Page 2175 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 2 August 2022

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performance indicators and updating the terms of reference to reflect this. Recommendation 15 will be addressed by developing the comprehensiveness of the high-risk assessment team meeting minutes to ensure that sufficient detail is captured.

There are three recommendations relating to strategic planning. Recommendation 1 will be addressed by developing a Canberra Health Services justice health services clinical services plan. Recommendation 7 will be addressed by finalising the Canberra Health Services custodial mental health services operational guide. Recommendation 16 will be addressed by identifying any gaps in documentation for operational and clinical procedures to be undertaken for detainees who fall outside the criteria for treatment by CHS Custodial Mental Health Services.

There are three recommendations that relate to staff training, education and support. Recommendations 4, 12 and 18 will be addressed by reviewing the current training modules provided, including exploring what additional resources may be required to enhance the current supports, and developing guidance material to further support team members.

Of the three recommendations that relate to culturally appropriate and safe services, recommendation 15 will be addressed as part of strengthening governance, including the feasibility and creation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health workers’ roles. Recommendation 19 will be addressed as part of improving clinical services. Recommendation 17 will be addressed by exploring what enhancements can be made to increase Aboriginal liaison officer roles within the AMC.

There are six recommendations that relate to improving clinical services. Recommendation 2 will be addressed by implementing a new Canberra Health Services record-keeping system, called Digital Health Record, which is due to go live in November 2022. Recommendation 3 will be addressed by defining how equivalency in mental health care for people in the AMC can be expressed, measured and monitored.

Recommendation 13 will be addressed by strengthening the visibility of self-referral pathways for people in the AMC, including access to information sources such as the detainee handbook. Recommendation 14 will be addressed by improving the comprehensiveness of collaborative care plans for all people in the AMC with psychiatric risk ratings. Recommendation 19 will be addressed by finalising discharge planning and release planning procedures that not only describe the process for people in the AMC but also establish clear consultation pathways between each of the previously mentioned agencies.

Recommendation 11 also relates to improving clinical services; however, the ACT government has noted this recommendation. The ACT government agrees that a validated suicide assessment tool for use in a custodial setting is vital for the effective screening of people at risk of suicide or self-harm. There is a new SAFETool called Connecting with People that is being rolled out across CHS. This will replace the suicide vulnerability assessment tool.

While the justice health strategy will guide a large amount of this work, some of the actions I have mentioned here can be implemented prior to the strategy being finalised.


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