Consumer Workers' Forum Project
Mental health consumer workers are people with the lived experience of mental illness, employed (either paid or volunteer) in consumer designated roles within mental health services - public, non-government and private. Consumer workers are employed to provide various services, such as peer support, education, representation and individual and systemic advocacy for mental health consumers.
The establishment of the consumer workforce in NSW has resulted in many challenges that need to be addressed to ensure an effective and sustainable consumer workforce. The range of challenges that present themselves in the employment of consumer workers may prevent services from employing consumer workers. These challenges include:
- Role conflict and confusion
- Job titles that often do not reflect the work performed by the mental health consumer workforce
- Dual relationships and boundary issues
- Concerns regarding the inadequacy of remuneration of their work
- Little support and supervision structures
- Limited access to education and training for professional development
- Addressing reasonable accommodations in the workplace, and
- The need for evaluation of the consumer workforce.
For more information on the consumer workforce, a literature review has been produced detailing the history of the consumer workforce, the barriers and challenges that face the consumer workforce and the benefits of the consumer workforce. The literature review can be found here.
Consumer Workers' Forum (CWF) Project - Stage 2
NSW CAG, contracted by the Consumer Workers' Forum (CWF) through the former Sydney West Area Health Service, is currently conducting Stage 2 of the CWF Project with the support and funding of the NSW Health Department.
The aim of Stage 2 of the CWF Project is to develop a framework for mental health consumer workers in NSW mental health services that will be endorsed by the NSW Health Mental Health Program Council. The project aims to produce the following outcomes:
- A fully articulated framework for consumer workers in NSW ratified by the Mental Health Program Council for implementation in NSW including:
- Clearly defined roles, functions, responsibilities and titles
- Position descriptions for remunerated roles
- Clarification of remuneration award
- Minimum standards for supervision, support and professional development for consumer workers
- Evaluation framework for consumer worker roles
- Minimum level of training and education for consumer worker remunerated roles
- Report on best practice for delivery of consumer worker training, including professional development
- A Code of Professional Standards for consumer workers ratified by the NSW Health Mental Health Program Council for implementation in NSW
The Draft Framework for the NSW Mental Health Consumer Workforce
The Framework for the NSW Mental Health Consumer Workforce, "the Framework", is designed to guide workforce development for consumer workers within public mental health services in NSW, through providing a consistent, statewide approach and promoting the professionalism of the consumer workforce, and its standing as a legitimate and defined workforce. To do this, the Framework has four components:
- The Job
- Support and Development
- The System
- The Profession
Each of these components articulates the critical aspects which are required to ensure a clearly defined and sustainable workforce.
The Framework presents the consumer workforce as an integral component of the NSW public mental health system, at all levels of the system. While one aim of the Framework is to bring a consistent, statewide approach to the consumer workforce in NSW, the Framework is also designed to be flexible to specific local needs.
Click here to view The Final Consultation Paper Draft Framework for the NSW Health Consumer Workforce (NSW CAG, 2011)
The Framework is detailed between pages 6 and 52, with the remaining pages containing the Appendices.
The Consultation Process
NSW CAG is seeking feedback and comment on The Consultation Paper. Feedback can be provided via the following mechanisms:
Please note: The below surveys and consultation questions relate specifically to the content of the Draft Framework, in order to answer questions and comment you will need to read .The Final Consultation Paper
1. Consultation questions and comments can be completed online at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/THE_JOB
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SUPPORT_AND_DEVELOPMENT
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/THE_SYSTEM
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/THE_PROFESSION
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/THE_WHOLE_FRAMEWORK
2. Notes and comments can be
a. Emailed to: karen.oakley@nswcag.org.au
b. Faxed to: C/-Consumer Worker Draft Framework (02) 9332 0299
c. Mailed to: C/- Consumer Worker Draft Framework, NSW Consumer Advisory Group - Mental Health Inc. Suite 501, 80 William St East Sydney NSW 2011
3. Consultation questions and comments can be answered on a Word version of the consultation questions and returned as above
Consultation questions are available 
here
4. Notes and comments can be made on a printed version of the consultation paper and returned as above
NB. Feedback on the Final Consultation Paper is due by close of business Friday 20th January 2012
Referencing the Draft Framework
The Final Consultation Paper Draft Framework for the NSW Health Consumer Workforce has been developed over 2 years of research and consultation with all relevant stakeholders and in particular with consumer workers. Due to the importance of input from local and relevant stakeholders in the development of this Framework, NSW CAG strongly recommends that other jurisdictions duplicate similar consultation process to develop a Framework owned and relevant to their jurisdiction rather than duplicate this document.
If you would like to reference this document please do so in the following way:
The Final Consultation Paper Draft Framework for the NSW Health Consumer Workforce (NSW Consumer Advisory Group - Mental Health Inc. 2011)