Primary Health Networks (PHNs) were established with the key objectives of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for patients, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes, and improving coordination of care to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time.

The South Eastern Melbourne PHN catchment encompasses an area comprising 1.5 million people and stretches from St Kilda to Sorrento and as far east as Bunyip, including the major population hubs of Monash, Dandenong, Moorabbin, Caulfield, Cranbourne, Frankston and Pakenham.

From 1 July, 2016 PHNs adopted a commissioning approach to procuring medical and health care services which is based on an assessment of the health and wellbeing needs of the community. This work determines the priority areas and guides the scope of the commissioning process.

The South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) is pleased to invite requests to deliver the Psychosocial Support Services (PSS), (the ‘Service’) in the LGA cluster of Frankston, Mornington Peninsula and Kingston in the South Eastern Melbourne Catchment.

Primary Health Networks (PHNs) have been funded by the Commonwealth to commission the Psychosocial Support Services (PSS). The PSS funding aims to assist people with severe mental illness resulting in reduced psychosocial functional capacity who are not more appropriately supported through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). PSS aims to provide optimal support that enables people to effectively manage the impacts of mental illness and participate meaningfully in everyday life. The PHN will commission this funding to be implemented in a flexible way that complements the State funded psychosocial supports.
Services will be delivered through two new programs:
The National Psychosocial Support (NPS) Measure is a less intense short term service to build psychosocial functional capacity to address individual needs and complements clinical mental health and broader physical health and social support. The focus should be on building capacity and connectedness at times when most needed, rather than providing ongoing support.

The Continuity of Support (CoS) services will provide ongoing support for consumers who accessed services under Partners in Recovery (PIR), Support for Day to Day Living in the Community (D2DL) and Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHaMs) as at 30th June 2019, who are ineligible to receive services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). CoS will aim to achieve similar outcomes to those under the PIR, D2DL and PHaMs programs. This program will provide ongoing funding, ensuring CoS consumers have access to long-term, responsive support.

The successful Service Provider will be contracted from June 2019 and commencement of service delivery to start 1 July 2019.