid sending sensitive health information by email.
General information does not replace advice from your treating team. Individual suitability, arrangements and costs require confirmation.