Mental Health Act 2009
Approved Treatment Centre
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 96 of the Mental Health Act 2009 that the Chief Psychiatrist’s determination of James Nash House, 140 Hilltop Drive, Oakden SA 5086, as an Approved Treatment Centre, will be subject to new temporary conditions. The previous conditions issued on 11 January 2024 remain.
Conditions on the Admission of Female Patients, Gender Diverse People and Young People
The purpose of this condition is to enhance gender safety. Female patients, gender diverse people or any person 21 years of age or younger may not be admitted to the Aldgate Ward except under exceptional circumstances approved by the Clinical Director and Nursing Director; and reported to the Chief Psychiatrist.
People in these groups may continue to routinely be admitted to the Ken O’Brien Centre in accordance with a local procedure document for that unit established under the Chief Psychiatrists Sexual Safety Standard.
Admissions to Birdwood Ward can also occur in accordance with a local procedure document for that unit, but only when approved by the Clinical Director and Nursing Director on the basis that admission to the Ken O’Brien Centre or other alternative location is not practicable.
Admissions of male patients older than 21 years of age to Aldgate Ward can continue without restriction noting that this Ward will also maintain a local procedure document in accordance with the Chief Psychiatrists Sexual Safety Standard.
Conditions on the use of Clare Ward
Admission to dual occupancy rooms in Clare Ward will be subject to an additional bed allocation procedure that considers the recognised limitations of dual occupancy rooms in forensic mental health care. That procedure will be lodged with the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist. The procedure will describe clinical and other criteria for allocation of dual occupancy rooms, and how these criteria will be monitored. A report will be provided on a 6 monthly basis on the operation of dual occupancy rooms with a first report to be lodged on 1 September 2024.
Conditions Related to the Safety of Patients, Staff and Visitors
Aldgate, Birdwood, Clare and Ken O’Brien share electronic security systems that have had past inconsistent performance. These wards may continue to admit patients providing that a system testing plan and risk mitigation plan approved by the Chief Psychiatrist is in place to provide for the safety of consumers, visitors and staff in the context of past fluctuating performance of the duress system, and associated security systems on site.
The lay out of Aldgate and Birdwood wards lack the contemporary building design features to support safe ward operation and the risk mitigation plan for those areas lodged with the Chief Psychiatrist should include additional risk mitigations related to the design limitations of the physical environment.
Conditions Related to the Prevention of Restrictive Practices and the use of Seclusion.
In applying the “Chief Psychiatrist Restraint Seclusion Standard—A Standard to Reduce and Eliminate where possible the Use of Restraint and Seclusion applied under the Mental Health Act 2009”, seclusion can only be provided in a seclusion room designated for that purpose.
Aldgate and Birdwood Wards do not have a designated seclusion rooms. For this reason seclusion is permitted in a patients bedroom but under a condition that the use of a bedroom for this purpose is authorised by the Clinical Director and Nursing Director having regard for the safety of using a bedroom for this purpose and the impact on the patient of using their personal space for this purpose.
For instances of prolonged seclusion that is outside of the parameters of the Chief Psychiatrist Standard a report will be made to the Chief Psychiatrist of the indication of the seclusion, the welfare of the patient, and plans to reduce the reliance on seclusion.
Progress in Implementing Infrastructure Work and Maintenance Recommendations
A report must be provided to the Chief Psychiatrist each month detailing progress on asset recommendations made in the Chief Psychiatrist Inspection Report December 2023, and any other matter identified by the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network.
These conditions remain in place until 4 July 2025.
Dated: 4 July 2024
Dr J. Brayley
Chief Psychiatrist
