Nominated Person in Mental Health Care

Create a poster for friends, family and carers of mental health
consumers promoting the use of nominated persons in mental
health care.
The poster is to be displayed in a Victorian (Australian)community
health care setting, and should help to explain the roles and
responsibilities of a nominated person, as well as the benefits of
their involvement, and the practicalities of becoming a nominated
person.
Use solid research evidence to inform your responses. Create your
poster using the template that has been attached with order.
Word limit – 800 words
Strict instructions – Must provide strong references in APA 6th
style and must use the attached poster template.
Alignment with learning outcome(s):

1. Apply legal and ethical frameworks when planning and delivering
   mental health nursing care under the Mental Health Act 2014
   (Victoria).
2. Identify appropriate services available for clients and carers in
   which to facilitate optimal mental health care, while acknowledging
   barriers to receiving care, such as stigma, cultural and gender
   related issues.
3. Employ clinical and critical decision-making skills to identify,
   analyse and resolve problems in the mental health practice
   environment.
4. Conduct and document fundamental interview and related
   assessments of patients who have disturbances in mood, thought,
   behaviour and perception.
5. Apply knowledge of appropriate therapeutic drugs prescribed for
   mental health conditions and important associated administration
   aspects.

Nominated Person in Mental Health Care

NOMINATED PERSON IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE 2
THE USE OF NOMINATED PERSONS IN MENTAL

HEALTH CARE

By Student Name
Address
WHO IS A
NOMINATED
PERSON
An individual who
has a mental illness
or mental disorder,
who has decision-
making ability, might
appoint a person to
be his/her
nominated person.
A nominated person
is someone who will
receive information
and offer the
individual support in
case they become
unwell and are in
need of compulsory
mental health
treatment (Taylor et
al., 2013).
A carer, a family
member, or any
other individual may
be appointed by a
patient to be his/her
nominated support
person.

The Mental Health
Act of 2014 is
aimed at helping
consumers take
part in or make
decisions
concerning their
treatment.
One way that
consumers could be
supported to take
part in making
decisions regarding
their treatment
whenever they are
under necessary
care is for them to
appoint a
nominated person
(Banfield et al.,
2014).
A nominated person
may discuss
confidential
information
regarding the care

and treatment of the
patient; has to be
given all notices
regarding the
patient which are
required under the
Mental Health Act of
2014, and may
request a
psychiatrist report if
the individual is
charged with
serious wrongdoing.
Only a person who
has a mental
disorder or a mental
illness could have a
nominated person
(Thompson, 2015).
An individual can
just have one
nominated person
at a time.
ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
OF A NOMINATED
PERSON
First is to ensure
that the rights of the
patient are upheld,
and the patient’s
wishes and
interests are being
considered

NOMINATED PERSON IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE 3
Secondly is to
represent the
preferences and
views of the patient
regarding the
patient’s treatment
and recovery to
members of the
treating team
(Victoria State
Government, 2018).
Thirdly is to be
involved in the
treatment and care
of the patient
including
considering the
options for care and
treatment.
Fourthly is to
provide support to
the patient.
The fifth role is to
help the patient to
exercise his/her
rights.
The nominated
person would be
provided with
information and
consulted at crucial
points during the
treatment and
recovery of the
patient, for instance
when there is a
Mental Health
Tribunal hearing
and when the

patient is placed on
a Temporary
Treatment Order.
Moreover, the
nominated person
would be provided
with information
regarding the
mental illness of the
patient, options for
care and treatment,
and how the patient
is responding to any
of the provided
treatment; the
services that are
available to meet
the needs of the
patient; and the
grounds upon which
any involuntary
treatment order was
made (Mental
Health Advocacy
Service, 2018).
BENEFITS OF
THEIR
INVOLVEMENT
A nominated person
supports a patient
when he/she is
unwell, and
throughout every
stage of care,
treatment, and
recovery.
He/she also assists
the individual if they
become sick and
become an

involuntary patient
(Mental Health
Tribunal, 2018).
The introduction of
the role of a
nominated person
provides an option
for consumers in
Victoria and other
parts of Australia to
appoint an
individual of their
choosing to
represent their
preferences and
views and support
them in making
decisions during a
period of
compulsory
treatment (Mental
Health Commission,
2017).
A nominated person
also supports or
represents the
individual in
hearings of the
Mental Health
Review Tribunal.
Besides, a
nominated person
helps an individual
who lives with a
mental disorder or
mental illness by
ensuring that
his/her interests are
respected when
they require
support, care or

NOMINATED PERSON IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE 4
treatment for their
condition (Mental
Health Advocacy
Service, 2018).

PRACTICALITIES
OF BECOMING A
NOMINATED
PERSON
Anyone could be
nominated so long
as they are
available, ready,
and capable of
fulfilling the
responsibilities and
functions of this
role.
The appointment of
a nominated person
has to be carried
out in writing
(Eager, 2017). The
nominated person
has to be an
individual who is
essential in the
patient’s life, for
instance, a carer or
family member.
In the State of
Victoria, no age limit

exists on who may
be nominated or
who may nominate
a person.
A person, for
instance, may
nominate a
teenager who
provides them with
necessary support
or care, provided
the teenage child is
available, willing
and capable of
fulfilling the role
(Mental Health
Advocacy Service,
2018).
Even though
children can also
make a nomination,
a person who
makes a nomination
should know what a
nomination is and
what it means.
Any individual who
would be making
decisions regarding
the mental health
treatment of the
patient or any
member of the
treatment team
cannot be
appointed as a
nominated person
(Mental Health
Commission, 2017).

For an individual to
make a nomination,
he/she has to
complete Form 12A
– Nomination of
Nominated Person.
The individual who
is making a
nomination and
his/her nominated
person should both
sign this form, and
their signatures
have to be
witnessed.
A teacher,
pharmacist, nurse,
justice of the peace,
and a medical
practitioner are the
people who may be
allowed to be a
witness (Mental
Health Advocacy
Service, 2018).

CONTACT
DETAILS
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Web

NOMINATED PERSON IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE 5

References

Banfield, M. A., Barney, L. J., Griffiths, K. M., & Christensen, H. M.
(2014). Australian mental health consumers’ priorities for
research: Qualitative findings from the SCOPE for Research
project. Health Expectations, 17(3), 365-375.