Improving capability building for the mental health workforce

A new “how-to” guide aims to drive high-quality implementation of mental health workforce capability building, with the goal of improved service experience for consumers, families, carers and supporters in the Australian state of Victoria.

CEI has developed the Our workforce, our future implementation guide to support managers and organisation leaders put into everyday practice a set of common values, approaches, attitudes and ways of working considered essential for safe and effective service in Victoria’s mental health system.

“The guide is the latest in a suite of activities we’ve undertaken with Victoria’s Department of Health to accelerate and sustain implementation of the Our workforce, our future capability framework, which outlines key principles and capabilities for the mental health and wellbeing workforce,” explains CEI Director Dr Melinda Polimeni.

Grounded in implementation science, the new guide offers a flexible, practical and real-world approach. There are tools, checklists and strategies that can be adapted to different needs – whether users are at the start of an implementation effort or wanting to refine existing activities.

Key terms and concepts are explained in plain language, with case studies illustrating how these might apply in the mental health service context and across the different stages of implementation.

“Implementation is an active and continuing process,” says Melinda. “The guide sets out step-by-step actions, and is designed to help spread understanding and use of ‘best-bet’ strategies – especially for those new to implementation science theory and techniques.”

The Our workforce, our future implementation guide explains:

• What implementation science is and why it is important
• Implementation barriers and enablers
• How to select and apply implementation strategies
• How organisations and services can track and measure implementation outcomes
• Tools and resources to help implementation efforts

“Victoria’s mental health workforce is diverse and multidisciplinary, and the implementation guide builds on the sector’s considerable existing strengths and knowledge,” says Melinda.

“The goal is to offer useful, best-practice guidance on implementing the capability framework, with the ultimate driver being more holistic, contextualised, person-centred and evidence-informed mental health services for the community.”

“Beyond this initial focus, the implementation guide may also be useful in putting into practice other innovations or initiatives across the mental health sector – in Victoria or elsewhere.”

Download the implementation guide HERE

Read more about the capability framework HERE