EMHSCA shared care
Eastern Mental Health Service Coordination Alliance (EMHSCA) recognises that people often require a range of supports to meet their various health needs, and that better outcomes are achieved when health and community service providers work together.
Protocol and practices
The EMHSCA Shared Care Protocol has been supporting improvements to shared care for inner and outer Eastern Melbourne since 2007.
Shared care is also commonly referred to as ‘coordinated care’, ‘integrated care’ or ‘collaborative care’. All of these terms describe the joining up of supports.
Read the EMHSCA Shared Care Protocol
Download PDF [806.38 kb]
EMHSCA supports the following practices when working collaboratively with people along their individual recovery journey:
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Know who is involved | Take a holistic view Identify all existing supports at intake assessment and seek consent to collaborate Consider potential safety issues for all concerned |
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Take care when you share | Respect the rights of the person, including any family and children Prioritise privacy and confidentiality — know what can/cannot/must be shared Always put safety first and check in with colleagues when making decisions |
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Look at the whole picture | Seek existing information to develop a holistic view Consider individual circumstances, resilience factors and relapse signature Gather a longitudinal history Seek to avoid unnecessary duplication and misunderstandings |
| Work as a shared care team | Work collaboratively with all relevant formal and informal supports as a shared care team Share timely and relevant access to information with the team Allow the person to be an active participant of the team and provide information in an accessible format Keep carers in the loop |
| Keep the person and their family at the centre | Put the needs of the person and any departments at the centre of all processes and activities Ensure a collaborative process at all stages of care, such as when identifying recovery, safety, supports needs and personals goals Acknowledge the role of careers (including young carers) and provide clear and timely information and advice |
Shared care resources
Looking for EMHSCA reports?
Browse our archive, which includes annual reports, shared care audit reports, and membership and partner reports.