Confirming who to notify about an absent person

This interactive flowchart is part of the Absent without approval (AWA) pathway.  It forms part of Action 4 of the Absent without approval (AWA) pathway flowchart (PDF 299 kB).

If a patient is absent without approval, depending on their circumstances, authorised mental health service (AMHS) staff may have to notify other people or positions that the patient is absent, including:

  • AMHS clinical directors, or their delegate
  • the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist
  • the Mental Health Review Tribunal.

The interactive flowchart is aligned with the Chief Psychiatrist's policies for transport, transfers and managing involuntary patient absences and the Mental Health Act 2016.

The interactive flowchart is a guide only. If you're unsure how best to support the return of a patient, contact your AMHS administrator for advice.

Use the interactive flowchart

Question Id
(Enter as a capital Q
and a number
no spaces)		 Question or StatementResponse Go to Question or Outcome
(based on response selected)
Q1

Is the absent person currently subject to the classified patient (voluntary) or classified patient (involuntary) status?

 Yes Q2
   No Q3
Q2

Is the absent person subject to any of the following orders or authorities?

 Forensic Order Q4
   Treatment Support Order Q5
   Treatment Authority Q5
   None of these Outcome2
Q3

Is the absent person subject to any of the following orders or authorities?

 Forensic Order Q6
   Treatment Support Order Q7
   Treatment Authority Q10
   Judicial Order Q13
   None of these Outcome6
Q4

Is the absent person scheduled to attend a Mental Health Review Tribunal hearing within the next 14 calendar days?

 Yes Outcome1
   No Outcome2
Q5

Is the absent person scheduled to attend a Mental Health Review Tribunal hearing within the next 7 calendar days?

 Yes Outcome1
   No Outcome2
Q6

What is the current category of the absent person's forensic order?

 Inpatient Q4
   Community Q8
Q7

What is the current category of the absent person's treatment support order?

 Inpatient Q5
   Community Q9
Q8

Is the absent person scheduled to attend a Mental Health Review Tribunal hearing within the next 14 calendar days?

 Yes Outcome5
   No Outcome6
Q9

Is the absent person scheduled to attend a Mental Health Review Tribunal hearing within the next 7 calendar days?

 Yes Outcome5
   No Outcome6
Q10

What's the current category of the absent person's treatment authority?

 Inpatient Q11
   Community Q12
Q11

Is the absent person scheduled to attend a Mental Health Review Tribunal hearing within the next 7 calendar days?

 Yes Outcome3
   No Outcome4
Q12

Is the absent person scheduled to attend a Mental Health Review Tribunal hearing within the next 7 calendar days?

 Yes Outcome5
   No Outcome6
Q13

What type of judicial order is the absent person subject to?

 Court examination order Outcome2
   Examination order Q14
   Other judicial order Outcome2
Q14

Which scenario applies to them:

  • They absconded whilst lawfully detained or being transported for their examination.
  • They did not attend (or return to) an authorised mental health service as directed under the examination order.
 Absconded Outcome2
   Did not attend Outcome6

Outcome 1

Notification requirements

Step 1

Notify your Clinical Director (or their delegate):

  • email them a copy of the Authority to transport absent person form
  • call them directly after to discuss the circumstances.

Step 2

Your Clinical Director will then notify (or instruct you to notify) the Chief Psychiatrist as soon as practicable:

  • email the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist a copy of the Authority to transport absent person form from Step 1
  • call their Mental Health Act Administration Team directly after to discuss the circumstances.

Step 3

Notify the Mental Health Review Tribunal by completing their Written notice of relevant patient's absence form.

For contact information and forms, go to QHEPS (opens in new window).

Next steps

See coordinating an involuntary return of an absent person.

Outcome 2

Notification requirements

Step 1

Notify your Clinical Director (or their delegate) by:

  • emailing them a copy of the Authority to transport absent person form
  • calling them directly after to discuss the circumstances.

Step 2

Your Clinical Director will then notify (or instruct you to notify) the Chief Psychiatrist as soon as practicable by:

  • emailing the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist a copy of the above form
  • calling their Mental Health Act Administration Team directly after to discuss the circumstances.

For contact information and forms, go to QHEPS (opens in new window).

Next steps

See coordinating an involuntary return of an absent person.

Outcome 3

Notification requirements

Step 1

Notify your Clinical Director (or their delegate) by emailing them a copy of the Authority to transport absent person form.

Step 2 (optional)

If your Clinical Director determines that it's necessary, they will notify (or instruct you to notify) the Chief Psychiatrist by:

  • emailing the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist a copy of the above form
  • calling their Mental Health Act Administration Team directly after to discuss the circumstances.

Step 3

Notify the Mental Health Review Tribunal by completing the Written notice of relevant patient's absence form on their website.

For contact information and forms, go to QHEPS (opens in new window).

Next steps

See coordinating an involuntary return of an absent person.

Outcome 4

Notification requirements

Step 1

Notify your Clinical Director (or their delegate) by emailing them a copy of the Authority to transport absent person form.

Step 2 (optional)

If your Clinical Director determines that it's necessary, they will notify (or instruct you to notify) the Chief Psychiatrist by:

  • emailing the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist a copy of the above form
  • calling their Mental Health Act Administration Team directly after to discuss the circumstances.

For contact information and forms, go to QHEPS (opens in new window).

Next steps

See coordinating an involuntary return of an absent person.

Outcome 5

Notification requirements

Step 1

Notify the Mental Health Review Tribunal by completing their Written notice of relevant patient's absence form.

Step 2 (optional)

If you consider that there's a significant risk related to the person's absence, notify your Clinical Director (or their delegate) by emailing them a copy of the Authority to transport absent person form.

Factors that may be relevant include:

  • clinically significant risks
  • serious or controversial events
  • known victim issues
  • events that may attract media attention.

Step 3 (optional)

If your Clinical Director determines that it's necessary, they will notify (or instruct you to notify) the Chief Psychiatrist by:

  • emailing the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist a copy of the above form
  • calling their Mental Health Act Administration Team directly after to discuss the circumstances.

For contact information and forms, go to QHEPS (opens in new window).

Next steps

See coordinating an involuntary return of an absent person.

Outcome 6

There aren't any notification requirements

However, if you consider that there's a significant risk related to the person's absence you should notify your Clinical Director (or their delegate) by emailing them a copy of the Authority to transport absent person form.

Factors that may be relevant include:

  • clinically significant risks
  • serious or controversial events
  • known victim issues
  • events that may attract media attention.

For contact information and forms, go to QHEPS (opens in new window).

Next steps

See coordinating an involuntary return of an absent person.

Last updated: 5 September 2024