Extended: Friday 27 September 2019
The Queensland Health Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) for Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Services is recruiting up to two representatives to fill available roles on the QAC membership. We are seeking expressions of interest from:
- consumers who have experience with Queensland Health alcohol and drug treatment services, and
- carers who have experience with Queensland Health mental health and/or alcohol and drug treatment services.
The QAC was established by the Queensland Health Director-General in September 2017. The Committee meets an identified need for quality assurance oversight and improvement of mental health alcohol and other drugs service delivery.
Purpose of the Quality Assurance Committee
The purpose of the QAC is to improve the safety and quality of public mental health alcohol and other drugs services by reviewing and analysing clinical investigations, evaluating the quality of health service provision, and making recommendations based on the findings.
The QAC undertakes specific work in agreed priority areas. The priority areas of focus for Committee activities are:
- Learning from Incidents and the Quality of Recommendations
- Culture
- Data
- Communication and collaboration.
The Committee comprises 18 people from a range of backgrounds, services, specialties and geographical locations, supported by staff from the Clinical Governance Unit, Office of the Chief Psychiatrist. The Chairperson is the Chief Psychiatrist, Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch.
Please see Terms of Reference for more details. Participation will commence from November 2019.
Role of the Consumer
Consumer and carer representatives participate in all QAC business, including attendance at meetings, reviewing meeting papers in advance, and responding to out-of-session business via email. All members on the QAC represent and bring skills and knowledge relating to their particular areas of expertise, such as consumers and carers, clinical professions, service types or statewide work units.
Your role will be to advocate for the interests of the group you are representing (consumers or carers) during QAC activities. You will be encouraged and supported to speak up and provide feedback and advice based on:
- your own lived experience of accessing Queensland Health mental health and/or alcohol and drug treatment services as a consumer or as a carer
- feedback from others with lived experience, such as through a consumer or carer group or forum that you may be part of.
Confidentiality
The QAC is a privileged committee under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 (HHBA). Members are required to sign confidentiality agreements and to maintain confidentiality of discussions, meeting materials and business of the committee. These strengthened confidentiality requirements are outlined under the HHBA and are a standard requirement of any QAC.
Who is it for?
This opportunity would suit a consumer or carer representative with:
- a lived experience of accessing Queensland Health mental health and/or alcohol and drug treatment services as a consumer or as a carer
- 6-12 months committee experience, either at the Hospital and Health Service, or statewide level, especially contributing to systems level reforms and improvement
- an understanding of the Queensland Health system, responsibilities of sitting on a committee and experiencing providing consumer feedback
- a high level of literacy (including reading, writing and communication)
- internet access, an email address and a computer for receiving meeting papers and responding to out-of-session QAC business
- access to transport to attend meetings in the Brisbane CBD or access videoconferencing facilities (teleconference is not availability due to privacy and confidentiality requirements).
Applications from consumers/carers who have broad connections to their community and are involved in a relevant group or service from which they can raise concerns, as relevant to committee activities (such as a consumer advisory group) will be highly regarded.
Time and location
The QAC meets monthly. Meetings are of two hours’ duration, and at times there will be additional work out-of-session via email.
Meetings are hosted by the Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch at 15 Butterfield St, Herston, Brisbane. This is directly across from the main entrance to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, very close to the RBWH bus station, and about 10 -15 minutes’ walk from the Bowen Hills train station. Parking under the building is usually available for meetings free-of-charge, if booked in advance with the QAC secretariat.
QAC members unable to attend in person are able to attend via videoconference. Teleconference is not available due to privacy and confidentiality requirements.
Remuneration and Support
Consumers will be remunerated in line with Health Consumers Queensland’s guidelines. Reimbursement is provided for the costs of travel within Brisbane associated with meetings (via public transport or privately owned vehicle).
For consumers based outside of Brisbane in regional, rural or remote locations, travel support can be negotiated to attend an initial meeting in person, to develop a face to face rapport with the QAC.
The QAC secretariat will provide orientation and ongoing support for the successful representative as required.
How to apply
Please complete this consumer application form and return to [email protected] by Friday 27 September 2019.
For assistance please contact Health Consumers Queensland via [email protected] or by phone on 07 3012 9090.
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