156Functions of Principal Official Visitor

156 Functions of Principal Official Visitor

(1)  The Principal Official Visitor has the following functions:

(a) to arrange for Official Visitors to visit approved facilities and any premises from which patients are provided with services under this Act;

(b) to receive complaints from (or concerning) patients, including complaints referred to the Principal Official Visitor by Official Visitors;

(c) to assess and conduct preliminary inquiries into complaints received from (or concerning) patients, including complaints referred to the Principal Official Visitor by Official Visitors;

(d) to refer suspected contraventions of this Act, or other matters that may require investigation, to the Health Complaints Commissioner or Ombudsman;

(e) to promote, amongst patients and administrators and in other relevant quarters, an awareness of Official Visitors and their role;

(f) to report on suspected contraventions of this Act or standing orders or clinical guidelines;

(g) to report on the extent to which the objects of this Act and the mental health service delivery principles are being met;

(h) [Section 156 Subsection (1) amended by S.R. 2020, No. 20, Applied:25 Mar 2020] [Section 156 Subsection (1) amended by No. 4 of 2023, s. 145, Applied:25 Sep 2023] to raise with the responsible Minister, the Chief Psychiatrist or the controlling authority of an approved facility any matters of particular concern that come to the Principal Official Visitor's attention;

(i) to perform such other functions as are conferred on the Principal Official Visitor under this or any other Act.

(2)  Subject to this Part, the Principal Official Visitor may determine the manner in which Official Visitors are to perform their functions.

(3)  For the purposes of subsection (2) , the Principal Official Visitor may issue a code of conduct, and from time to time amend or replace that code.

(4)  A code of conduct is not a statutory rule.