Immediate Drug Assistance Coordination Centre
Background
Central to current mental health, alcohol and other drug (AOD) reforms is the delivery of better care options for people with mental illness and AOD issues, closer to where they live, while also reducing the pressure on hospital inpatient beds. This is consistent with the Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015–2025 (the Plan) that aims to achieve a more balanced mental health system through investment in community-based treatment and support services.
Recommendation 29 of the Methamphetamine Action Plan (MAP) Taskforce Report states that: "Within 12 months, the Mental Health Commission, Western Australia Police Force and Department of Health establish an appropriate alternative crisis intervention response that would provide a short-term place for methamphetamine users when they are in crisis that will keep them, their families and the community safe, including in the regions."
A number of initiatives are being developed in response to Recommendation 29 of the Report, however, a gap exists in supporting individuals in the short term who are intoxicated and/or in crisis related to their AOD use and require immediate assistance. Both nationally and internationally this is a difficult cohort to provide an effective response to, however contemporary research, sector engagement and existing models of service have been used to inform the development of a new model as an additional immediate response to fill this gap and support appropriate access.
Immediate Drug Assistance Coordination Centre
The Immediate Drug Assistance Coordination Centre (IDACC) has been developed so that Western Australian’s experiencing a social and welfare crisis involving problematic AOD use can immediately access care and support in a coordinated and seamless way. The IDACC is comprised of five interrelated service components that together provide a holistic and person-centred response for adult individuals in social crisis related to their AOD use, including support for their families and significant others.
Of the five components of the IDACC, two are currently operational:
- Here For You, an AOD and mental health support and system navigation telephone line for consumers provided by the Alcohol and Drug Support Service (currently available 7am to 10pm daily); and
- the Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service for clinicians that is staffed by the AOD specialists at Next Step (currently operates 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday).
The further three components, to be procured from the Non-Government Organisation sector, will establish an IDACC Facility in the inner city. These three components consist of:
- An immediate access 24/7 Drop in Hub;
- Short Term Crisis Beds (6); and
- Assertive Outreach and Care Coordination Team.
Consultations
In February 2022 the Mental Health Commission undertook additional targeted consultation with key stakeholders to review and provide recommendations to finalise the service model for the new IDACC. The consultation has involved significant engagement with government agencies, service providers, potential referrers and consumer groups in order to seek their views on how the draft IDACC service model could be improved and refined to better meet the needs of individuals in AOD crisis, as well as families and significant others.
Five focus groups were facilitated with over 35 organisations from across the WA mental health and AOD service system in attendance including representatives from the WA Police Force and the North, South and East Metropolitan Health Services (including emergency department staff). Several consumer forums and outreach visits with individuals, family members and carers with lived experience of AOD issues were also completed as part of the consultation process.
The targeted stakeholder consultation on the IDACC model of service was completed and the consultation report was received on 10 June 2022. The report identified 15 recommendations, which were all accepted.
The final stage of the consultation process was to present a synthesis of the draft model of service and the findings of the targeted consultation to the Mental Health Advisory Committee, the AOD Advisory Board and the previous contributors to the AOD Crisis Intervention System Service Model consultation process. The final report, including an appendix outlining feedback from these key stakeholders and further considerations for IDACC implementation was provided to the Commission on the 1 July 2022.
Next Steps
A Community Services Request for the IDACC was released on Tenders WA on Monday 22 August 2022, see Tenders WA - Display Tender mhc2022160.
The tender closing time is 2.30pm Monday 3 October 2022.
It is anticipated that a service provider for the IDACC will be identified, and the Service Agreement awarded by the end of December 2022.
Last updated 26 August 2022