This interactive flowchart is part of the absent without approval (AWA) pathway. It forms part of Action 1 of the Absent without approval (AWA) pathway flowchart. (PDF 299 kB)
The interactive flowchart aligns with the Chief Psychiatrist's policies for transport, transfers and managing involuntary patient absences and the Mental Health Act 2016 .
This interactive flowchart is a guide only. If you're unsure how best to support the return of a patient, contact your authorised mental health service (AMHS) administrator for advice.
Use the interactive flowchart
| Question Id (Enter as a capital Q and a number no spaces) | Question or Statement | Response | Go to Question or Outcome (based on response selected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q1 Is the absent person currently subject to the classified patient (voluntary) or classified patient (involuntary) status? | Yes | Outcome0 |
| No | Q2 | ||
| Q2 | Q2 Is there an imminent risk that they will harm themselves or someone else? For example:
| Yes | Q3 |
| No | Q4 | ||
| Q3 | Q3 Do you know where (or approximately where) to locate the absent person? | Yes | Outcome2 |
| No | Outcome3 | ||
| Q4 | Q4 Is there an existing Police and ambulance intervention plan for the absent person? | Yes | Q6 |
| No | Outcome6 | ||
| I'm not sure | Q5 | ||
| Q5 | Q5Check the person's file on CIMHAThere might be one in the alerts section or clinical notes under the Emergency planning and interventions category. Remember, a police and ambulance intervention plan is an information sharing tool with specific information and strategies for ambulance and police officers (as well as mental health clinicians). It could contain an agreed strategy with ambulance and police officers for managing involuntary patient absences. Did you locate an existing Police and ambulance intervention plan for the absent person? | Yes | Q6 |
| No | Outcome6 | ||
| Q6 | Q6 Does this intervention plan have an agreed strategy with Queensland Ambulance Service or Queensland Police Service to immediately request their assistance when the person becomes absent without approval? | Yes | Q7 |
| No | Outcome6 | ||
| Q7 | Q7 Based on this agreed strategy and the current circumstances, is ambulance or police assistance indicated? | Ambulance | Q9 |
| Police | Outcome1 | ||
| Both | Q8 | ||
| Neither | Outcome6 | ||
| Q8 | Q8 Do you know where (or approximately where) to locate the absent person? | Yes | Outcome7 |
| No | Outcome8 | ||
| Q9 | Q9 Do you know where (or approximately where) to locate the absent person? | Yes | Outcome4 |
| No | Outcome5 |
Outcome 0 - Classified patients
Call Triple Zero (000)
Ask for police and advise them that the absent person is subject to the classified patient status.
Ensure that they understand a classified patient is a person in custody (in prison or a watch-house), admitted to the inpatient unit because they are acutely unwell and require an assessment or treatment for mental illness.
Next steps
See preparing an authority to transport absent person form for emergency services.
Outcome 1 - Police (PAIP)
Call Triple Zero (000)
Ask for police and advise them about the absent person and that there is an agreed strategy in their Police and ambulance intervention plan to immediately request their assistance.
Next steps
If they confirm that police officers will immediately respond and return the absent person, prepare an authority to transport absent person form for emergency services.
Otherwise, you may need to consider assessing risk and clinical considerations to identify whether authorised mental health service staff can act alone to return them.
Outcome 2 - Police and ambulance (imminent risk)
Call Triple Zero (000)
Ask for police or ambulance (depending on the circumstances) and advise them of the imminent risk to the person or others.
Next steps
If it's confirmed that police or ambulance officers will immediately respond and return the absent person, prepare an authority to transport absent person form for emergency services.
Otherwise, you may need to consider assessing risk and clinical considerations to identify whether authorised mental health service staff can act alone to return them.
Outcome 3 - Police w/out ambulance (imminent risk - no loc)
Call Triple Zero (000)
Ask for police and advise them of the imminent risk to the person or others and, if ambulance assistance is also required, that the person's whereabouts are unknown at this stage.
Remember, Queensland Ambulance Service are unable to assist until the person's whereabouts are known. Ensure that you notify police or ambulance as soon as you find out this information.
Next steps
If it's confirmed that police (and possibly ambulance officers) will immediately respond and return the absent person, prepare an authority to transport absent person form for emergency services.
Otherwise, you may need to consider assessing risk and clinical considerations to identify whether authorised mental health service staff can act alone to return them.
Outcome 4 - Ambulance (PAIP)
Call Triple Zero (000)
Ask for ambulance and advise them of the imminent risk to the person.
The operator will ask a series of questions–for example:
- the town or suburb of the emergency
- all necessary demographics about the person (including their name and date of birth)
- the person's physical state and an assessment of risk factors in relation to violence, aggression, and suicide
- the relevant health service or facility to transport the person to (or to contact for further information).
Next steps
If they confirm that ambulance officers will immediately respond and return the absent person, prepare an authority to transport absent person form for emergency services.
Otherwise, you may need to consider assessing risk and clinical considerations to identify whether authorised mental health service staff can act alone to return them.
Outcome 5 - Ambulance (PAIP - no loc)
Call Triple Zero (000) for help locating the person
Ask for police instead and advise them that:
- there is an agreed strategy to request ambulance assistance for this absent person (due to the risk of harm to themselves)
- however, you do not know where (or approximately where) to locate them.
Remember, Queensland Ambulance Service are unable to assist until the person's whereabouts are known.
Next steps
If they confirm that police officers will immediately respond to locate the absent person, prepare an authority to transport absent person form for emergency services.
Otherwise, you may need to consider assessing risk and clinical considerations to identify whether authorised mental health service staff can act alone to return them.
Outcome 6 - No PAIP or imminent risk
You may need to attempt a voluntary return first
Unless there is a risk that the absent person may harm themselves or others, the Mental Health Act 2016 requires you to make reasonable attempts to contact (or locate) them and encourage their voluntary return.
Next steps
You'll need to assess risk and clinical considerations to identify whether authorised mental health service staff can act alone to return the absent person.
Outcome 7 - Police and ambulance (PAIP)
Call Triple Zero (000)
Ask for police and ambulance and advise them about the absent person and that there is an agreed strategy in their Police and ambulance intervention plan to immediately request both their assistance.
Next steps
If it's confirmed that they will immediately respond and return the absent person, prepare an authority to transport absent person form for emergency services.
Otherwise, you may need to consider assessing risk and clinical considerations to identify whether authorised mental health service staff can act alone to return them.
Outcome 8 - Police w/out ambulance (PAIP - no loc)
Call Triple Zero (000)
Ask for police and advise them about the absent person and that there is an agreed strategy in their Police and ambulance intervention plan to immediately request both police and ambulance assistance (but that the person's whereabouts are unknown at this stage).
Remember, Queensland Ambulance Service are unable to assist until the person's whereabouts are known. Ensure that you notify police or ambulance as soon as you find out this information.
Next steps
If it's confirmed that police (and possibly ambulance officers) will immediately respond and return the absent person, prepare an authority to transport absent person form for emergency services.
Otherwise, you may need to consider assessing risk and clinical considerations to identify whether authorised mental health service staff can act alone to return them.