National health support service for nurses and midwives Chris Robertson, Executive Director Strategy & Policy Tanya Vogt, Executive Officer, NMBA 15 December 2015

Overview of today’s briefing The National Scheme National approach to supporting nurses and midwives with a health impairment –Final report – areas for attention National health support service for nurses and midwives –Objectives –Scope / out of scope –Criteria / deliverables –Key dates 2

The National Scheme Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and National Boards 14 health professions regulated by nationally consistent legislation Operations are governed by the Health practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 Came into effect on 1 July

The objectives of the National Law Protection of the public Workforce mobility within Australia High quality education and training Rigorous and responsive assessment of overseas trained practitioners Facilitate access to services in accordance with the public interest Enable a flexible, responsive and sustainable health workforce and innovation 4 *National Law - Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory

Responsibilities of AHPRA Supports and works in partnership with the 14 National Boards including the NMBA to regulate the health professions 14 National Boards Administrative and operational functions eg. employ staff, manage contracts and own and manage property Maintain national registers for all regulated health professions Ensures the National Scheme operates in accordance with good regulatory practice 5

Responsibilities of the NMBA Protects the public by: Registering nurses, midwives and students and endorsing nurses and midwives Developing standards for registration and endorsement, codes and guidelines Managing notifications, complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings about nurses and midwives 6

Responsibilities of the NMBA Protects the public by: Assessing overseas trained practitioners who wish to practise in Australia as nurses and midwives Approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study (together with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)) 7

Some numbers 363,620 nurses and midwives (total registrants) 60,727 enrolled nurses (practising and non-practising) 4,926 enrolled and registered nurses (dual registrants including practising and non practising) *As at 30 September

National approach to supporting nurses and midwives with a health impairment Background ACIL Allen Consulting commissioned to conduct a comprehensive review The report was completed by ACIL Allen in May 2015, and comprised: –a literature review –a comprehensive review of the role the regulator –identification and review of existing approaches and/or health care programs – cost-benefit analysis and recommendations of models for a national program 9

Final report - areas for attention Education and awareness the need to increase nursing, midwifery and consumer knowledge and awareness about : –the notification process –mandatory reporting obligations and dealing with health impairment –the regulator’s role and understanding definition of health impairment under the National Law the opportunity, through investing in education and awareness, to improve self-referral rates amongst nurses and midwives with an impairment. 10

Final report - areas for attention Support services the variability of support services across workplaces, jurisdictions and geographical areas lack of knowledge and level of awareness of and/ or access to available support services any support service needs to address this variance in an equitable way 11

Final report - areas for attention Monitoring costs high costs of monitoring (in particular drug testing) incurred for an impaired practitioner who has been notified the possibility that these high costs may be deterring nurses and midwives from seeking support sufficiently early 12

National health support service The provision of a national telehealth service that provides information on health impairment and available services and timely access to services to assist nurses and midwives manage health impairment with a focus on information, education and awareness raising on health impairment for nurses, midwives, students, educational providers and employers. 13

National health support service Objectives: –independent establishment and delivery of the Service –provide information on health impairment and timely access to available services –focus on information, education and awareness raising about health impairment for: Nurses Midwives Students Educational Providers Employers 14

National health support service Scope: specific information and advice targeted to –individuals seeking advice, reassurance and guidance on behalf of others, and –individuals self identifying as having a health impairment or at risk of a health impairment 15

National health support service Scope: brief intervention and engagement –in preparation for referral to specialist treatment programs for individuals self identifying as having a health impairment or at risk of a health impairment –referral = informal referral 16

National health support service Scope: development of electronic information and education materials –role, responsibilities and management of nurses and midwives with health related problems in the workplace –role of the regulator when a nurse, midwife or student has a health impairment 17

National health support service Scope: development and maintenance of an accurate database of services –available throughout Australia –provides support and management of health impairment 18

National health support service Out of scope: funding of crisis management, case management or counselling treatment and/or rehabilitation services initiating of formal referrals to other health services, and provision of face to face services. 19

National health support service Criteria and deliverables include: innovative service delivery model accessible in each state and territory governance structures inlcuding establishment of managing board and expert advisory committee record keeping that meets requirements of privacy and any other relevant legislation development and maintenance of minimum data set agreed with AHPRA/NMBA 20

National health support service Criteria and deliverables include: reporting systems including quality and annual reports evaluation model to be agreed with AHPRA/NMBA administration of the Service including appropriately qualified staff 21

What else is AHPRA and NMBA doing? appointment of a Notification Liaison Officer (NLO) funded by the NMBA / employed by AHPRA to support nurses and midwives who have been notified with respect to a health impairment improved communication with practitioner in relation to notifications and monitoring of compliance requirements fair, robust and transparent process for health practitioner and safety of the public –new process for drug testing – management of risk associated with practitioners with a history of substance abuse 22

Key dates 23 Date Tender & supporting docs released 9 December 2015 Vendor briefing15 December 2015 Closing date for submission of tender 17 February 2016 (2pm AEDT) Interviews conducted by2 March 2016 All vendors advised RFT outcome by 9 March 2016 Contract commencement20 April 2016 Contract completion (initial term) 20 April 2019

Clarification of processes Clarification of matters related to the tender process Bronwyn Benn Property and Procurement Manager Clarification of tender specifications Petrina Halloran Policy Manager – Nursing and Midwifery 24

Questions? 25