MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION —
OPERATING MODEL REVIEW
736. Hon PETER COLLIER to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Mental
Health:
I
refer to the government's acknowledgement on 8 August 2020 that the
current mental health system has shortcomings and does not cater for
all.
(1) Is the
minister aware that the Mental Health Commission has undertaken a structural
review during the COVID-19 crisis?
(2) Why has this
occurred under an acting commissioner and during a pandemic, when the
commission's resources should have been focused on service delivery?
(3) Which consultancy was engaged
to provide advice to the commission, and at what cost?
(4) Has the
senior executive team expanded under the newly adopted structure; and, if yes,
will the minister table the changes along with the new levels, roles and
responsibilities of the executive?
Hon ALANNA CLOHESY
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Yes. The
Mental Health Commission commenced a process in January 2020 to review its
operating model to ensure that it was working effectively and efficiently, and
positioned to lead the critical reforms needed in the mental health, alcohol
and other drug sector to deliver better outcomes for Western Australians. This
includes responding to the outcomes of the clinical governance review and the
sustainable health review. During the WA government's COVID-19
response, the commission continued to work in close partnership with key
stakeholders to focus on service delivery issues to ensure that services were
meeting the needs of the community and sector. On 30 June 2020, an interim
structure for the commission's executive was identified, based on the
outcomes of the operating model review and the consultation that occurred with
the commission's staff throughout the review period.
(2) In addition
to the aforementioned, while the pandemic is continuing globally, government
agencies are expected to continue working to deliver and improve services for Western
Australians. This includes an expectation for the acting commissioner to lead
the organisation and implement any improvements necessary to deliver quality outcomes to the community and position the
commission for the WA recovery.
(3) EY was
engaged to review the commission's operating model and develop options
for a new operating model to lead mental health, alcohol and other drug sector
reform. The total cost of this consultancy was $249 150, including GST.
Subsequent to this, EY was engaged to develop an implementation plan to support
the new model and support change management and the development of the interim
structure. The total cost of this consultancy was $302 238, including GST.
(4) No, the
number of senior executive service positions in the commission remains the same
under the interim structure. A new non-SES position of chief medical officer,
mental health, is now in place as an outcome of the clinical governance review
announced in March 2020, which brings clinical leadership expertise into the
commission. This position now forms part of the commission's interim
structure. The commission will be working with the Public Sector Commission to
finalise the structure, which will include the classification of the SES
positions. I table a copy of the commission's interim structure.
[See paper 4073.]