❓ The Minister provides a detailed update on the implementation of the Stokes Review recommendations regarding mental health discharge practices, outlining the responsibilities of the Mental Health Commission and the Department of Health, progress made, and future plans.
AnsweredQoN 514Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, Volume 2 at page 539 "Outcomes, Services and Key Performance Information – Service Summary", line item "Significant Issues impacting the Agency – Review of Discharge Practices", and ask: (a) will the Minister provide an itemised list of current status of implementation of each of the Stokes Review recommendations; and (b) if no to (a), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
5 December 2013
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
35 days
(a) The Mental Health Commission (MHC) and the Department of Health (the Department) are actively working towards addressing all of the recommendations in the Stokes Review, including consultation with a wide range of stakeholders where appropriate. In general, the MHC has primary responsibility for implementing specific recommendations that are largely related to strategic planning and policy, and service access and suitability; while the Department is overseeing the completion of the recommendations that have a more operational focus. There are some recommendations where there are shared responsibilities for implementation.
There is an active and demonstrated commitment across Health Services and the Department to address the issues identified within the Review and foster a culture of continuous service improvement. The recommendations of the Stokes Review will be implemented across Health Services as a series of 'thematic streams' to establish system wide governance, accountability, procedure, monitoring and reporting processes that will guide the implementation process and improve service quality.
Specific recommendations for which the Department is responsible are aligned to the following primary 'thematic' focus areas:
¾ Policy (in collaboration with MHC);
¾ Mental Health Information Systems;
¾ Funding and Activity Based Funding Reforms;
¾ Clinical Performance; and
¾ Workforce and Leadership.
The
Western Australian Government Response
,published in November 2012, indicated that many of the recommendations would require medium to long term solutions and have response timeframes from (at least) six months to (at most) beyond 24 months. Work on all recommendations has commenced.
Some of the recommendations are to be implemented within existing resources, while other recommendations relating to proposed new services will need to be carefully considered as part of future planning and service reform.
The MHC and the Department have developed an implementation framework for addressing the 117 recommendations, which involves ongoing collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, from other government agencies to peak bodies, and consumers and carers. The executive steering committee, otherwise known as the Implementation Partnership Group (IPG), receives regular progress reports from the project management and working groups that are responsible for coordinating the implementation of particular recommendations.
The Independent Chair of the IPG, Barry MacKinnon, provides quarterly progress updates to the Minister for Mental Health and liaises closely with the Executive Sponsors for the project, the Mental Health Commissioner and the Director General of the Department of Health.
The IPG, which meets quarterly, had its inaugural meeting on 14 March 2013 and met again on 20 June and 19 September 2013. The next meeting is scheduled to be held on 12 December 2013.
Recommendation 1.1 relating to the establishment of a position of Executive Director Mental Health within the Department has been completed and the position has been filled.
The Executive Director, Mental Health heads the Office of Mental Health which has been established within the Department to drive the implementation of the Stokes Review recommendations for which the Department is responsible. This work will be undertaken collaboratively and closely with Health Services, the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist, the MHC and a range of representatives for consumers, carers and government agencies.
The only recommendation that has a timeframe of less than six months is Recommendation 1.1.8, as follows:
Being involved in budget-setting with the Mental Health Commission in conjunction with the Performance Activity and Quality Division of the Department of Health to ensure that this budget is appropriate to deliver safe and quality mental health care
This work is well advanced and will be effectively completed through the signing of the Service Agreement between the MHC and the Department for specialised mental health services 2013-14.
The principal recommendation and recommendation 1.1.1 refer to the need for a Clinical Services Plan. The MHSP is well underway and will provide strategic responses to relevant Stokes Review recommendations. The MHSP will outline the optimal mix of both clinical and non-clinical mental health services and provide a blueprint to help inform decisions about long term investment in mental health. The MHSP is expected to be completed by April 2014.
Many of the issues raised by Professor Stokes will need to be addressed over a period of time, for example, through investment in service improvements and reform. In this regard, demonstrable action is already available and will be progressively built upon, taking account of the need to implement solutions cognisant of infrastructure, workforce and technology issues that need to be addressed as part of any effective solution. Recent examples of progress include:
The new Mental Health Bill which, once enacted, will significantly strengthen the rights and protections available to people with mental illness and their families and carers and improve the legal framework in which mental health services and supports are delivered.
-A new 22 bed step up step down service in Joondalup that commenced in May 2013.
-Establishment of a pilot mental health court diversion service.
-New assertive community intervention services for children, young people and their families in the metropolitan area commenced in April 2013.
-A record $735 million budget for mental health and drug and alcohol services delivered through the 2013/14 budget.
(b) Not applicable.
There is an active and demonstrated commitment across Health Services and the Department to address the issues identified within the Review and foster a culture of continuous service improvement. The recommendations of the Stokes Review will be implemented across Health Services as a series of 'thematic streams' to establish system wide governance, accountability, procedure, monitoring and reporting processes that will guide the implementation process and improve service quality.
Specific recommendations for which the Department is responsible are aligned to the following primary 'thematic' focus areas:
¾ Policy (in collaboration with MHC);
¾ Mental Health Information Systems;
¾ Funding and Activity Based Funding Reforms;
¾ Clinical Performance; and
¾ Workforce and Leadership.
The
Western Australian Government Response
,published in November 2012, indicated that many of the recommendations would require medium to long term solutions and have response timeframes from (at least) six months to (at most) beyond 24 months. Work on all recommendations has commenced.
Some of the recommendations are to be implemented within existing resources, while other recommendations relating to proposed new services will need to be carefully considered as part of future planning and service reform.
The MHC and the Department have developed an implementation framework for addressing the 117 recommendations, which involves ongoing collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, from other government agencies to peak bodies, and consumers and carers. The executive steering committee, otherwise known as the Implementation Partnership Group (IPG), receives regular progress reports from the project management and working groups that are responsible for coordinating the implementation of particular recommendations.
The Independent Chair of the IPG, Barry MacKinnon, provides quarterly progress updates to the Minister for Mental Health and liaises closely with the Executive Sponsors for the project, the Mental Health Commissioner and the Director General of the Department of Health.
The IPG, which meets quarterly, had its inaugural meeting on 14 March 2013 and met again on 20 June and 19 September 2013. The next meeting is scheduled to be held on 12 December 2013.
Recommendation 1.1 relating to the establishment of a position of Executive Director Mental Health within the Department has been completed and the position has been filled.
The Executive Director, Mental Health heads the Office of Mental Health which has been established within the Department to drive the implementation of the Stokes Review recommendations for which the Department is responsible. This work will be undertaken collaboratively and closely with Health Services, the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist, the MHC and a range of representatives for consumers, carers and government agencies.
The only recommendation that has a timeframe of less than six months is Recommendation 1.1.8, as follows:
Being involved in budget-setting with the Mental Health Commission in conjunction with the Performance Activity and Quality Division of the Department of Health to ensure that this budget is appropriate to deliver safe and quality mental health care
This work is well advanced and will be effectively completed through the signing of the Service Agreement between the MHC and the Department for specialised mental health services 2013-14.
The principal recommendation and recommendation 1.1.1 refer to the need for a Clinical Services Plan. The MHSP is well underway and will provide strategic responses to relevant Stokes Review recommendations. The MHSP will outline the optimal mix of both clinical and non-clinical mental health services and provide a blueprint to help inform decisions about long term investment in mental health. The MHSP is expected to be completed by April 2014.
Many of the issues raised by Professor Stokes will need to be addressed over a period of time, for example, through investment in service improvements and reform. In this regard, demonstrable action is already available and will be progressively built upon, taking account of the need to implement solutions cognisant of infrastructure, workforce and technology issues that need to be addressed as part of any effective solution. Recent examples of progress include:
The new Mental Health Bill which, once enacted, will significantly strengthen the rights and protections available to people with mental illness and their families and carers and improve the legal framework in which mental health services and supports are delivered.
-A new 22 bed step up step down service in Joondalup that commenced in May 2013.
-Establishment of a pilot mental health court diversion service.
-New assertive community intervention services for children, young people and their families in the metropolitan area commenced in April 2013.
-A record $735 million budget for mental health and drug and alcohol services delivered through the 2013/14 budget.
(b) Not applicable.
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