Name
NSW Health
Industry
Government department
Products and services
NSW Health is a network of organisations that operates more than 220 public hospitals and provides community health and other public health services for the NSW community through a network of local health districts, specialty networks and non-government affiliated health organisations, known collectively as NSW Health.
Number of employees
Over 122,000 dedicated staff (FTE)
Website
The challenge
Whole Family Teams (WFT) are specialist units that provide in-home and community-based interventions for families with complex mental health and drug and alcohol issues. The children in these families have been identified as being at risk of significant harm. A training audit found that WFT staff would benefit from training in Understanding and Treating Hoarding Disorder, a complex condition that affects an estimated 2.5 per cent of the population and often starts in adolescence. WFT services are funded by NSW Health, and delivered by around 60 staff in seven Local Health Districts across the state. NSW Health engaged CCE to deliver its public course, Understanding and Treating Hoarding Disorder, to all WFT staff.
Our solution
Hoarding remains under-recognised in primary care, yet costs associated with the disorder are significant. These include psychological and public health costs, safety concerns, and impairment in psychosocial and occupational functioning. The WFT team recognised that hoarding was one of many issues experienced by the families in their care. Dr Jessamine Chen then delivered the training to 67 WFT staff, with three online sessions of the full-day public workshop.
The outcome
The training supported capacity building, state-wide networking and team cohesion, helping all team members adopt a consistent approach in responding to hoarding disorder. The training also allowed for candid, practical, all-team discussions of actual experiences with clients. Given the increase in referrals where hoarding disorder has been noted, the training also will ensure staff safety when visiting homes to respond to the needs of these families.
"The Hoarder Disorder Training gave me various insights to make sense of this complex condition. The practical examples of formulation and treatment approaches were really useful, as was the workbook. Thank you!"
Sophie Phillips - Clinical Lead, Whole Family Teams
“The training was comprehensive, practical and easy to follow. It was evident that the facilitator is very knowledgeable about the topic of hoarding and working with clients who experience this disorder. Fabulous training! Thank you.”
Amy Shearden - Whole Family Team Program Manager