❓ A parliamentary question regarding the division of responsibilities between the Mental Health Commission and the Department of Health concerning staffing levels and service delivery in the mental health sector. The Minister clarifies the Commission's role in planning and purchasing services, while providers determine specific staffing needs.
AnsweredQoN 5174Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to answers you provided in the Estimates Committee Agency Annual Report hearing for the Mental Health Commission - upon asking the Minister about the purchases of services from the Health Department and the Minister's comment 'the extent to which the organisation that provides the service requires a certain number of staff or a certain mix of staff or how they go about delivering the service is their business.' I ask the following -
(1) Why is the Minister leaving the decisions of staffing levels and needs for the Mental Health Sector in the hands of the Department of Health?
(2) Is the Minister and her department the Mental Health Commission not aware of the staffing needs for the Mental Health sector?
(3) Is it not the responsibility of the Minister and Mental Health Commission to see that the staffing levels, mix of staffing and the delivery of those services meets the requirements of the Mental Health sector?
(4) Can the Minister please explain why the Mental Health Ministry and the Commission was formed if the crucial decisions about staffing and service delivery to the Mental Health sector are going to be left in the hands of the Department of Health?
(1) Why is the Minister leaving the decisions of staffing levels and needs for the Mental Health Sector in the hands of the Department of Health?
(2) Is the Minister and her department the Mental Health Commission not aware of the staffing needs for the Mental Health sector?
(3) Is it not the responsibility of the Minister and Mental Health Commission to see that the staffing levels, mix of staffing and the delivery of those services meets the requirements of the Mental Health sector?
(4) Can the Minister please explain why the Mental Health Ministry and the Commission was formed if the crucial decisions about staffing and service delivery to the Mental Health sector are going to be left in the hands of the Department of Health?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
57 days
(1) Decisions regarding staffing levels and needs for the whole mental health sector are not being left to the Department of Health. The Mental Health Commission contracts with the Department of Health to deliver a wide range of services according to price, location and quality requirements. The Department of Health is responsible for making decisions about the staff required to deliver the services they are specifically contracted to provide through the Service Agreement with the Mental Health Commission.
(2) The Minister for Mental Health and the Mental Health Commission are aware of the workforce needs of the mental health sector and the Mental Health Commission is working with numerous government and non government organisations as part of an ongoing and collaborative process to develop and maintain a sustainable, well trained and capable workforce.
(3) The Mental Health Commission is responsible for planning and purchasing the services that are required to meet the needs of the population. It is the role and function of individual service providers to make decisions regarding the specific staff required to deliver the mental health services they are contracted to provide.
(4). The Mental Health Commission was formed to take responsibility for ensuring that mental health services and supports are planned, purchased and delivered in line with Government policy to meet the needs of the population, and that services meet the relevant standards of quality, efficiency and effectiveness. The Department of Health is required to report to the Mental Health Commission on the services they deliver through the Service Agreement.
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(2) The Minister for Mental Health and the Mental Health Commission are aware of the workforce needs of the mental health sector and the Mental Health Commission is working with numerous government and non government organisations as part of an ongoing and collaborative process to develop and maintain a sustainable, well trained and capable workforce.
(3) The Mental Health Commission is responsible for planning and purchasing the services that are required to meet the needs of the population. It is the role and function of individual service providers to make decisions regarding the specific staff required to deliver the mental health services they are contracted to provide.
(4). The Mental Health Commission was formed to take responsibility for ensuring that mental health services and supports are planned, purchased and delivered in line with Government policy to meet the needs of the population, and that services meet the relevant standards of quality, efficiency and effectiveness. The Department of Health is required to report to the Mental Health Commission on the services they deliver through the Service Agreement.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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