Mental health statement of rights and responsibilities

Part VI: Rights and responsibilities of people who provide services

Page last updated: 2012

  1. This statement acknowledges the qualifications and expertise of service providers in the private, public and non-government sectors and recognises their contribution to planning with, and the assessment, support, care, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery of, mental health consumers.

  2. People who provide services throughout the social, justice, health and mental health systems are entitled to:
    1. have their professional qualifications and capabilities acknowledged
    2. have their contribution to the assessment, support, care, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery of mental health consumers recognised
    3. work in optimal conditions of service delivery and employment including the right to ongoing training and a safe and supportive work environment
    4. be actively involved in the planning and management of services
    5. contribute to the development and regular review of standards for evaluating services including both the process of service provision and the outcome of assessment, individualised care planning, support, care, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery
    6. participate in the development of social, health and mental health policy and service delivery guidelines
    7. access mechanisms of complaint and redress if they feel they have been treated unfairly in the workplace
    8. expect that social, health and mental health services will be integrated and coordinated while retaining their specialised focus, identity and funding.

  3. People who provide services throughout the social, justice, health and mental health systems have the responsibility to:
    1. provide the highest quality, evidence-based, best practice, assessment, individualised care planning, support, care, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery services to mental health consumers without stigma and discrimination
    2. provide the least restrictive assessment, support, care, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery responses
    3. ensure mental health consumers and/or their carers and support persons participate in the decisions that affect them
    4. respect the wishes of mental health consumers, unless legislation requires otherwise
    5. take into account the wishes, lived experiences, skills and abilities of mental health consumers
    6. take into account the economic, social, cultural and geographical factors relevant to each mental health consumer having particular regard for the needs and experiences of Indigenous people
    7. take into account the sexuality, gender and gender identity of mental health consumers
    8. inform mental health consumers and/or their carers and support persons about the services that are available to them
    9. be responsive to the diverse social, cultural, spiritual, emotional and physical experiences, needs and disabilities of mental health consumers and their carers and support persons
    10. inform mental health consumers and their support persons, carers and advocates about their rights and responsibilities, including mechanisms of complaint and redress
    11. recognise the role of carers and support persons and be responsive to their needs
    12. respect the privacy of mental health consumers
    13. respect the confidentiality of mental health consumers
    14. respect the privacy of carers and support persons
    15. respect the confidentiality of carers and support persons
    16. deal with the care complaints of mental health consumers fairly, promptly and without retribution
    17. deal with the care complaints of carers and support persons fairly, promptly and without retribution
    18. promote the best interests of children or young people when a family member, guardian or carer is suffering from mental health problems or a mental illness
    19. ensure the involvement of mental health consumers and their carers and support persons in the planning, management and evaluation of social support, health and mental health services
    20. keep adequate information systems including accurate and timely record keeping and to monitor the outcomes for mental health consumers
    21. ensure their own knowledge base reflects current accepted best practice in assessment, individualised care planning, support, care, treatment, recovery and rehabilitation
    22. participate in the development of professional ethical standards that accord with international human rights principles
    23. ensure consideration of the physical wellbeing and physical health needs of mental health consumers in their care.