Strategic Plan 2017-2020 Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 1
Table of Contents 1. Introduction from Chair and CEO 2 2. Our purpose 3 3. Our role 3 4. Our values 3 5. Our history and our partners 4 6. Our service offer 5 7. Our catchment 6 8. Our success 7 9. Summary of strategic priorities 8 10. Strategic priorities in detail 9 Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 1
1. Introduction from Chair and CEO Eastern Palliative Care is the largest single provider of community based palliative care services in Victoria, delivered for almost twenty years as a partnership between the Order of Malta, St Vincent s Hospital, and Outer East Palliative Care Service Inc. We are proud that our service to the community continues to be recognised throughout - and beyond - Melbourne s East, and this strategic plan, we hope, shows that we fully intend to continue on this path. We worked with some 2000 people each year, 80% of whom have a malignant diagnosis. More than half die each year, as fully as possible with dignity and their choices respected. More than half die in their place of choice, with about a third dying at home. Our strategic priorities reflect the major pressures, challenges and opportunities within palliative care as we prepare to enter the 2020s, when the over 85 population of Melbourne s East will likely exceed 26,000. We must be both focussed and flexible dealing with challenges such as new business and funding models that may include copayments, the public and political debates on euthanasia and physician assisted suicide, and governmental policy which will influence how we most affordably provide such a valued service. Consequently, we want to do much more work on: 1. making ourselves available to the widest range of people who can use our services, especially those with very specific needs, such as dementia or those living alone. 2. ensuring that people can get access to us earlier, as soon as possible after diagnosis, and for our care to remain in place as long as is appropriate, preferably until dying at home wherever possible. 3. being able to meet our communities growing expectation for services such as ours, in an environment where funding is constrained and greater value for money is sought. We remain proud of many aspects of our work, including our staff, our volunteers, our inter-disciplinary models of care, our client-centrism, our ability to support carers at all stages, and even our technology platforms which are best-in-class internationally. In these areas and more, we intend to continue our work to strengthen and solidify and, where we can, assist others to create and grow exemplary palliative care services. Finally, we wish to express our deep and sincere thanks to both our generous benefactors and our numerous partners, without whom we can t do our work: general practitioners, hospitals, medical specialists and community health organisations, all of whom are as dedicated as we are to improvement of quality of life, all through life, right up to the time of death. Chair, Peter Gurr CEO, Jeanette Moody Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 2
2. Our purpose We exist so that: People live with best quality of life before dying in their place of choice, where possible Families and carers are supported according to their needs 3. Our role To people with a progressive, life-limiting condition, we provide a holistic, person-centred, specialist palliative care service which: comprises nursing, medical, allied health and bereavement support, delivered by staff and volunteers 4. Our values + + + + is delivered in the place a person considers home is available 24 hrs neither hastens nor prolongs dying demystifies and normalises dying empathy for others in their suffering, listening, accepting and actively responding to their needs striving to do our best for those in our care and give leadership through quality care, ethical practice, research and innovation Compassion Dignity Excellence Partnering upholding the unique personality, situation and choice of others, valuing their lives in the face of death, and respecting their rights vesting control in the client while joining with others to give continuous care Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 3
5. Our history and our partners In 1997 Eastern Palliative Care was formed through a Heads of Agreement between four existing palliative care providers; the Order of Malta, Outer East Palliative Care Service Inc., St Vincent s Hospital (Melbourne) Ltd and Melbourne Eastern Palliative Care Association. In 2010, Melbourne Eastern Palliative Care Association ceased to exist and the Rules of EPC were amended to accommodate this. The remaining three Partner Bodies continue as independent legal entities. THE ORDER OF MALTA The Order of Malta was founded in Jerusalem in 1098 just before the First Crusade. Since 1113, it has been a lay religious Order of the Catholic Church. It is also an international hospitaller and relief organisation, and a sovereign entity under international law. Its full title is the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. It came to Australia in the early 1970s where its focus became the care of the terminally ill, the frail elderly and their families. It is based at Caritas Christi, Kew where it has an office and a boardroom. In 1992, Caritas Christi and the Order of Malta Hospice Home Care Services Incorporated was formed as a partnership of the Sisters of charity and the Order of Malta. This home based service was staffed by nurses, pastoral care and social workers and a core of trained volunteers. In 1997, the two partners became two of the founding partners in Eastern Palliative Care Association Inc. The Order of Malta in Australia has some 250 members and some 70 members in Victoria where it enjoys considerable volunteer support and is able to carry out a variety of programs. The order is directly involved in the work of EPC as well as assisting others within its founding ethos: Our Lord s the Sick. OUTER EAST PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE INC Outer East Palliative Care Service Inc was incorporated in 1991. The service originated from a strong community need for palliative care services, to provide people with a terminal illness in the outer east with a choice between hospitalisation or homebased palliative support. Outer East Palliative Care developed strong community links to service clubs, local government, General Practitioners, local hospitals, nursing homes, hostels and supported accommodated services. The local General Practitioners helped Outer East Palliative Care develop team models for delivery of home-based services. Home-based palliative care services commenced in 1994 across the areas of Ringwood, Croydon, Knox, Sherbrooke, Lilydale, Healesville and Upper Yarra. Outer East Palliative Care continues to advocate strongly for local services in the Outer East region. This strong link to the community remains today and provides Eastern Palliative Care with general community input and an ability to keep connected with community expectation. THE SISTERS OF CHARITY (ST VINCENT S HOSPITAL MELBOURNE LTD) The Sisters of Charity, a Catholic order of religious sisters, have been providing care to those in need since their arrival to Australia from Ireland in 1838 where they provided services to the women s prison at Parramatta, Sydney. In 1893 St Vincent s Hospital Melbourne was founded in Fitzroy. Caritas Christi Hospice Kew was opened in 1938. St Vincent s (SV s) is now a national organisation with services in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. SV s continues to grow and meet the needs of the community with a range of facilities including public and private hospitals, innovative primary and home based care, residential aged care, mental health services, palliative care, drug and alcohol services, research institutes and correctional health services. The health services provided by SVH in Victoria have a special emphasis on the poor and disadvantaged. The values that underpin the work of the Sisters of Charity and the St Vincent s Hospital group are justice, integrity, compassion and excellence. Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 4
6. Our service offer At Eastern Palliative Care Association Incorporated (EPC) we actively engage with people and their families to develop a therapeutic relationship. We journey with them, recognising the essence of the individual as they approach death and transform or aspire to a sense of acceptance, contentedness or sacredness. We provide a unified approach using the specialist skills and expertise of Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers, Massage Therapists, Pastoral Care Workers, Music Therapists, Volunteers and Physicians to enhance and support the quality of life and improving the sense of wellbeing for people with specialist palliative needs. Where we work: EPC considers home to be a person s own home, a family members home, nursing home, hostel, supported home, caravan park, mobile home or boarding house. Specialist palliative needs We work with people who have been diagnosed with a terminal condition, with little or no prospect of cure, and for whom the primary treatment goal is quality of life. We also work with their carers who may be a family member, friend, neighbour or significant support person. The people we work with may benefit from specialist, home based palliative care in one or more of the following ways: Assessment and treatment of symptoms such as pain, anxiety, nausea or depression Spiritual, social or psychological support to affirm life and regard dying as a normal process An interdisciplinary approach to assist the client and caregivers to cope during the stress of a life limiting illness, to live as actively as possible until death and in bereavement. Advice to staff who are caring, so that a palliative approach is achieved through support and education. We will continue... forefront of information technology 24 hour specialist nursing highly trained staff and volunteers interdisciplinary model person- & family- centred approach Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 5
7. Our catchment BOROONDARA Total Population 174,899 Population over 60 14,987 Population over 70 12,601 Population over 80 4,621 Total households 65,164 Projected Population 2041 210,870 MANNINGHAM Total Population 120,766 Population over 60 13,440 Population over 70 12,538 Population over 85 2,550 Total households 42,622 Projected Population 2036 148,236 YARRA RANGES Total Population 150,476 Population over 60 15,689 Population over 70 9,538 Population over 85 1,965 Total households 52,274 Projected Population 2036 172,996 MAROONDAH Total Population 112,901 Population over 60 10,273 Population over 70 8,477 Population over 85 2,370 Total households 39,235 Projected Population 2036 133,526 MONASH Total Population 187,286 Population over 60 16,783 Population over 70 17,400 Population over 85 3,913 Total households 61,298 Projected Population 2036 207,727 KNOX Total Population 155,681 Population over 60 14,912 Population over 70 10,326 Population over 85 2,528 Total households 53,111 Projected Population 2036 184,821 WHITEHORSE Total Population 165,557 Population over 60 14,450 Population over 70 15,357 Population over 85 4,277 Total households 57,207 Projected Population 2036 186,365 Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 6
8. Our success Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 7
9. Summary of strategic priorities Strategic Priority 1 Proactively extend the palliative care service offering Our aim is to extend the ability of specialist palliative care to respond earlier (as soon as possible after diagnosis) and to remain in place later (where possible, until death, or until hospitalisation is delayed as long as is appropriate). This expanded response has the objective of providing greater continuity and consistency of care, ensuring optimal quality of life leading up to death. Strategic Priority 2 Maintain and heighten community relevance Our aim is to maximise the inclusion of the widest range of possible clients and families within our catchment, and learn deeply about their specific needs to enable us to increasingly customise our service offer to them. Strategic Priority 3 Responsively grow to meet the demand, sustainably Our aim is to continue to be able to meet the demand growth in Melbourne s East that arises from population growth, ageing populations and complexity of need, and recognition of unmet need. Strategic Priority 4 Build organisation capability People. Technology. Infrastructure. Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 8
10. Strategic priorities in detail Strategic Direction 2017 Activity Strategic Direction 1: Proactively extend the palliative care service offering Our aim is to extend the ability of specialist palliative care to respond earlier (as soon as possible after diagnosis) and to remain in place later (where possible, until death, or until hospitalisation is delayed as long as is appropriate). This expanded response has the objective of providing greater continuity and consistency of care, ensuring optimal quality of life leading up to death. Contribute to the development of integrated models / pathways of care with hospitals (both public / private) and primary care providers Strengthen referral relationships with partners, including general practitioners, aged care facilities and private hospitals Contribute to initiatives that create a single point of entry for information and referrals to Metropolitan community palliative care services Where feasible, extend hours of care for specific elements of palliative care service Provide extensions of core palliative services for which there is most demand Strategic Direction 2: Maintain and heighten community relevance Involvement in the Eastern Metropolitan Region Palliative Care Consortium Development of MOU with Eastern Health Referral Survey (September 2016) Engage with PHN in developing EOI for DHHS Provide education to support GP s (with assistance for PHN) if above EOI successful Enhance the Aged Care services we provide Referral Survey (September 2016) Engage with PHN in developing EOI for DHHS Provide education to support GP s (engagement with working parties developed by DHHS assistance for PHN) if above EOI successful Explore ability to extend nursing services Expand the aged care services we provide As resources allow, extend services as demand increases Services to remain flexible and person-centred Our aim is to maximise the inclusion of the widest range of possible clients and families within our catchment, and learn deeply about their specific needs to enable us to increasingly customise our service offer to them. Better understand the numbers of potential clients from hard to reach / vulnerable and disadvantaged populations Profile specific target groups and understand their palliative care needs: people living alone, dementia, people with a disability, under-recognised symptoms / pain, cumulative chronic illnesses, vulnerable and disadvantaged, CALD, LGBTI, Indigenous Conduct bottom up market research with current carers and potential future referrers and community to inform future service design Develop community acceptance of discussion about death, as well as awareness of, and capacity to support community-based palliative care Contribute to initiatives relating to better assessment of client and carer experience Better understand carer s needs for their own health and wellbeing, including respite, during and after the period of care Investigate homelessness in the Eastern Region and work with local organisations to determine if there are any service gaps Primary Care Partnerships and Eastern Access Community Health Annual Community Engagement Forum Review of research Update of community profile Continue to liaise with Chinese organisations Continue to liaise with Aboriginal representative organisations such as VACCHO Strategic Planning Session with community Face to face Client Satisfaction Survey (November 2016) every 2 years Conduct annual Community Engagement Forum Ambassador talks Community education / presentations to community groups National Palliative Care Week event Annual Ethics Forum Continue to provide data to PCOC (Palliative Care Outcomes Collaborative) - 6 monthly Involvement with DHHS client experience surveying (when available) EPC face to face interviews every 2 years with clients and carers Survey of carer needs (November 2016) Development of resources to support carers Chinese translated information on the EPC website Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 9
10. Strategic priorities in detail / Continued Strategic Direction 2017 Activity Strategic Direction 3: Responsively grow to meet future demand, sustainably Our aim is to continue to be able to meet the demand growth in Melbourne s East that arises from population growth, ageing populations and complexity of need, and recognition of unmet need. Develop business models with alternative revenue sources including selective, user-pays services on top off free core services Advocate to government, with community support, for growth funding to match annual increase in client demand Commercialise EPC innovations into education products and other saleable intellectual property Further develop volunteer roles to support our community and our organisation Continue to develop fund-raising and development capability Strengthen EPC s sector leadership through performance measures, outcomes evaluation, evidence translation and thought leadership Strategic Direction 4: Build organisational capability Massage and Music Therapy Proposal for aged care Further develop relationships with PHN Connect with local politicians Ensure relationships with DHHS are solid Annual Community Engagement Forum Explore ability to sell services into certain markets (aged care) Explore different programs to involve volunteers Continue our 3 year fundraising project and complete a full evaluation Provide an annual Ethics Forum Continue to provide and respond to PCOC data Submit Abstracts for palliative care conferences based on the work undertaken People Scholarship Program for staff 2 yearly Staff Satisfaction Surveys results due January 2017 2 yearly Volunteer Satisfaction Surveys Technology Continue our active involvement in the PalCare Users Group Continue to support staff use of technology in the home Infrastructure Maintain our vehicle fleet with 4 star ratings Maintain efficient office infrastructure to support staff Eastern Palliative Care Inc: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 10