Management Options

Self management for a person assessed as low risk. This is an option if:

  • Person has good social supports
  • Can discuss management
  • Has good rapport with health workers
  • Strategies are negotiated for vulnerable times (strategies may involve community, family and/or health workers)
  • Useful information about community resources has been supplied and can be accessed
  • Review arrangements are negotiated and agreed with health worker.

Primary care of shared care for person assessed as moderate risk.  This requires:

  • Management plan in place
  • Access to appropriate community resources is facilitated
  • Plan is clearly communicated and agreed with the person and other services and people providing support are informed
  • Plan includes details of a rapid response capacity for reassessment and appropriate escalation of care level, and circumstances in which this may occur
  • Contact details are clearly negotiated with person and support people, and this is documented
  • Face to face reassessment (within suitable time frame for risk level) is arranged and conveyed to the person and people providing support
  • Plan documents, review arrangements.

Specialist care for person assessed as significant or extreme risk. This requires:

  • Immediate and continued monitoring
  • Referral to an appropriate specialist mental health services, if appropriate
  • Consideration of possible role of admission to hospital, possibly under detention
  • Plan should be developed collaboratively between mental health service and primary care professional
  • Plan includes:
    • Steps to ensure safety
    • Specific strategies for ongoing review and care
  • Documentation should flow to all relevant people involved in the person’s care in a timely manner.