Page 2759 - Week 09 - Thursday, 25 August 1994
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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
CHIEF MINISTER FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION NO 1297
Mentally Ill Adolescents Facility
MR MOORE Asked the Chief Minister upon notice on 19 May 1994:
In relation to a fully staffed facility for the mentally ill in the ACT, you gave your assurance in a letter in March 1993 that a "residential facility be established to provide services and support" for those requiring that facility. You also stated that "arrangements were currently in place to recruit appropriate staff and to make the necessary arrangements for the physical aspects of the service".
(1) When will the promised facility for adolescents requiring mental health treatment in the ACT be opened?
(2) When will you announce the composition and number of staff that have been recruited to service this facility?
MS FOLLETT The answer to the Members question is as follows:
(1) My letter of 18 March 1993 refers to the development of a facility for a particular client, not a specific facility for mentally disturbed adolescents, as inferred by your question. Following inter-agency consideration of the particular needs of this client, a service, which provided a therapeutic response and support to the client in question, was established and will continue to provide a service when appropriate. This service is the Acute Behaviour Management Service which was established in July 1993.
The Service provides intensive behaviour modification and life skills programs to a small number of people 18 years and over who display extremely difficult and challenging behaviours in the community. The program is intensive and delivered to clients in their own environment rather than in a special residential facility. The aim is to provide clients with better coping skills for life in the community. Where clients have not had suitable accommodation, houses have been procured through the Housing Trust.
(2) As outlined in my answer to Part (1), the Acute Behaviour Management Service is a service which operates in conjunction with appropriate accommodation facilities tailored to meet the individual needs of particular clients, rather than a specific residential facility. Staff have been engaged temporarily, however, action is in progress to permanently recruit the following staff:
1 Manager (SOG C)
1 Psychologist (SPOG C)
I Project Officer (ASO 6)
2 Program Implementers
2 Senior Support Workers (part-time)
4 Support Workers (part-time)
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