Professional Standards for Mental Health Workers

Question 1

How many Standards are there in the Professional Standards for Mental Health Workers, (2010)?

Answer 1

There are ten (10) standards in the Professional Standards for Mental Health Workers, (2010)

Question 2

What is Standard 1?

Answer 2

Standard 1: Rights and Responsibilities
The rights and responsibilities of people affected by
mental health problems and / or mental illness are upheld by the mental health service (MHS) and are documented, prominently displayed, applied and promoted throughout all phases of care.

Question 3

What is Standard 2?

Answer 3

Standard 2: Safety
The activities and environment of the MHS are safe for
consumers, carers, families, visitors, staff and its community.

Question 4

What is Standard 3?

Answer 4

Standard 3: Consumer and Carer Participation
Consumers and carers are actively involved in the
development, planning, delivery and evaluation of services.

Question 5

What is Standard 4?

Answer 5

Standard 4: Diversity responsiveness
The MHS delivers services that take into account the cultural and social diversity of its consumers and meets their needs and those of their carers and community throughout all phases of care.

Question 6

What is Standard 5?

Answer 6

Standard 5: Promotion and Prevention
The MHS works in partnership with its community to promote mental health and address prevention of mental health problems and / or mental illness.

Question 7

What is Standard 6?

Answer 7

Standard 6: Consumers
Consumers have the right to comprehensive and integrated mental health care that meets their individual needs and achieves the best possible outcome in terms of their recovery.

Question 8

What is Standard 7?

Answer 8

Standard 7: Carers
The MHS recognises, respects, values and supports the
importance of carers to the well-being, treatment, and
recovery of people with a mental illness.

Question 9

What is Standard 8?

Answer 9

Standard 8: Governance, Leadership, and Management
The MHS is governed, led and managed effectively and
efficiently to facilitate the delivery of quality and coordinated services.

Question 10

What is Standard 9?

Answer 10

Standard 9: Integration
The MHS collaborates with and develops partnerships within in its own organisation and externally with other service providers to facilitate coordinated and integrated services for consumers and carers.

Question 11

What is Standard 10?

Answer 11

Standard 10: Delivery of Care
The MHS incorporates recovery principles into service
delivery, culture and practice providing consumers with
access and referral to a range of programs that will support sustainable recovery.

Question 12

Standard 10 involves 6 sub-standards, what are these?

Answer 12

Standard 10: Delivery of Care

10. 1: Supporting Recovery
11. 2: Access
12. 3: Entry
13. 4: Assessment and Review
14. 5: Treatment and Support
15. 6: Exit and re-entry

Question 13

What are the 9 Key Performance Indicators for Australian Public Mental Health Services (2005)?

Answer 13

1. Effectiveness - timely service delivery
2. Appropriateness - care is relevant & based on national standards
3. Efficiency - cost-effective interventions
4. Accessibility - equity of access regardless of SES
5. Continuity - care provision is uninterrupted
6. Responsiveness - client oriented care
7. Capability - the individual’s & services ability to provide care
8. Safety - avoidance /reduction of harm/risk
9. Sustainability - services ability to respond to emerging needs

Question 14

There are 8 key principles embedded in the 10 standards. These principles are consistent with national policy and requirements for the delivery of mental health services in Australia. What are they, in brief?

Answer 14

1. mental health services should promote optimal quality of life for people with mental illness
2. services aim to achieve sustained recovery
3. consumers are involved in their care
4. Consumers have the right for their nominated carer(s) to be involved in all aspects of their care
5. carers role, needs & requirements are separate to the clients
6. Consumer & Carer participation is crucial in evaluation of health services
7. treatment, care & support should be individualised
8. The personal rights & choices of consumers should be minimally impacted in delivery of mental health services