❓ WA Government confirms intention to appoint a Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing, outlining proposed structure, independence, and reporting lines, while some details remain under development.
AnsweredQoN 1038Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Government intend to appoint a Commissioner for Mental Health?
(2) If yes to Question 1:
(a) will the proposed Commissioner head a Commission or be a sole appointee comparable in role and powers to the existing Children’s Commissioner;
(b) will the proposed Commissioner be on the payroll of the Health Department or will the Office of Commissioner be established in its own right and operate independently of the Health Department and the Minister for Mental Health or the Minister for Health;
(c) would the proposed Commissioner report to Parliament;
(d) will the role and powers of the proposed Commissioner be enshrined in the new Mental Health Act or in a separate new Act;
(e) will the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health be granted legislated authority to inspect and report on the quality and standards of mental health care and require changes in line with established prior outcome measures;
(f) would the appointment of a Commissioner involve changes to the functions of or abolition of the Office in Chief Psychiatrist and the Council of Visitors in terms of their existing roles in the monitoring of standards and the management of complaints from consumers and families in the care of Mental Health Services;
(g) will the external Consultants engaged to advise on the development of a WA Mental Health Strategy be provided with full details of the establishment of the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health and the role and powers of that Office prior to finalizing their report to the Government; and
(h) will the Consultants also be provided with a firm outline of any proposed new arrangements in the administration of Mental Health Services, including the clear lines of accountability between the Ministers for Health and Mental Health and between the respective Ministers and the Director General of Health and an Assistant Director General (Mental Health); and
(i) what lines of accountability will apply between the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health and the two relevant Ministers and the Assistant Director General (Mental Health) and the Director General of Health?
(2) If yes to Question 1:
(a) will the proposed Commissioner head a Commission or be a sole appointee comparable in role and powers to the existing Children’s Commissioner;
(b) will the proposed Commissioner be on the payroll of the Health Department or will the Office of Commissioner be established in its own right and operate independently of the Health Department and the Minister for Mental Health or the Minister for Health;
(c) would the proposed Commissioner report to Parliament;
(d) will the role and powers of the proposed Commissioner be enshrined in the new Mental Health Act or in a separate new Act;
(e) will the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health be granted legislated authority to inspect and report on the quality and standards of mental health care and require changes in line with established prior outcome measures;
(f) would the appointment of a Commissioner involve changes to the functions of or abolition of the Office in Chief Psychiatrist and the Council of Visitors in terms of their existing roles in the monitoring of standards and the management of complaints from consumers and families in the care of Mental Health Services;
(g) will the external Consultants engaged to advise on the development of a WA Mental Health Strategy be provided with full details of the establishment of the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health and the role and powers of that Office prior to finalizing their report to the Government; and
(h) will the Consultants also be provided with a firm outline of any proposed new arrangements in the administration of Mental Health Services, including the clear lines of accountability between the Ministers for Health and Mental Health and between the respective Ministers and the Director General of Health and an Assistant Director General (Mental Health); and
(i) what lines of accountability will apply between the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health and the two relevant Ministers and the Assistant Director General (Mental Health) and the Director General of Health?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 August 2009
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
62 days
(1) The Government intends to appoint a Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
(2) (a) It is proposed that the Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing will have a comparable role and powers to the existing Commissioner for Children and Young People with support staff.
(b) It is proposed that the Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing will be independent of the Department of Health.
(c) It is proposed that the Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing will report to Parliament.
(d) It is proposed that the role and powers of the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing will be enshrined in a separate new Act.
(e) It is not proposed that the Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing will be granted legislated authority to inspect and report on the quality and standards of mental health care and require changes in line with established prior outcome measures.
(f) There may be some changes to the functions of the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and the Council of Official Visitors in terms of their existing roles in the monitoring of standards and the management of complaints from consumers in the care of Mental Health Services and their families.
(g) The external consultants engaged to advise on the development of a WA Mental Health Strategy will be provided with up to date details of the establishment of the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing and the role and powers of that Office prior to finalising their report to Government.
(h) The Consultants will be provided with available information relating to any proposed new arrangements in the administrations of Mental Health Services, including the clear lines of accountability between the Ministers for Health and Mental Health and between the respective Ministers and the Director General of Health and a Deputy Director General of Mental Health.
(i) The lines of accountability that will apply between the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing and the Ministers for Health and Mental Health and the Director General of Health and Deputy Director General of Mental Health are yet to be determined.
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(2) (a) It is proposed that the Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing will have a comparable role and powers to the existing Commissioner for Children and Young People with support staff.
(b) It is proposed that the Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing will be independent of the Department of Health.
(c) It is proposed that the Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing will report to Parliament.
(d) It is proposed that the role and powers of the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing will be enshrined in a separate new Act.
(e) It is not proposed that the Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing will be granted legislated authority to inspect and report on the quality and standards of mental health care and require changes in line with established prior outcome measures.
(f) There may be some changes to the functions of the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and the Council of Official Visitors in terms of their existing roles in the monitoring of standards and the management of complaints from consumers in the care of Mental Health Services and their families.
(g) The external consultants engaged to advise on the development of a WA Mental Health Strategy will be provided with up to date details of the establishment of the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing and the role and powers of that Office prior to finalising their report to Government.
(h) The Consultants will be provided with available information relating to any proposed new arrangements in the administrations of Mental Health Services, including the clear lines of accountability between the Ministers for Health and Mental Health and between the respective Ministers and the Director General of Health and a Deputy Director General of Mental Health.
(i) The lines of accountability that will apply between the proposed Commissioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing and the Ministers for Health and Mental Health and the Director General of Health and Deputy Director General of Mental Health are yet to be determined.
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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