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Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for Clinical Care

The Mental Health Act 2014 requires the Chief Psychiatrist to be responsible for overseeing the treatment and care to a range of users of mental health services. The Chief Psychiatrist is required to discharge that responsibility by publishing a set of standards for treatment and care provided by Mental Health Services and overseeing compliance with those standards. The accepted standards for mental health services are:

In addition, all mental health services must adhere to the Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for Clinical Care:

The Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for Clinical Care have been developed within the following context:

  • The specific Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for Clinical Care are not designed to replace the accepted standards but enhance them where local development is identified as needed.
  • They cover certain areas the Chief Psychiatrist deems to be either of central importance or requiring local jurisdictional focus.
  • They are designed to leverage quality clinical care and are purposefully and predominantly targeted towards clinical practice.
  • They are designed to be easily and quickly read by clinicians, and also by consumers and carers- hence they are relatively brief, not exhaustive.
  • Adherence to the Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for Clinical Care is assessed through the Chief Psychiatrist’s Clinical Monitoring Program.

Transition from the National Standards for Mental Health Services

In 2015, the Chief Psychiatrist accepted the National Standards for Mental Health Services 2010 (NSMHS 2010) as the overarching standards relevant for the MHA 2014 and published the Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for Clinical Care. Compliance with the Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for Clinical Care 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). The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist 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 Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for Clinical Care.

Clinical Services

From 1 November 2023, clinical services in Western Australia which are accredited against the NSQHS Standards are no longer 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.

Please note that services are not required to collect evidence to demonstrate their adherence to the Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for Clinical Care.  This is assessed through the Chief Psychiatrist’s Clinical Monitoring Program.

If you would like further information or support, especially if you are providing an education session, please contact reception@ocp.wa.gov.au.

 

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