Ms Michelle Perrin1, Mr William Brennan2, Ms Sophie Waples1
1Office of the Chief Psychiatrist, Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Department of Health, Brisbane, Australia, 2Queensland Forensic Mental Health Service, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
Michelle Perrin is a forensic psychologist working in the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist (OCP) in a clinical position responsible for managing Complex Care Pathways, relating to complex patient matters and providing clinical advice and support to the Chief Psychiatrist and others on complex mental health matters arising from the interface with the Mental Health Act 2016. In this role she also leads a team delivering patients’ rights, advocacy, and quality improvement projects. Prior to this Michelle worked in the Queensland child and youth and adult forensic mental health system with a focus on working with individuals in custody.
Abstract:
The Queensland Mental Health Act 2016 (MHA) provides for the transfer and admission of individuals from a place of custody to an authorised mental health service to receive inpatient mental health assessment, treatment, and care. Importantly this process (referred to as classified patient process) supports the delivery of inpatient treatment to acutely unwell persons within an appropriate therapeutic and clinical setting whilst also supporting continuity of care. The MHA does not authorise involuntary treatment in custodial settings. This is aligned with national and international human rights frameworks. Service system pressures can impact equitable and timely access to inpatient mental health care. The MHA and Chief Psychiatrist Policies which include established escalation processes, as well as recent projects led by the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist have ensured ongoing access can occur in Queensland to a high standard of effective and responsive mental health care, and that the safety of mental health staff is prioritised. An overview of the legislative framework and system supports, including outcomes of recent projects will be provided with context regarding the consumer cohort who can access this pathway of care.