A performance audit into the management of detainee mental health services at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) was unable to establish whether detainees were provided with care that met the standard set out in the Corrections Management Act 2007.
In his report 1/2022 Management of detainee mental health services in the Alexander Maconochie Centre, Auditor-General Michael Harris said the Act required that detainees be provided with a standard of health care equivalent to that provided in the community.
“Due to the ambiguous target, coupled with poor data collection practices and a lack of performance information collected by the Agency, the Audit Office was unable to establish whether this standard had been met,” Mr Harris said.
“Nevertheless, it is incumbent on the Director-General of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate to assure the community that it [the standard] has [been met].
He said planning for the delivery of mental health services was ineffective, and poor data collection practices had hampered the ability of Agencies to determine the number of detainees with mental health conditions; the nature of those conditions; and likely treatment requirements.
Mr Harris found that the screening processes for non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees were effective however.
“Also effective was the delivery of mental health services to detainees who are considered the highest risk, being under psychiatric or suicide and self-harm ratings,” he said.
“However, the delivery of mental health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees, were found to be ineffective.”
He said the delivery of mental health services to detainees suffering from less severe mental health conditions was also found to be ineffective.
Mr Harris made 19 recommendations, including individual and joint recommendations to Canberra Health Services, the Justice and Community Safety Directorate and ACT Corrective Services aimed at improving governance and administrative arrangements.
He also made recommendations on screening processes; development and delivery of mental health services; and the monitoring of outcomes and transfer arrangements for detainees transitioning from custody.
The Auditor-General’s 117-page Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
