Mental Health
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Policy framework statement
The Mental Health Policy Framework specifies the legal, best practice, reporting and process requirements that all Health Service Providers (HSPs) must comply with in order to ensure effective and consistent provision of public mental health services across the WA health system.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy framework is to ensure:
- service coordination and integration in the provision of mental health services
- consumers of mental health services receive mental health care that is safe, effective, appropriate to their needs, timely and efficient
- mental health consumers are informed about their treatment and involved in decisions about the treatment, care and support they receive.
Applicability
This policy framework is binding on each HSP to which it applies or relates.
Principles
The key principles that underpin this policy framework are:
Accessibility
Accessible and safe services that provide people experiencing mental health issues with timely treatment, care and support of a high quality, to promote recovery in the least restrictive manner that is consistent with their needs.
Accountability and improvement
Accountable services based on contemporary best practice and committed to continuous improvement.
Consistency
Consistency with State and Australian Government mental health policies and compliance with mental health legislation and standards, including upholding of the Charter of Mental Health Care Principles (Mental Health Act 2014, Part 4, Schedule 1).
Person-centred
A person-centred focus with a view to obtaining the best possible outcomes for people experiencing mental health issues, including by recognising diverse individual circumstances, life experiences, needs, beliefs, preferences, aspirations, values and skills, while delivering goal oriented treatment, care and support.
Legislative context
This policy framework is made pursuant to ss 26(2)(a)(c)(d) of the Health Services Act 2016.
The Health Services Act 2016 refers to policy frameworks in ss. 26-27 and s. 34(2)(c). Other relevant parts in the Act that relate specifically to this policy framework include ss. 44-45.
The legislation below, may also apply:
- Mental Health Act 2014 and Mental Health Regulations 2015
- Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996
- Guardianship and Administration Act 1990
- Carers Recognition Act 2004
Mandatory requirements
Under this policy framework HSPs must comply with all mandatory requirements* including:
This policy framework is to be read in conjunction with relevant standards and guidelines mandated by other statutory bodies including, but not limited to, those required by the Chief Psychiatrist of Western Australia under section 547 of the Mental Health Act 2014.
Review
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This policy framework will be reviewed as required to ensure relevance and recency. At a minimum this policy framework will be reviewed within two years after first issue and at least every three years thereafter.
| Version |
Effective from |
Amendment(s) |
| 28 |
15 January 2024 |
New mandatory policy: Safety Planning for Mental Health Consumers Policy. This policy outlines the standards to ensure a consistent approach to protect the safety of mental health consumers. This policy supersedes the following Mental Heatlh mandatory polices: MP 0074/17 Clinical Care of People Who May Be Suicidal Policy, MP 0101/18 Clinical Care of People with Menal Health Problems Who May Be At Risk of Becoming Violent or Aggressive Policy and MP 0070/17 Mental Health Emergency and Follow Up Information on Discharge from Hospital Emergency Departments Policy. |
| 27 |
21 August 2023 |
Amendment to policy framework custodian from Assistant Director General, Clinical Excellence Division to Assistant Director General, Strategy and Governance Division. The DoH Mental Health Unit has transferred from Patient Safety Clinical Quality Directorate, Clinical Excellence Division to Governance and System Support Directorate, Strategy Governance Division. |
| 26 |
11 July 2023 |
Minor amendment to MP 0062/17 Alcohol and Other Drug Withdrawal Managment Policy. Inclusion of updated supporting information: Alcohol and other Drugs Withdrawal Managment Practice and Pathways. |
| 25 |
1 November 2021
|
Rescinded MP 0069/17 Mental Health Consumer Medication Information Policy.
|
| 24 |
9 August 2021
|
Minor Amendment to MP 0155/21 - Statewide Standardised Clinical Documentation for Mental Health Services - addition of new supporting information to - 'Triage to Discharge Mental Health Framework for SSCD'.
|
| 23 |
30 June 2021
|
New MP 0165/21 Use of Physical and/or Mechanical Restraint during Road-based Transportation of Mental Health Patients Policy to supersede MP 0060/17 Use of Physical and or Mechanical Restraint during Road based Transport of Mental Health Patients.
|
| 22 |
28 June 2021
|
Major Amendment to MP 0062/17 v.2.0 Alcohol and Other Drug Withdrawal Management Policy: Policy transitioned to current Policy template; reviewed and updated as part of the 'Walk with Me Project', addition of new supporting information and minor edits to under the 'Purpose' and 'Policy' requirements sections. As a full review was undertaken, a new cycle will now commence.
|
| 21 |
17 June 2021
|
Major Amendment to MP 0099/18 Community Mental Health Status Assessments: Role of Mental Health Clinician Policy. Refer to the Document control section of the Policy for complete amendment details. As a full Policy review was undertaken, a new review cycle will now begin.
|
| 20 |
8 June 2021
|
Rescinded OD 0637/15.
|
| 19 |
17 March 2021
|
New MP 0155/21 Statewide Standardised Clinical Documentation for Mental Health Services to supersede OD 0526/14.
|
| 18 |
30 November 2020
|
Amendment to Policy Framework: Purpose, principles, legislative context and mandatory requirements updated to clarify the purpose and application of the Policy Framework. Hyperlinks to external resources updated.
|
| 17 |
7 October 2020
|
Rescinded Clinical Risk Assessment and Management (CRAM) in Western Australian Mental Health Services Policy and Standards.
|
| 16 |
29 July 2020
|
Major Amendment to MP 0063/17 Requesting Road-Based Transport for Mental Health Patients Subject to Transport Orders Policy.
|
| 15 |
4 September 2019
|
Australian Commission on Safety Quality in Health Care 2012 Ntl Safety Quality Health Service Standards removed as it is no longer current.
|
| 14 |
25 July 2019
|
Major Amendment MP 0101/18 v.2.0 Clinical Care of People With Mental Health Problems Who May Be At Risk of Becoming Violent or Aggressive Policy - see the Document control section of the Policy which articulates the nature of these amendments.
|
| 13 |
24 December 2018
|
New MP 0101/18 Clinical Care of People With Mental Health Problems Who May Be At Risk of Becoming Violent or Aggressive Policy effective from 1 January 2019.
|
| 12 |
22 November 2018
|
New MP 0099/18 Community Mental Health Status Assessments: Role of Mental Health Clinicians Policy, supersedes OD 0644/16.
|
| 11 |
17 October 2018
|
Rescinded OD 0635/13 from Mandatory Requirements.
|
| 10 |
17 January 2018
|
Rescinded OD 0596/15 from Mandatory Requirements, superseded by MP 0078/18 Medication Chart Policy (Mandatory Requirement under Clinical Governance, Safety and Quality Policy Framework).
|
| 9 |
10 January 2018
|
Rescinded Addendum to Mental Health Complaints Partnership Agreement between Health and Services Disability Complaints Office, Department of Health, Council of Official Visitors, Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and Mental Health Commission (August 2015) from Supporting Information.
|
| 8 |
21 December 2018
|
Updated Policy Framework Custodian. Changes were not made to Policy Framework landing page until 10 January 2018.
|
| 7 |
19 December 2017
|
Rescinded OD 0643/16.
|
| 6 |
13 December 2017
|
New MP 0074/17 Clinical Care of People Who May Be Suicidal Policy.
|
| 5 |
4 October 2017
|
New MP 0069/17 Mental Health Consumer Medication Information Policy, superseded OD 0591/15. New MP 0070/17 Mental Health Emergency and Follow Up Information on Discharge from Hospital Emergency Department Policy, superseded IC 0223/15.
|
| 4 |
10 August 2017
|
New MP 0062/17 Alcohol and Other Drug Withdrawal Management Policy.
|
| 3 |
9 August 2017
|
New MP 0063/17 Requesting Road-Based Transport for Mental Health Patients Subject to Transport Orders Policy superseded OD 0659/16 and OD 0664/16
|
| 2 |
1 July 2017
|
New MP 0060/17 Use of Physical and/or Mechanical Restraint during Road-based Transportation of Mental Health Patients Policy.
|
| 1 |
1 July 2016 |
Original version |
Approval
This policy framework has been approved and issued by the Director General of the Department of Health as the System Manager.
| Approval by | Dr D.J. Russell-Weisz, Director General, Department of Health |
|---|
| Approval date | 01 July 2016 |
|---|
| Date published | 22 November 2018 |
|---|
| File number | F-AA-40152 |
|---|
Compliance
This policy framework is binding on those to whom it applies or relates. Implementation at a local level will be subject to audit.
Glossary of terms
| Term |
Meaning |
| Applicability |
Under Section 26 of the Health Services Act 2016, policy frameworks may apply to:
- All Health Service Providers
- A type of public health service facility
- A type of public health service
- A type of staff member of a health service provider.
|
| Health Service Provider |
Means a Health Service Provider established by an order made under section 32(1)(b) of the Health Services Act 2016. |
| WA health system |
Pursuant to section 19(1) of the Health Services Act 2016, means the Department of Health, Health Service Providers and to the extent that Contracted Health Entities provide health services to the State, the Contracted Health Entities. |