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Chief Psychiatrist policies

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Chief Psychiatrist policies are mandatory for anyone performing a function under the Mental Health Act 2016 such as authorised mental health service administrators, authorised doctors and authorised mental health practitioners.

These policies have been formally made by the Chief Psychiatrist and reflect their responsibility to protect the rights of all patients receiving involuntary (or voluntary) treatment and care in authorised mental health services.

Patient rights and support

Policy: Management of complaints and right to a second opinion
Flowchart: Process for obtaining a second opinion
Policy: Independent patient rights advisers

Examination and assessment

Policy: Examination and assessment
Flowchart: Determining if a Recommendation for Assessment can be made
Policy: Examination Authorities
Policy: Judicial Orders - Examination orders, court examination orders and other judicial orders
Flowchart: Magistrates examination order

Treatment and care

Policy: Treatment and care of patients
Policy: Treatment and care of minors
Policy: Treatment Authorities
Policy: Clinical need for medication
Policy: Treatment criteria, assessment of capacity, less restrictive way and advance health directives
Guide: Advance health directives, Enduring power of attorney, Guardians and Administrators
Flowchart: Assessment of capacity and less restrictive way
Guideline: Less Restrictive Way
Guide: Advance health directives for mental health (Guide and form)
Policy: Electroconvulsive therapy
Guideline: The Administration of Electroconvulsive Therapy - Clinical Guideline
Flowchart 1: Mapping out ECT for voluntary patients
Flowchart 2: Mapping out ECT for involuntary patients

Courts, forensic patients and people in custody

Policy: Treatment and care of patients subject to a Forensic Order, Treatment Support Order or other identified higher risk patients
Policy: Forensic Orders and Treatment Support Orders - amending category, conditions and limited community treatment
Policy: Inpatient treatment of individuals subject to Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act Orders
Policy: Psychiatrist reports for persons charged with a serious offence
Guideline: Preparing psychiatrist reports (Chapter 4 reports)
Flowchart 1: Overview
Flowcharts 2(a)–(b): Report on request and direction for report
Flowchart 3: Direction for report (Chief Psychiatrist initiative)
Flowchart 4: Determining referral to Mental Health Court
Policy: Court Liaison Service
Policy: Classified patients
Flowchart 1: Classified patients - transport for assessment Under review
Flowchart 2: Classified patients - transport for treatment and care Under review

Seclusion and restraint

Policy: Physical restraint
Policy: Mechanical restraint
Policy: Seclusion
Flowchart 1: Authorisation of Seclusion and Emergency Seclusion
Flowchart 2: Reduction and Elimination Plans and Extension of Seclusion
Policy: Overnight confinement for security purposes at high security units
Policy: Clinical need for medication

Transport, movement and patient absence

Policy: Managing involuntary patient absences
Flowchart: Returning patients from absent without approval events
Interactive: Absent Without Approval Pathway
Policy: Temporary absence
Policy: Transfers and transport
Policy: Securing adult acute mental health inpatient units (This policy continues under the transitional provisions of the Mental Health Act 2016)

Mental Health Review Tribunal

Policy: Support to the Mental Health Review Tribunal
Attachment 1: Audit of facilities and support provided to the Mental Health Review Tribunal

Administration of the Act

Policy: Searches and security
Policy: Patient records
Policy: Notification to the Chief Psychiatrist of critical incidents and significant non-compliance with the Mental Health Act 2016
Policy: Appointment of Authorised Doctors and Authorised Mental Health Practitioners
Attachment 1: Example procedures and applications for appointment
Attachment 2: Example instrument of appointment for authorised doctors
Attachment 3: Example instrument of appointment for authorised mental health practitioners
Attachment 4: Table of required MHA2016 eLearning Course modules

Last updated: 24 November 2022

Mental Health Act 2016