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Program
Management Circulars Index <<
Archived - 11 September 2006
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Provision of Language Services - April 1996
Use of Language Services in
Area Mental Health Services
Purpose
To provide advice about standards for the provision of language services
in public mental heath services.
Background
The Mental Health Act 1986, s5 outlines the objectives of the
Department of Human Services. These include the requirement to establish,
develop, promote, assist and encourage mental health services which:
- Take into account the various religious, cultural and language needs
of persons who are mentally ill.
- Minimise the adverse effects of mental illness on family life.
- Are comprehensible and accessible.
- Ensure clients and others who are mentally ill are informed of their
legal rights and other entitlements under the Act.
- Ensure that the relevant provisions of the Act are explained to clients
and other persons who are mentally ill in a language, mode of communication
or terms which those persons are most likely to understand.
Service
Requirements, Standards and Performance Criteria
Effective treatment of clients with a mental illness requires effective
communication with patients and their carers. The specialist function
and 24-hour operation of public mental health services requires a responsive
service of skilled interpreters.
Area Mental Health Service (AMHS) managers should ensure that clients
have access to interpreter services that meet the following standards.
Standard
The AMHS must ensure 24-hour availability of interpreting services in
all available community languages.
Performance Criteria
- 'Onsite' interpreting is to be available 24-hours per day to public
mental health services in the Greater Melbourne Metropolitan area.
- The AMHS must establish procedures for using telephone interpreter
services.
Standard
The AMHS must ensure that accredited interpreters, who provide a responsive
service, are used.
Performance Criteria
- Interpreters used in public mental health services must be selected
from the following categories in descending order of priority:
- Interpreters accredited by the National Australian Association
of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) as professional interpreters
(level 3) who have undertaken training in mental health issues.
- Interpreters accredited by NAATI as professional interpreters
(level 3).
- Interpreters accredited by NAATI as level 2 or less if interpreters
of the above criteria cannot be met for the required language.
- All urgent requests from staff of Crisis Assessment and Treatment
services for interpreters must be met.
- All requests for interpreters, made by staff in connection with the
24-hour Statutory Review process for involuntary patients, must be met.
- In all other cases, interpreters must be made available within 24-hours
of the initially desired booking time.
- Interpreters are to be told that section 18 of the Mental Health Act
requires that patients be informed of their rights.
- The AMHS must ensure that interpreters are informed about:
- The process surrounding involuntary treatment and care.
- The role and function of the Mental Health Review Board process.
- Basic psychiatric terminology.
Standard
The AMHS must set up accountability mechanisms that support the appropriate
use of interpreters.
Performance Criteria
- A complaint mechanism must be put in place for staff and clients.
- The AMHS must report annually to the Psychiatric Services Regional
Managers on:
- The number of interpreter contacts and the language group used.
- The amount of money spent on the provision of language services.
Jennifer Williams
Director
Psychiatric Services
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