Dual diagnosis initiative

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The Dual Diagnosis initiative was set up to support the development of better treatment practices and collaborative relationships between drug treatment and mental health services. The key activities of the initiative are the development of local networks; training, consultation and modelling of good practice through direct clinical intervention, and shared care arrangements.

Target group

Individuals who are experiencing concurrent mental health and alcohol and drug issues.

Key service requirements

The coordinator role

• To ensure the availability of a training curriculum.
  
  
• To support to the specialist Dual Diagnosis workers by training, consultation and clinical supervision.
  
  
• To provide regular formal clinical supervision.
  
  
• To co-facilitate some of the training through the area services covered by their team, including linked rural areas.
  
  
• To be responsible for the ongoing development of the training curriculum.
  
  
• To coordinate periodic information sharing forums for all Dual Diagnosis workers within the catchment including those employed by linking rural services. These meetings should occur on a minimum on a monthly basis and more regularly as circumstances require more collaborative efforts.

Role of the specialist dual diagnosis workers

• To develop co-operative working relationships between mental health and drug treatment services within the relevant area service catchment. This should particularly address areas of access, assessment and the development of effective treatment planning.
  
  
• To provide training and consultation to all mental health (including Psychiatric Disability Support Service (PDSS)) and drug treatment services within the area service catchment with a strong focus on building capacity within the services to respond more effectively to people with dual diagnosis.
  
  
• To provide direct service to clients with a serious mental illness and substance use problems with a focus on developing and modelling good practice. This may be by providing a limited direct service and intensive support/consultation to case managers on specific cases.
  

More information

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