Positive feedback at annual service provider engagement days

The Mental Health Commission recently held two events with the country’s mental health service providers to help continue positive relations and ongoing engagement as critical and long-awaited new legislation works its way through the Oireachtas.

The two days of collaboration, learning and engagement – which this year took place in Athlone and Limerick – brought staff from across inpatient and community mental health services together with inspectors and other regulatory staff from the MHC. 

Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, John Farrelly, said: “The importance of strong communication and collaboration between the MHC and front-line staff delivering services to the people of Ireland cannot be overstated. As new legislation is commenced - and with further changes on the horizon - well established, positive and respectful relationships between regulation and staff in mental health services will play a pivotal role in the smooth transition to human rights-based mental health care in Ireland.” 

Staff from approved centres, independent and private providers as well as community services engaged in round table discussions, while the events also saw presentations from speakers such as Dr Kevin McKennan from Dundalk institute of Technology, who spoke about seclusion and restraint reduction, and newly appointed HSE Chief Social Worker, Amanda Casey. A powerful address from Adrian Yeates from Mental First Aid Ireland ensured that the service user perspective was central to discussions. 

Members of the MHC including the Inspector of Mental Health Services, Professor Jim Lucey; the Director of Regulation, Gary Kiernan; the Director of the Decision Support Service, Aine Flynn; Head of DSS Complaints, Patsy Fitzsimons; Head of Regulatory Practice and Standards, Pawel Stepala; and Assistant Inspector, Marianne Griffiths also delivered presentations which outlined various aspects and updates on the work of the MHC.

Mr Kiernan said: “Days such as these with our service providers support the work we do as a regulator in terms of our joint understanding of key challenges, development of support tools, and in future planning. We were delighted by the positive engagement and feedback from participants on both days. We look forward to building on the achievements and learnings from this year's events into the weeks and month ahead.”