Partnership Projects
The BEAR acknowledges that improved health outcomes can be achieved by involving consumers and the community at many levels of service delivery, from planning of services to the interface of care. However the way in which each service demonstrates collaboration with consumers will vary from service to service, based on its size, capacity and unique community to which it is responsible.
As a consumer-led initiative, The BEAR is well placed to assist health services in successfully demonstrating ACSQHC’s Standard 2, by partnering on projects with a safety and quality improvement focus. These include health promotion projects that develop cost effective, value-added solutions to improve health outcomes for birthing families as well as increase workplace satisfaction for clinicians and associated health care workers. We also co-develop research projects with local communities and services that illuminate individual stories, creating opportunities for real time service improvement.
The Australia Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care’s (ACSQHC) Standard 2: Partnering With Consumers, requires:
“leaders of a health service organisation to implement systems to support partnering with patients, carers and other consumers to improve the safety and quality of care. Patients, carers, consumers, clinicians and other members of the workforce should use the systems to partner with consumers.”
And further, the ACQSHC encompasses a consumer-centered care approach that involves:
“fostering collaboration with consumers and/or carers and healthcare organisations in the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of health care.”
Our skill base draws from a critical mass of Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) Leads with expertise in health promotion, education, sociology, psychology, research, maternal/child health systems and advocacy. We continue to develop connections with a broad range of consumer-led, peak body organisations (Indigenous, CALD, Disabilities, Same sex/gender fluid, Perinatal mental health) and consult regularly with health departments and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) related to maternity care and early parenting.
Image supplied by bobbi lockyer bobbilockyer.com
There are a number of ways services can partner with The BEAR such as utilising
Partnership Ideas:
Power & Privilege (P&P) education courses - educating staff for a more equitable approach to maternity care (Click here for more details)
Racial Equity Impact Assessments (REIA) - identifying institutional/organisational racism
Community-based Research - working with your community to identify issues and opportunities for health outcome improvement
Areas of expertise:
Community Engagement
Health promotion
Research
Education
Involving The BEAR in partnerships on health promotion projects has a number of advantages for service providers:
Satisfies the requirement for services to demonstrate the ACSQHC’s Standard 2: Partnering with Consumers
Has a demonstrated effect on improving health outcomes for mothers and their families
Has the ability to increase workplace satisfaction for clinicians and/or service providers, thus improving workforce retention rates
