❓ Hon Anthony Fels asks about security measures implemented at the East Perth Mental Health Facility and other mental health facilities following an attack on a nurse in 2007. The answer details specific measures taken and ongoing efforts to improve security, including relocation to a new facility with secure parking.
AnsweredQoN 767Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the attack on a mental health nurse on 17 September 2007, while walking from her car to her East Perth office, and ask -
(1) Please provide a description of specific strategies, policies and/or security measures that have been put in place at the East Perth Mental Health Facility and other mental health facilities, following the incident since 2007?
(2) Where strategies, policies and/or security measures are still being put in place, could you please provide details as to what these measures are and when these measures are expected to be in place?
(1) Please provide a description of specific strategies, policies and/or security measures that have been put in place at the East Perth Mental Health Facility and other mental health facilities, following the incident since 2007?
(2) Where strategies, policies and/or security measures are still being put in place, could you please provide details as to what these measures are and when these measures are expected to be in place?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 June 2009
Responded by
Minister for Transport representing the Minister for Health
Response time
26 days
(1) The following measures were put in place at the East Perth Mental Health Facility:
(a) A full time security officer whose prime function is to escort staff between the clinic and the car park has been appointed. There is an operational directive to all members of staff that the security officer must accompany staff to and from their personal and government vehicles. The security officer has a mobile phone, which is used to contact him. Staff wait at the car park or in the clinic until the security officer is available to escort them to and from the clinic. This officer is based in the clinic and also monitors and responds to aggressive clients.
(b) An Occupational Health & Safety review of the building by Work Safe, North Metropolitan Area Health Service's (NMAHS) Security and Occupational Health and Safety Departments. Recommendations made have been implemented.
(c) Ongoing Secure Incident Response Team (SIRT) training and refresher courses.
(2) All mental health facilities in NMAHS have been the subject of a review and an audit in line with the Australian Standard AS4485.
A security review of the East Perth (Wellington Street) Clinic took place on 20 February 2008 and recommended:
(a) Portable duress alarms for staff (GPS) - this is a system currently being trialled at PMH but is currently an unfunded initiative. After trial results are known, further consideration will occur regarding implementation.
(b) Secure parking for staff to be made available. This is unavailable in the current premises and therefore alternative premises are being sought.
Efforts to relocate the service to a new facility, which will include a secure car park for staff, are ongoing. The Vic Smith Association (VSA) had put in offers on two different sites but neither offer was accepted by the owners.
A number of potentially suitable alternative premises have been identified and an option analysis is being undertaken. It is anticipated that the service will relocate in the 2009/10 financial year, after a suitable site is found and contract negotiations concluded.
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(a) A full time security officer whose prime function is to escort staff between the clinic and the car park has been appointed. There is an operational directive to all members of staff that the security officer must accompany staff to and from their personal and government vehicles. The security officer has a mobile phone, which is used to contact him. Staff wait at the car park or in the clinic until the security officer is available to escort them to and from the clinic. This officer is based in the clinic and also monitors and responds to aggressive clients.
(b) An Occupational Health & Safety review of the building by Work Safe, North Metropolitan Area Health Service's (NMAHS) Security and Occupational Health and Safety Departments. Recommendations made have been implemented.
(c) Ongoing Secure Incident Response Team (SIRT) training and refresher courses.
(2) All mental health facilities in NMAHS have been the subject of a review and an audit in line with the Australian Standard AS4485.
A security review of the East Perth (Wellington Street) Clinic took place on 20 February 2008 and recommended:
(a) Portable duress alarms for staff (GPS) - this is a system currently being trialled at PMH but is currently an unfunded initiative. After trial results are known, further consideration will occur regarding implementation.
(b) Secure parking for staff to be made available. This is unavailable in the current premises and therefore alternative premises are being sought.
Efforts to relocate the service to a new facility, which will include a secure car park for staff, are ongoing. The Vic Smith Association (VSA) had put in offers on two different sites but neither offer was accepted by the owners.
A number of potentially suitable alternative premises have been identified and an option analysis is being undertaken. It is anticipated that the service will relocate in the 2009/10 financial year, after a suitable site is found and contract negotiations concluded.
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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