News
Change to Accreditation Requirements for Mental Health Services
Download page as PDFThe Chief Psychiatrist has a responsibility under the Mental Health Act 2014 (MHA 2014) for overseeing the treatment and care of mental health patients throughout the State of Western Australia (s. 515 (1a-e) of the MHA 2014). The Chief Psychiatrist must discharge that responsibility by publishing standards and monitoring compliance with standards.
In 2015 I accepted the National Standards for Mental Health Services 2010 (NSMHS 2010) as the overarching standards relevant for the MHA 2014 and published an additional set of standards, the Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for Clinical Care (CP Standards). Compliance with the CP Standards is assessed through the Chief Psychiatrist’s Clinical Monitoring Program, while compliance with the NSMHS 2010 has been assessed through accreditation programs, conducted by external accrediting agencies.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (second edition) User Guide for Acute and Community Mental Health Services (NSQHS User Guide for MH). My Office has reviewed both the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (second edition) 2021 (NSQHS Standards) and the NSQHS User Guide for MH and is satisfied that these standards provide appropriate guidance for clinical mental health services in Western Australia, along with the CP standards.
Clinical Services
From 1 November 2023, clinical services in Western Australia which are accredited against the NSQHS Standards will no longer be required to undergo accreditation against the NSMHS 2010.
Psychosocial Services
The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist is working on a transition plan with the Mental Health Commission and other stakeholders. The NSMHS remain statutory and psychosocial services must maintain accreditation against the NSMHS until the transition plan has been finalised.
Please refer to the attached fact sheet which further explains this change.
Compliance with the CP Standards is still required and will continue to be monitored through the Chief Psychiatrist’s Clinical Monitoring Program.
Dr. Nathan Gibson
Chief Psychiatrist