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Guidelines for the Role and Function of District Inspectors appointed under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992

Date of publication: September 2003

Section 130(a) of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 (the Act) states that the Director-General of Health may from time to time issue guidelines for the purposes of the Act.

The following guidelines have been prepared to provide guidance to District Inspectors in the exercise of their powers, duties, and functions pursuant to the Act. These guidelines are in effect from 1 July 2003. As well as exercising the powers, duties and functions outlined in the Act, District Inspectors should develop an awareness of mental health and cultural issues which will assist them in their role.

I consider the key to the District Inspector role is building and maintaining positive and appropriate working relationships with patients, staff, and families of varying background and cultures. These relationships, together with those with fellow District Inspectors, the Director and Deputy Director of Mental Health, review tribunal and local police and courts, form the basis of all of the work carried out by District Inspectors. It is the attitude of District Inspectors, as well as their knowledge and skills, which helps ensure that the use of the legislation strikes the right balance between individual and community rights to freedom and to care appropriate to the needs of people suffering from mental disorder.

These guidelines are not a comprehensive interpretation of the Act as it applies to District Inspectors. If District Inspectors have concerns about the propriety of their actions they should seek guidance from the senior advisory District Inspector, or formal legal advice from the Ministry of Health via the Director of Mental Health.

Karen O Poutasi (Dr)
Director-General of Health


Document availability

This publication is not available in hard copy. It is only available on this website in PDF format below.

Guidelines for the Role and Function of District Inspectors appointed under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 (PDF, 107 KB)

District Inspectors Current Directory Oct 2009 (Word, 69 KB)
District Inspectors Current Directory Oct 2009 (PDF, 24 KB)

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Related information
Mental Health Directorate homepage
Like Minds (www.likeminds.govt.nz)

Page last updated: 9 October 2009