Family Advisor

Families/Whanau Advisor

The Family Advisor promotes the Participation in Partnership model, which aims to involve family of choice who are supporting someone who is experiencing mental illness.

The main functions of the Family Advisor in all areas of Te Korowai Whāriki are:

• to contribute to ongoing quality improvement of the service
• to work collaboratively with staff, encouraging clinical practice to be inclusive of "family of choice"
• to have contact with whanau, family, close friends and community organisations who work to support tangata whaiora, service users in very real, practical ways

The Family Advisor is involved in:

• advising mangement on how to improve services, and how to therapeutically involve families more in the care of their family member or friend
• promote policy and decision making to enhance family/whanau participation
• work alongside Maori, Pasifika and other cultural support services
• work collaboratively to plan, to promote and to be involved in family participation projects

 This role also maintains relationships and support to other key agencies in mental health, paritcularly Atareira, in supporting the families of the clients. The Family Advisor collects and collates information/research and develops this into resource kits to assist families/whanau and others.

The current Family Advisor work programme includes:

• Provide a family information pack for Te Korowai Whāriki services
• Provide Family Participation in Partnership workshops and CCDHB Mental Health Service orientation for staff.
• Development of a protocol for supporting families involved in serious adverse events.
• Amending policy and developing protocol, and training packages

Currently, a Whanau/Family Council is being set up which will meet 2-4 times per year.  Family members who are interested in being part of this, please contact the Family Advisor.

Lisa Beech
Family Advisor
Email: Lisa.Beech   "at" ccdhb.org.nz

Telephone: (04) 918 2610