Chief Psychiatrist's annual report 2008-09 - Department of Health

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38 Chief Psychiatrist’s annual report 2008–09 The Chief Psychiatrist is responsible for approving a security patient’s discharge back to prison if satisfied that the criteria for being a security patient are no longer met. In doing so, the Chief Psychiatrist must have regard primarily to the person’s current mental condition and consider their medical and psychiatric history and social circumstances. People requiring continuing involuntary treatment at the expiry of their sentence may receive treatment under the standard provisions of the Act. The Secretary of the Department of Justice must consult with the Chief Psychiatrist when allowing a security patient to be absent from an approved mental health service (in which they are detained for a period not exceeding six months). The Secretary must be satisfied that the leave will not seriously endanger the safety of the public or the safety of the consumer. The Chief Psychiatrist has the power to authorise special leave for security patients for specifically defined purposes, usually medical treatment or to attend court. Special leave for security patients cannot exceed seven days in the case of medical treatment or 24 hours in any other case. The Chief Psychiatrist is required to immediately notify the Secretary of the Department of Justice when approving special leave or discharging a person from security patient status. 8.3 Forensic Leave Panel The Forensic Leave Panel is an independent statutory body established under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act (CMIA), to consider applications for leave from persons subject to custodial supervision orders. The Chief Psychiatrist (or delegate) is a member of the panel and has power under the CMIA to suspend leave for forensic patients at any time if satisfied that the safety of the person or members of the public is at risk of serious danger. The Forensic Leave Panel must submit a yearly report to the Attorney-General that includes the number and type of leave applications made, leave refused and leave suspended. More information can be found in the Forensic Leave Panel’s annual report 20 . Staff from the Chief Psychiatrist’s office participated with the Community Forensic Mental Health Service in a statewide training program to launch the new program management circular on noncustodial supervision orders and inform mental health service clinicians on their legislative and clinical obligations in managing persons under the CMIA. 20 The annual reports of the Forensic Leave Panel are available online at www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/forensic.
Chief Psychiatrist’s annual report 2008–09 39 Appendix: 2008–09 membership of the Quality Assurance Committee Professor Kuruvilla George 21 Chief Psychiatrist Mental Health, Drugs and Regions Division Department of Health Dr Ruth Vine 22 Chief Psychiatrist Mental Health, Drugs and Regions Division Department of Health Associate Professor Ravi Bhat Director of Psychiatry Goulburn Valley Area Mental Health Service Dr Peter Burnett Director, Clinical Governance North West Mental Health Dr Tom Callaly Chief of Services Community and Mental Health Program, Barwon Health Ms Karlyn Chettleburgh General Manager, Inpatient Services Thomas Embling Hospital Dr Paul Denborough Director, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Alfred Health Mr Peter Kelly Operations Director, Mental Health Services Melbourne Health Ms Sandra Keppich-Arnold Associate Director of Nursing Alfred Psychiatry Ms Bee Mitchell-Dawson Senior Clinical Adviser Mental Health, Drugs and Regions Division Department of Health Associate Professor Richard Newton Medical Director, Mental Health Austin Health Professor Daniel O’Connor Director of Clinical Services Aged Persons Mental Health, Southern Health Dr Bruce Osborne Clinical Director Latrobe Regional Mental Health Service Dr Bob Salo Director, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Royal Children’s Hospital Dr Dean Stevenson Director, Clinical Services Werribee Mercy Mental Health Program Ms Kate Thwaites Clinical Adviser Mental Health, Drugs and Regions Division Department of Health 21 Chief Psychiatrist from October 2007 to May 2009 22 Chief Psychiatrist from May 2009
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Chief Psychiatrist's annual report 2008-09 - Department of Health

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