10 November 2010
Tomorrow (Thursday 11 November) marks the first anniversary of the release of a major critical report by the NSW Ombudsman on a key state government program designed to provide improved support for people with mental health programs living in public and community housing.

The Ombudsman concluded that the implementation of the Joint Guarantee of Service (JGOS) had been patchy and inconsistent, with little evidence to demonstrate that it is achieving systemic improvements for clients in need.

The Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS) and the Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) have expressed disappointment at the slow pace of follow up action on the report’s findings.

“The non government sector supports the Ombudsman’s conclusion that JGOS needs to be replaced by a more effective strategy to plan, coordinate and deliver services to those clients with mental health problems who need support to access and remain in social housing,” says Alison Peters, NCOSS Director.

MHCC CEO Jenna Bateman said it was disappointing that so little progress has been made in developing a new strategy:

 “The Ombudsman concluded that discharge planning, training and development, and exchanging information were the three major systemic issues that negatively impacted on the effective implementation of JGOS.”

“The non government sector is keen to partner with key government agencies on ways of overcoming these barriers.”

Both NCOSS and MHCC acknowledge that much good work has happened through the Housing Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) but that program does not address the needs of those who are existing social housing tenants and does not have enough places to meet the demand for new clients needing housing and support.

Alison Peters says that there has yet to be any serious engagement with the sector on the response to the report by Housing NSW and NSW Health:

“NCOSS supports the Ombudsman’s recommendation that the Housing and Human Services Accord provides an appropriate interagency framework for the development of a new strategy to replace JGOS.”

“Non government agencies in the housing, health and homelessness sectors have daily experience of the unmet needs of these clients and need to be fully engaged in developing and implementing the new strategy.”

“We call on all political parties to outline before the state election a clear plan to deliver more effective assistance to people with mental health issues who need support to access and remain in social housing.”

Media Contacts:

• Alison Peters, Council of Social Service of NSW 0425 231 814
• Jenna Bateman, Mental Health Coordinating Council  0411 609 870