A WA parliamentary question probes the Chief Psychiatrist's monitoring program for non-government mental health service providers, focusing on the decision-making process, authorisation, and rationale behind the self-assessment approach. The answer clarifies the program's origins, approval, and purpose, emphasizing quality improvement rather than cost savings.

AnsweredQoN 3796Legislative Council
Asked
5 April 2011
Portfolio
Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the role of the Chief Psychiatrist in monitoring the Service Standards for Non Government Providers of Community Mental Health Services, and the Standards of Care provided to residents of accommodation licensed as Psychiatric Hostel under the provisions of the
Hospital and Health Services Act 1927
, and I ask -
(1) When was the decision made by the Chief Psychiatrist to institute a monitoring program for non-Government organisations that consists of a self assessment process, whereby Agencies provide an assessment of their performance in relation to each of the services standards?
(2) Was the decision authorised by the Minister for Health?
(3) If yes to (2), when?
(4) If no to (2), who approved the decision?
(5) On what basis was this decision made?
(6) Had any modelling been done on how much a move to a self assessment process might save the Health Department?
(7) If yes to (6), what did it show?
(8) If no to (6), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
24 May 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
49 days
(1) The Mental Health Commission (MHC), through contractual agreement requires that non government organisations (NGO's) and Licensed Psychiatric Hostels (LPH's) meet the
'Service Standards for Non Government Providers of Community Mental Health Services'.
The decision to institute the Chief Psychiatrist's monitoring program, as part of his responsibilities under the
Mental Health Act 1996
[Section 9(2)], was an agreement between the former Mental Health Division and the Chief Psychiatrist in 2007. The self -assessment is one part of the Chief Psychiatrist's monitoring program. Self-assessments for NGO's commenced in 2008 following a pilot program. The self-assessments for LPH's commenced in 2011 following a pilot in 2010.
(2) No.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The Director General of Health in 2007.
(5) The basis of the decision was to assist the former Mental Health Division with contract monitoring and to enable the Chief Psychiatrist to meet his statutory responsibilities.
(6) No.
(7) Not applicable.
(8) Cost saving was not an intention in the development of the Chief Psychiatrist's monitoring program. The monitoring of NGOs and Licensed Psychiatric Hostels has two parts: Self Assessments and Comprehensive Reviews conducted on site. Monitoring is conducted within the allocated budget of the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist as a core activity to guide quality improvement.
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