Safety and Quality Partnership Subcommittee



Overview


The Safety and Quality Partnerships Subcommittee (SQPS) is a sub-group of the Mental Health Standing Committee (MHSC) tasked to progress the mental health safety and quality agenda.

A key role of the SQPS is the provision of expert technical advice and recommendations on the development of national policy and strategic directions for safety and quality in mental health taking into consideration the National Mental Health Strategy, the current Fourth National Mental Health Plan, and mainstream health initiatives.

The SQPS has a watching brief in relation to safety and quality in mental health and may respond, through the provision of advice to the MHSC, on emerging issues of concern and related quality and safety initiatives. The SQPS works in partnership with the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) which leads national efforts to improve safety and quality in health care provision in Australia.

The SQPS may also provide advice in relation to monitoring and implementation of the National Standards for Mental Health Services.

Membership


The SQPS membership is determined by the Mental Health Standing Committee and is comprised of key stakeholders in the mental health field from both the public and private sector.
  • A representative from the Mental Health Standing Committee (MHSC)
  • Representatives from each State and Territory who are in a position to drive change in the area of safety and quality in their jurisdiction
  • A representative from the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC)
  • A representative from the Private Mental Health Alliance (PMHA)
  • A representative from the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA)
  • Consumer representative
  • Carer representative
  • Non-government sector representative
  • A representative from the New Zealand Ministry of Health
  • A representative from the Department of Health and Ageing, Mental Health System Improvement Branch
  • A representative from the Department of Health and Ageing, Mental Health Early Intervention & Prevention Branch

History


The Safety and Quality Committee (SQC) was established in March 2002 as a formal subgroup of the National Mental Health Working Group (NMHWG), the forerunner of the Mental Health Standing Committee (MHSC), with the role of providing expert technical advice and recommendations to the NMHWG for subsequent decisions on initiatives to address quality and effectiveness requirements of the National Mental Health Strategy.

The Safety and Quality Partnership Group (SQPG) was established in March 2003 as a sub-group of the NMHWG to take the safety and quality agenda forward, building on the work of the SQC. The inaugural meeting of the SPQG was held on 17 September 2003.

The Safety and Quality Partnership Subcommittee (SQPS) became a permanent subgroup of the MHSC following endorsement by the HPPPC in June 2007, evolving from the SQPG and the SQC.

Terms of Reference


  1. Provide expert technical advice and recommendations on the development of national policy and strategic directions for safety and quality in mental health consistent with the National Mental Health Strategy, national mental health plans, and mainstream health initiatives.
  2. Provide advice to MHSC on the implementation of the national safety priorities identified in the National safety priorities in mental health: a national plan for reducing harm.
  3. Provide advice and recommendations to the MHSC on implementation of the National Standards for Mental Health Services and options for the ongoing review of services against these Standards.
  4. Develop an annual work plan for endorsement by the MHSC, which prioritises activities and initiatives in the safety and quality agenda.
  5. Provide MHSC with regular progress reports on the implementation of identified Safety and Quality priority initiatives agreed in the Work plan.
  6. Develop recommendations for the MHSC on safety and quality initiatives coordinating national policies and activity through jurisdictional frameworks.
  7. Establish a functional collaborative relationship with MHSC Mental Health Information Strategy Subcommittee (MHISS) to ensure that data and information system development, and safety and quality system development are informed by each other.
  8. Liaise and develop linkages with the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care to ensure that Mental Health Services form an integral part of any national developments in safety and quality.
  9. Develop appropriate linkages with other activity and groups pertinent to safety and quality.
  10. Establish functional collaborative relationships with the professional colleges, accreditation agencies, and other key stakeholders which will assist in the dissemination, uptake, review and evaluation of the principles of evidence based practice and integration of the National Standards for Mental Health Services.

Meeting frequency


SQPS meets three times a year.

The dates and venues of meetings for 2013:
15 March 2013 - Sydney
12 July 2013 - Melbourne
15 November 2013 - Sydney

Secretariat


SQPS Secretariat
c/o Mental Health Policy Unit
ACT Health Directorate
GPO Box 825
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Ph: (02) 6205 4395
Email: SQPS Secretariat at sqps@act.gov.au