Enhancing Health Outcomes for People Exiting Prison: A New Approach
Suzette James-Nevell
Jesuit Social Services
Manager, Adult Justice Programs
Michael Schupbach
Bolton Clarke
Homeless person’s program
Jesuit Social Services is a social change organization with over 40 years’ experience in the criminal justice system. Jesuit Social Service’s ReConnect program provides outreach case management to eligible adults exiting prison to reside in North West Metropolitan Melbourne. ReConnect supports reintegration through seven domains: housing, education and training, employment, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, living skills and family/community connectedness.
In partnership with St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and Bolton Clarke, a Homeless Persons’ Program nurse has been embedded within ReConnect to address the cohort’s complex health needs and poor health outcomes. The nurse provides flexible, accessible and assertive primary health care to participants, and secondary consultation to the 14 ReConnect staff to support health sector navigation and management of health issues for participants. This innovative model of care is being evaluated by the University of Melbourne, including data collection of cohort demographics, service delivery, and participants’ self-reported health needs pre/post intervention. To understand health outcomes and experiences related to this enhanced care model, a data linkage with state and national healthcare records will be conducted, along with qualitative interviews and focus groups for participants and staff.
Since the pilot commenced in September 2017, the nurse has delivered 1,033 direct occasions of service to 154 participants, and provided consistent secondary consultations to ReConnect staff. Case examples demonstrate the breadth of services provided, including health sector navigation, participant advocacy across acute and primary health settings, strengthening of participants’ self-care capacity and health literacy, in addition to direct nursing assessment and care.