Brown J1
1Complex Psychology
Biography:
Jacqui is a clinical psychologist and the director of Complex Psychology. She regularly works with clients who have complex needs and her range of experience spans alcohol and other drug and harm reduction programs, dual diagnosis, forensic services, international development and program management in the social services area. Jacqui regularly provides expert witness testimony for people with cognitive disability involved in the court system and she has a strong interest in the development of plans and coordination for clients who have complex needs. A key area of focus is supporting services to improve their capacity to work complex needs clients.
Working with complex clients can be a challenging process and often barriers arise from within a stretched service sector. This presentation will present a thematic analysis of the work that Complex Psychology have done in their roles as coordinators under the Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative (MACNI) and for other complex needs clients. MACNI is a program of the Victorian government that provides care planning and coordination for some of the state’s most high profile and high risk clients. It is often sought out for clients with complex needs when care teams are ‘stuck’ or in conflict and where the client needs are unable to be addressed within the existing service system. A key component of the process is a careful and considered period of assessment and care plan development, followed by an independent care plan coordinator to support the implementation of the plan.
This poster presentation aims to highlight aspects of successful care team functioning, as well as focusing on ways in which problematic issues within care teams parallel the experience of the client. Finally, strategies that have been successful in addressing suboptimal care team functioning will be highlighted, as well as some ‘success stories’ where issues have been resolved with strong coordination and care team support.