Mental Health — Community Supported Accommodation
4644. Hon Alison Xamon to the Minister for Mental Health
I refer to the answers provided by the Minister for Mental Health to questions on notice Nos 4420–4434 and 4436–4441, and I ask —
(1) Can the Minister lease state the average number of people on the register of interest who are either yet to be considered for eligibility and compatibility or have been assessed and are considered eligible but have not been provided with a place in each of the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and currently, for each of the following services —
(a) Fusion (Aust) Ltd Community Supported Residential Units in Geraldton;
(b) Richmond Fellowship of Western Australia Community Supported Residential Units in Bunbury;
(c) Richmond Fellowship of Western Australia Community Supported Residential Units in Busselton;
(d) St Bartholomew’s House Inc Community Supported Residential Units in Kelmscott;
(e) St Bartholomew’s House Inc Community Supported Residential Units in Bentley;
(f) Albany Halfway House Association Community Supported Residential Units in Albany;
(g) Richmond Fellowship of Western Australia Community Supported Residential Units in Bunbury;
(h) Ngulla Mia supported accommodation in East Perth;
(i) Prospect Lodge residential rehabilitation service in Kalgoorlie;
(j) Intermediate care accommodation provided by Albany Halfway House in Albany;
(k) St Bartholomew’s House Inc Community Supported Residential Units in Stirling;
(l) St Bartholomew’s House Inc Community Supported Residential Units in Middle Swan;
(m) Ngatti House supported accommodation in Fremantle; and
(n) St Bartholomew’s House Inc Community Supported Residential Units in Osborne Park?
(2) Can the Minister please state the average time it takes to fill vacancies when they occur at —
(a) Richmond Fellowship of Western Australia community supported housing in Kelmscott;
(b) Southern Cross Care community supported housing in Stirling;
(c) Southern Cross Care community supported housing in Bentley;
(d) Southern Cross Care community supported housing in Mt Claremont;
(e) Intermediate care accommodation provided by the Richmond Fellowship in Queens Park;
(f) Intermediate care accommodation provided by the Richmond Fellowship in East Fremantle;
(g) St Bartholomew’s Crisis Accommodation in Cannington;
(h) St Bartholomew’s Crisis Accommodation in Medina; and
(i) St Bartholomew’s Crisis Accommodation in Midland?
Hon HELEN MORTON replied:
1. (a) 2008 — 4, 2009 — 2, 2010 — 8, 2011 — 2.
(b)–(c) Nil
(d) 2008 — nil, 2009 — nil, 2010 — nil, 2011 — 2.
(e) The data was not available for previous years; currently 2 females assessed awaiting a vacancy and 2 males awaiting assessment.
(f) The numbers expressed below refers to persons who have been assessed as eligible and compatible but have not been provided with a place in the relevant year. The information available is as follows:
2008: Nil
2009: Nil
2010: Nil
2011 (to date): Nil
(g)–(h) Nil
(i) 2008 — did not operate, 2009 — did not operate, 2010 — nil, 2011 — nil.
(j) The numbers expressed below refer to persons who have been assessed as eligible and compatible but have not been provided with a place in the relevant year. The information available is as follows:
2008: Nil
2009: Nil
2010: Nil
2011 (to date): Nil
(k) 2008 — nil, 2009 — nil, 2010 — 7, 2011 — 10.
(l) 2008 — nil, 2009 — nil, 2010 — nil, 2011 — 3.
(m) 2010 — nil, opened March 2010, 2011 — 3.
(n) Please note, this is actually the same accommodation as 1(k)
2. (a) In regard to this Community Options accommodation service in Kelmscott, Richmond Fellowship of Western Australia (RFWA) report that from September 2010 to September 2011 there was an average vacancy period of eight weeks, and in this 12 month period there has been one vacancy each for a female and a male. RFWA is reliant upon the Murchison Ward at Graylands for referrals. The complexity of the conditions (mental and physical disability) experienced by consumers at this site, make finding a replacement difficult. RFWA incurs a loss of rental income for any period in which there are vacancies at Kelmscott, therefore they are committed to filling vacancies as soon as is reasonably possible. However, RFWA balance this against considerations relating to an appropriate mix of clients at any given time.
(b) The Community Options accommodation service in Stirling commenced service provision in June 2010. Southern Cross Care WA report that on average vacancies at this site take six weeks to fill in which time meetings occur with the respective clinical team, the resident and their family. A case conference is also held prior to a transition period of approximately one week.
(c) The Community Options accommodation service in Bentley only commenced service provision in June 2011. Therefore, no reliable information can be provided in response to this question.
(d) The Community Options accommodation service in Mount Claremont commenced service provision in July 2009. Southern Cross Care WA report that on average vacancies at this site take six weeks to fill in which time meetings occur with the respective clinical team, the resident and their family. A case conference is also held prior to a transition period of approximately one week.
(e) RFWA report that from September 2010 to September 2011 there was an average vacancy period of three-weeks.
(f) RFWA report that from September 2010 to September 2011 there was an average vacancy period of two-weeks.
(g)–(i) Due to the nature of this crisis accommodation, the Service Provider is unable to calculate a meaningful average vacancy period. An unoccupied bed at one of these sites represents capacity in the system for crisis care, and not a vacancy in real terms. When a bed does become available, referral sources such as the local mental health service are immediately informed.