/ CHHS15/156

Canberra Hospital and Health Services

OperationalProcedure

Counselling sessions by Women’s Health Service at Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC)

Contents

Contents

Purpose

Scope

Section 1 – Referrals Process

Section 2 – Appointments

Section 3 – Documentation – Treatment Plan and Sessions Notes

Section 4 – Institutional Management and Follow up

Section 5 – Counsellor Orientation to AMC

Section 6 – Counsellor Supervision and Debriefing

Section 7 – Staff Training

Implementation

Related Policies, Procedures, Guidelines and Legislation

References

Search Terms

Attachments

Purpose

The purpose of this operationalprocedureis to outline procedures for providing counselling sessions to women who are in residence at Alexander Maconochie Centre and have requested or been referred for counselling from the Women’s Health Service.

Scope

Scope

This procedure applies to Women’s Health Service (WHS) Counselling and Justice Health Service (JHS) staff.

Section 1 –Referrals Process

  1. Referrals can be made at any time during a person’s incarceration or may be made by Forensic Mental Health Service (FMHS)or Justice Health Service Primary Team on assessment.
  2. People using this service may self refer, or staff may suggest a person attend counselling. Referrals for counselling may be made by:
  • The Health Centre Request Form (included as attachment 2)
  • Justice Health Internal Referral Form (included as attachment 3)
  • People wanting to access the service may add their name to the waiting list located in the accommodation area.
  • When a WHS Counsellor receives a request to provide counselling the counsellor will:
  • Discuss with JHS staff the current status of counselling referrals on arrival to Hume Health Centre as required.
  • Discuss the current status of counselling referrals with the WHS Clinical Team Leader as required.
  • When the referral has been accepted, arrange an initial session with the person.
  • Schedule appointments as appropriate and as clinically indicated.
  • Counselling may be deemed inappropriate where:
  • Counselling is currently being accessed through another service.
  • The person is assessed as requiring crisis intervention
  • A person presents with ongoing threatening or intimidating behaviours to the WHS counsellor.
  • If WHS counselling services are withdrawn for an individual, options for future
    re-referral will be discussed with that person by the JHS Clinical Nurse Consultant and/or WHS Counsellor.

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Section 2 – Appointments

  1. Counselling will be available as agreed with ACT Corrective Services and that is operationally appropriate.
  2. There is no limit to the number of counselling sessions a person may have.
  3. A counselling review will be completed by the WHS Counsellor at regular intervals where clinically indicated.
  4. People will be advised of their upcoming counselling session on the day of the session and will be brought into the counselling area by corrections staff when requested.

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Section 3 – Documentation – Treatment Plan and Sessions Notes

  1. WHS counselling will be focussed on developing strategies to cope with current interpersonal issues that may result from traumatic event/s. Approaches to counselling may vary depending on presentation; however, any approach used must be aligned with trauma informed counselling practice. The counsellor will be mindful of the counselling context at AMC and ensure the treatment plan and approach is appropriate to the context.
  2. As counselling staff are employed by ACT Health they are required to document sessions in the person’srecords in accordance with the ACT Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997.
  3. At the end of the counselling session, the counsellor will:
  4. Document the session in the person’sJustice Health Service Primary Health medical record kept at the Hume Health Centre.
  5. Follow up any actions agreed to in the session that are clinically or therapeutically appropriate.
  6. Email the JHS CNC and FMHS Team Leader to provide a handover using the principals of ISBAR at completion.
  7. If immediate risk to self or others has been identified, the WHS counsellor is to immediately notify ACT Corrective Services, FMHS and/or Primary Health staff.

Note: People using this service have the right to access clinical records in accordance with Health Records (Privacy and Access Act 1997. People may also consent to release and/or share personal information (included as attachment 1).

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Section 4 – Institutional Management and Follow up

  1. If there are issues that arise in the session that require consultation or notifying JHS staff, the WHS Counsellor will:
  • limit the information provided to that which is necessary,ensuring that confidentiality and privacy as per legislation and organisational policies are maintained
  • Brief the person on the issues discussed and outcomes of the liaison at the next counselling session.
  • Support the person to access appropriate services within AMC as required.

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Section 5 – Counsellor Orientation to AMC

  1. WHS will ensure the WHS Counsellor has undertaken ACTCS Security Awareness Training and ACT Health Police checks prior to commencement of counselling.
  2. Using the ACT Health Workplace Induction Pathway document JHS will take responsibility for providing an orientation to the WHS Counsellor including where to locate files, a computer, printer, photocopier, fax, phone, bathroom and the tea room, as well as security measures in both the Hume Health Centre and the Women’s Area at Alexander Maconochie Centre.

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Section 6 – Counsellor Supervision and Debriefing

  1. The WHS Clinical Team Leader will provide supervision and debriefing for the WHS Counsellor on return from AMC.

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Section 7 – Staff Training

  1. It is acknowledged that staff may seek support in understanding issues from a trauma informed perspective.
  2. Requests for staff training on trauma informed care need to be directed to the WHS Clinical Team Leader.

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Implementation

People will be informed of this service through ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS) staff, JHS staff and WHS staff at the monthly Women’s Advisory Groups (WAGS) meeting.

ACTCS staff, JHS staff and General Practitioners (GPs) will be informed about the service through staff meetings.

WHS will provide a pamphlet on the WHS counselling service and make this available to AMC staff and people using this service.

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Related Policies, Procedures, Guidelines and Legislation

Legislation

Mental Health Act 2015

Human Rights Act 2004

ACT Health Child Protection Policy

ACT Health Code of Conduct

ACT Public Service Code of Conduct

Children and Young People Act 2008

Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997

Corrections Management Act 2007

Adult Corrections Health Service Plan 2008 - 2012

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References

ACT Health Child Protection Fact Sheet: Fact Sheet 1 - INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN

ACT HEALTH STAFF AND CARE AND PROTECTION SERVICES

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Search Terms

Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC), Justice Health Service (JHS), Primary Health, Women’s Health Counselling, Forensic Mental Health Service (FMHS)

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Attachments

Attachment 1: Consent to Collect and/or Share Personal Information

Attachment 2: Health Centre Request Form

Attachment 3: Justice Health Internal Referral

Disclaimer: This document has been developed by ACT Health, <Name of Division/ Branch/Unit> specifically for its own use. Use of this document and any reliance on the information contained therein by any third party is at his or her own risk and Health Directorate assumes no responsibility whatsoever.

Date Amended / Section Amended / Approved By
Eg: 17 August 2014 / Section 1 / ED/CHHSPC Chair

Attachment 1: Consent to Collect and/or Share Personal Information

Attachment 2: Health Centre Request Form


Attachment 3: Justice Health Internal Referral

Doc Number / Version / Issued / Review Date / Area Responsible / Page
CHHS15/156 / 1 / 04/08/2015 / 01/06/2018 / MHJHADS / 1 of 11
Do not refer to a paper based copy of this policy document. The most current version can be found on the ACT Health Policy Register