Mental Health MOU

Question 1

Purpose of MOU?

Answer 1

To assist Police, health and ambos to work collaboratively on MH.

Question 2

7 guiding principles?

Answer 2

• Treat people with dignity and respect
• Respond to incidents and treat people in manner that is least restrictive and consistent with clinical and safety needs.
• Work together
• Involved patients and carers in process.
• Respond with urgency
• Accommodate for gender, cultural etc differences
• Support MH patients in community
• Comply with MHA

Question 3

Circumstances for sharing info with partner agencies?

Answer 3

• Providing necessary services
• As authorised by MHA.
• As necessary for safety
• Promote effective service delivery
• Enable Police to exercise law enforcement duty when reasonable belief offence committed.

Question 4

What relevant personal information can be exchanged? non exhaustive list

Answer 4

• Name
• DOB
• Address
• Carer/family etc
• Need for interpreter
• Frequented locations
• strategies for managing the person
• History of violence

Question 5

Rank of LAC MH contact officer?

Answer 5

Inspector

Question 6

What do NSWP MH Intervention Team do? 3 things

Answer 6

• MH training to front line Police.
• Operational advice and guidance
• Point of high level liaison between police and other agencies

Question 7

Can Police be called on to assist other staff in detention and transport of a person? What legislation and what circumstances?

Answer 7

MHA - 20, 21, 49, 59.

Serious concerns relating to safety of the person or others.

Question 8

Primary responsibility of NSWP in relation to incidents?

Answer 8

Ensure public safety.

Question 9

When should Police be requested?

Answer 9

• Public safety or
• Significant or imminent risk to staff
• Also to assist other agencies in fulfilling their roles.

Question 10

Should Police attend non-urgent MH incidents?

Answer 10

Last resort, associated with poor outcomes for MH.

Question 11

2 principles for transporting MH?

Answer 11

• Protect rights and dignity

- Least restrictive in circumstances.

Question 12

What type of Police veh for transport? When should be used?

Answer 12

• Caged veh.
• As a last resort.
• Limited to situations which pose threat to public safety, threat to themselves or others.

Question 13

DO Police have to convey if they are doing a 22?

Answer 13

No, can seek assistance from other agencies.

Question 14

What Police to do if they doing 22 and another agency conveys?

Answer 14

• 22 form
• ## Verbal handover

Question 15

Can you search MH patients?

Answer 15

• Y, 81 MHA, Ordinary or frisk search of someone being transported to facility. Seize items found.
• If suspect person carrying anything that would present danger.

Question 16

What does DMHF stand for?

Answer 16

Declared Mental Health Facility.

Question 17

What’s important to convey to hospital staff when handing over?

Answer 17

• All relevant risk factors.
• Observed behaviors
  Outcome of any search.
• Comprehensive verbal handover.

Question 18

For s 22 and 33 what MUST Police inform hospital staff of?

Answer 18

Need to contact police prior to discharge.

Question 19

Can we return absconded MH patients? Legislation?

Answer 19

Y - 48 MHA.

Question 20

Are Police authorised to transfer person to/from MH facility or health facility?

Answer 20

Y

Question 21

Can Police assist in incidents within health facilities?

Answer 21

Y

Question 22

Police powers for breach of CTO?

Answer 22

s59 MHA.

Assist another agency to detain person in breach of CTO.

Question 23

Can Police enter a premises to detain a person breaching a CTO?

Answer 23

Y s59.

Question 24

Can police use force to enter premises for breach CTO detention?

Answer 24

N. Need warrant.

Question 25

Firearms possession for MH patient?

Answer 25

If pose threat to safety, Police notified.

Question 26

Can other agencies tell Police to remove firearm?

Answer 26

N. Admittance to facility cannot be denied for firearm retention.

Question 27

IF person with MH in Police custody needs to go Hospital, who conveys?

Answer 27

Ambulance if practicable.

Question 28

Where to take an absoncded patient?

Answer 28

Where possible, to the facility they absconded from. CAN take to the nearest DMHF, if it is not the one they absconded from, contact them in advance of the imminent presentation.