Public Sector Updates – South

Adult Community Mental Health Service (ACMHS) – Continuing Care Team (CCT)

The ANMF lodged an application to the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC) on Tuesday 17 May 2022. This was the result of a long-standing grievance with ACMHS and nurses who work in CATT and Case Management.

The first conference in the TIC was held on Tuesday 7 June 2022. A major outcome of this was maintenance of status quo will the grievance is being resolved. In this instance this was a return to pre-reform hours for ACMHS CATT and Case Management workers.

The first ‘report back’ conference was held on Thursday 30 June 2022. Since then, the ANMF has attended two Work Health and Safety meetings with members from Glenorchy and Northern, Hobart and Southern. One in relation to ‘home visiting’ and one in relation to ‘home visiting in extended hours. The ANMF has been advised that the later was not sent out to all teams, which has now been rectified and response date revised. If you have any concerns with this, please contact Organiser Jenna Bowling via email at jenna.bowling@anmftas.org.au.

The ANMF has attended a meeting with Mental Health Service (MHS) team leaders and group directors regarding concerns raised in relation to grade 2 to grade 4 nursing positions and duties allocated to these. Following this meeting additional concerns were raised, and these have now been submitted by way of formal letter to MHS group directors, sent on Friday 12 August 2022.

A further report back in the TIC took place on Tuesday 16 August 2022. It is expected that this will not be the last report back meeting, as MHS continues to work on outstanding matters attached to this case, which will require further consultation with members before closing the case is considered.

Homelessness Outreach Support Team (HOST)

The ANMF wrote to Mental Health Services Executive Director in relation to notification received that the Homelessness Outreach Support Team (HOST) will not receive funding beyond September 2022. Several questions were raised including how provision of service to such a highly vulnerable group will be handled adequately, when existing services clearly don’t have the ability to take on such a large body of additional work, based on the understanding that HOST has received over 500 referrals in 2 years. The ANMF has asked the EDON if additional funding sources have been considered and explored. A response received on Monday 1 August 2022 failed to answer these specific questions and a further letter, seeking further clarity will be send as early as possible this week.