2 September 2011

New roles in mental health

Two well-known Pact faces are filling new positions.

Former clinician/educator Matthew Peppercorn is Pact’s new mental health clinical leader while former healthy lifestyles coordinator Carina Perner is Pact’s new mental health recovery housing service leader at the new Helensburgh Road service in Dunedin.

They both started their roles in August.

Matthew says he sees his role as aiding communication between the Southern District Health Board Mental Health Services and Pact. He would like to use some collaborative approaches – such as attending three-monthly client reviews with the psychiatrist and client (if the client agrees).

"I’m trying to make sure that the clients’ views are put across. That’s paramount – it’s a client-centred approach because they’re the expert."

Matthew says he has been working behind the scenes for a couple of years working on some of those links.

"This new role is a more defined version of what I’ve been doing already."

Matthew plans to work with clients on a day-to-day basis.

"I aim to do some hands-on rather than just have meetings with people. I aim to have positive leisure time with them. I don’t just want to be talking to people when there’s an issue. I want to develop relationships based on fun times."

Matthew says he will be based at a variety of places including The Apartment, Helensburgh Road and Shetland Street and will be out and about with community support clients and will visit Oamaru and Balclutha.

"If anyone wants me they should try me on my mobile."

Matthew says the thing he is looking forward to most about the role is working more with people Pact is supporting and involving clients more in their care packages. WRAP plans are a good example of this.

He will also continue his education work in Otago (including Balclutha and Oamaru), and will organise 15 or so specific courses a year with external people coming in to Pact.

"That’s part of that collaborative approach."

He will no longer do education in Southland or the West Coast. He thanks the staff for all their help and knowledge they have passed on to him at training.

"I’ve really learned a lot from those guys, especially about a client-centred approach."

Carina will be working with the staff and flatmates at Helensburgh Road. There are seven staff at Helensburgh Road, including Carina, with two to three staff on during the day and a sleepover staff member for the first few weeks. There are 12 flatmates supported by Pact at the flats (as well as two respite clients currently). Another eight flatmates supported by Pact will eventually move in.

Carina says the first priority has been to support the flatmates to settle in.

They have already had their first residents’ meeting.

"It was really good. People could voice their opinions and tell us what’s up, what’s missing and what they still need support with so that was very useful."

Carina says the shift for flatmates from other Pact homes (in Norwood Street and Musselburgh Rise) to the flats was very positive and went more smoothly than she anticipated.

"Everyone was so good – they were happy with organising their flats and unpacking. There we a few issues we had to deal with, but that’s normal. They dealt with it unbelievably really. I was so proud of them."

Once everyone is settled in Carina says her next aim is to work on flatmates’ goals.

She says she is looking forward to being part of people’s recovery.

"The biggest achievement will be if they slowly but surely achieve their dreams and goals. That would be awesome."

Carina is also looking forward to the administrative side of the role as organisational work is something she enjoys.

She says the job has been great so far and the days are flying by.

"It’s getting better with each day – I have more time to do the stuff I have to do."

Matthew says it is an exciting project.

"That’s why we are both here. What could come out of it is amazing."