|
|
|
Child health teams in community services
Page content: Child health teams in community services | Child health team characteristics | Child health community services
Child health teams in community services
In 2006 the Victorian Budget allocated funding to establish or extend twelve child health teams in CHSs. These teams provide services to children experiencing developmental difficulties and behavioural issues.
Nine of these teams are located in communities in outer suburban and growth corridors, as part of the government’s Growing Communities Thriving Children initiative which is increasing the social infrastructure of rapidly expanding and poorly serviced (rural-metropolitan) ‘interface’ council areas. Three of the child health teams in community services are in other high need outer suburban areas.
Vision
Victorian children and their families can access effective family centred community health services that meet their needs, support early intervention and health promotion and are part of an integrated children’s service system.
Aims
To improve the health and development of Victorian children, especially those at risk of falling behind key early developmental milestones, through the provision of coordinated community-based specialist services.
Objectives To promote children’s positive health, growth and functioning within the community
- To provide early identification, assessment and intervention of child health and developmental concerns
- To improve the capacity of parents and families and support their understanding and management of their child’s health and development
- To support families to access other services and supports they may require in their community
- To practice Service Coordination and develop partnerships with other early childhood services including, maternal and child health, early childhood intervention services, family services and preschools.
Outcome priorities
Child health teams will contribute to addressing selected priorities from the The Victorian Child and Adolescent Outcome Framework. These are:
- Adequate nutrition/healthy weight
- Optimal language and cognitive development
- Adequate exercise and physical activity
- Positive child behaviour and mental health
- Safe from injury and harm
- Healthy parent lifestyle (including good parental mental health)
Target population Children with health or developmental difficulties and their families, where the presenting concern is not a disability or significant developmental delay.
Child health team characteristics
Service models and modes of delivery should be developed in consultation and partnership with local communities and reflect local needs. However, research evidence suggests some core characteristics that should apply to all CHS child health teams:
- Paediatric expertise
Child health team practitioners should have, or be supervised by practitioner with, appropriate paediatric qualifications or experience.
- Family centred
Successful programs see children in the context of their families, and seek to empower families to enhance their abilities to solve problems for themselves and foster self-sustaining behaviours.
- Team approach
Child health teams will have clearly identifiable methods of collaboration, communication, understanding and respect of each other’s roles and a shared commitment to an interdisciplinary approach. This may include shared intake, regular case co-ordination, interdisciplinary programs and broader team planning.
- Interdisciplinary
Child health teams seek to develop interdisciplinary practice, recognising that no single health profession has all the knowledge and skills needed to address the complex health needs of many children and their families. Interdisciplinary practice involves a partnership between a team of health professionals, child and family with a participatory, collaborative and coordinated approach to shared decision making.
- Service coordination
Implementation of good service coordination practices is fundamental to providing quality person centred care, for children and their families.
- Partnership approach
CHSs and child health teams need sound partnerships with local service providers to improve the experience and outcomes of families and children navigating the service system.
- Quality & safety
Child health teams as part of their CHS are required to meet the highest standards of quality and safety. Child health teams should support the achievement of outcomes, developing plans with clients that clearly identify specific treatment goals.
- Community oriented
Child health teams should participate in local area planning processes and identify community need in close liaison with PCP members, local council, and other local agencies to achieve shared long-term outcomes for children.
- Integrated health promotion
Child health teams can make a valuable contribution to a range of health promotion activities to optimise children’s positive growth and functioning. In particular they can contribute to community based interventions including Best Start, Go For Your Life and Neighbourhood Renewal.
- Flexible settings
Child health teams can deliver services in the settings that most effectively facilitate access for children and families, achievement of health outcomes, and ongoing self-management.
- Evidence based practice
Practice should be based on current research or literature demonstrating its positive effects for children and families. CHSs should pursue opportunities to evaluate practice and contribute to the development of the evidence base.
 Guidelines for the child health teams in Community Health Services initiative, Sept 2006 (111 kb, pdf)
Child health teams in community health: A survey of 11 community health services (969 kb, pdf)
Child health community services
top of page
|
|
