Penny Jones

After registering in 1997 Penny commenced her New graduate year in Cardiothroacic ICU and emergency moving into paediatrics and child health before discovering mental health. As part of the inaugural set up team of Gna Ka Lun- Adolescent Tertiary Referral Child and Adolescent inpatient unit, it was clear Penny had found her niche in the world.

Continuing her education she completed a Graduate Certificate of Child and Adolescent Mental Health nursing and quickly followed with a Masters of Nursing Mental Health Nurse Practitioner completed in 2006. Moving into emergency mental health care Penny honed her skills in rapid mental health and drug health assessments, administration of the Mental Health Act and provided consultation liaison for the district. Stepping out of public health for a private in and outpatient Mental Health, Detoxification and Rehabilitation Clinic. In this role as the Director of Nursing, Penny faced her first national standards accreditation with multiple Met with Merits in partnering with consumers, and continues this to be her focus today.

Next a double masters degree in the school of Public Health and Medicine at UNSW Penny completed a Masters of Public health and Masters of Health Management. Spending some time within the affiliated health organisation specialising in perinatal and infant mental health and parenting, Penny was the Chief Operating Officer of Karitane. It was in this role Peny was first published in a peer reviewed journal after developing the Family Outcomes Screen tool.

Moving back toward the public arena, Penny took the role as Director of Integrated Care SWSLHD. Being intricately involved in the development of the state based new Patient Flow Portal, Penny was also successful in the implementation of the Collaborative Medical Neighbourhood Model of Care between the LHD and PHN.  

Penny has now relocated to the Mid North Coast and is establishing the Integrated Mental Health and Alcohol and Other drugs services for the district.

The Directorate provides services in inpatient (Mental Health), outpatient and community-based settings across MNCLHD and works closely with partners and consumers in ensuring services are recovery orientated, trauma informed and consumer centred.

In striving to achieve high level clinical outcomes for every patient, our focus is to provide excellence in four (4) areas:

1. Clinical quality
   Ensuring the degree to which our health care services increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge

2. Patient safety
   Ensuring the health care services we provide minimises both risk and harm to those receiving care

3. Patient satisfaction
   Ensuring that our patients and their family members are satisfied with the care they receive

4. Staff satisfaction
   Ensuring our staff are safe and supported to deliver optimal care in a just and restorative culture.

MNCLHD Integrated Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs (IMHAOD) Directorate 

Director Integrated Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs / HSFAC
Phone: 02 6691 1920 
Email: Penny.Jones@health.nsw.gov.au

Senior Administration Assistant 
Phone: 02 6589 2290
Email: MNCLHD-MHDA@health.nsw.gov.au