❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks data and policy details regarding the Department of Housing's handling of disruptive tenant behaviour, particularly concerning tenants with mental health conditions. The answers reveal data limitations and existing procedures.
AnsweredQoN 3796Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many Department of Housing (DoH) disruptive behaviour strikes have been issued by the DoH to tenants with diagnosed mental health conditions? (2) Of those strikes, on how many occasions have the Mental Health Commission been notified (as required by the Memorandum of Understanding)? (3) How many referrals to Support and Tenant Education Program (STEP) have been made for tenants with a diagnosed mental health illness and disruptive behaviour strikes? (4) What, if any, specific investigation procedure protocols are followed by DoH when complaints are received against tenants with a diagnosed mental illness? (5) What, if any, training do DoH investigators from the Disruptive Behaviour Unit receive in relation to investigating complaints against tenants with a diagnosed mental illness? (6) What is the DoH's policy when advising complainants in relation to the gathering of evidence to substantiate complaints? (7) What is the DoH's policy for identifying complainants who have a mental illness? (8) What is the DoH's policy for identifying vexatious complainants? (9) Is it DoH practice to file a discontinuance of a S75A application once it has been determined and dismissed at trial?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 April 2015
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
34 days
(1)-(3) Tenants are not required to advise the Department of Housing if they have a "diagnosed mental health condition". Therefore, the Department cannot report on this.
(4) All complaints are investigated on a case by case basis taking into consideration any disclosed mental or physical disabilities that may be relevant to the circumstances. Where the Department is aware of a mental health concern, the client's advocate/support worker will be contacted to provide support during the investigation process. This is conditional upon the client providing their consent.
(5) All Disruptive Behaviour Management staff members are required to complete the Mental Health First Aid course.
(6) All complaints are acknowledged by the Department in writing detailing the Department's investigation process.
(7) There is no policy.
(8) All complaints are investigated on a case by case basis. Discretionary decision-making procedures are used to identify potentially vexatious complainants.
(9) No.
(4) All complaints are investigated on a case by case basis taking into consideration any disclosed mental or physical disabilities that may be relevant to the circumstances. Where the Department is aware of a mental health concern, the client's advocate/support worker will be contacted to provide support during the investigation process. This is conditional upon the client providing their consent.
(5) All Disruptive Behaviour Management staff members are required to complete the Mental Health First Aid course.
(6) All complaints are acknowledged by the Department in writing detailing the Department's investigation process.
(7) There is no policy.
(8) All complaints are investigated on a case by case basis. Discretionary decision-making procedures are used to identify potentially vexatious complainants.
(9) No.
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