National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations
Community managed organisations provide critical support to people who experience mental ill health or are at risk of mental ill health, their families and carers and the broader community.
Mental health services provided by community managed organisations are recovery-oriented and, when delivered according to contemporary best practice, are trauma-informed and promote cultural change to counter stigma and discrimination and increase social inclusion.
Overview
The National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations (Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations) describe the processes and structures that are needed to deliver safe and high-quality care. Where implemented, people can be confident that their service provider is committed to delivering and continuously improving the safety and quality of their service.
Download the Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations
Download the guide for service providers
We developed the Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations in consultation with consumers, families and carers, community managed organisations, peak bodies, healthcare providers, professional bodies, Primary Health Networks, funders and other representatives of the sector.
The aim of the Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations is to protect the public from harm and to improve the quality of service provision.
The Standards
The Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations are comprised of three standards.
Each of the three standards contain:
- a description of the standard
- a statement of intent
- a list of criteria that describe the key areas covered by the standard
- explanatory notes on the context of the standard
- item headings for groups of actions in each criterion
- actions that describe what is required to meet the standard
Where do the Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations apply?
Community managed organisations are generally not-for-profit , non-government organisations. They provide a broad range of mental health services such as psychosocial rehabilitation, counselling services, subacute step up/step down services, accommodation support, self-help and peer support, employment, education and family and carer support.
Community managed mental health services may include or be complementary to clinical care, and frequently collaborate with other service providers, including suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug services. These services can be delivered in person, in community-based and residential settings, in people’s homes and in other outreach settings. They can also be delivered remotely.
How to implement the Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations
Community managed organisations are encouraged to implement the Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations to support safe and high-quality care.
Assessors from an independent accrediting agency can be engaged to test if you are meeting the standards and determine if you meet requirements for the award of accreditation.
The assessment process is outlined in this fact sheet. The self-assessment tool and supporting guide can help you monitor progress towards implementation. The information on risk management will help you assess risks associated with action and prioritise and mitigate risks as you implement the standards. Our guide for service providers provides examples of evidence that you can use for each action you have to meet.
Further information is provided on our accreditation page.
Service providers accredited to our Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations are listed in our register of accredited services. This provides assurance to the community that your service meets expected standards of safety and quality.
Digital Mental Health Module for Community Managed Organisations
The Digital Mental Health Module for Community Managed Organisations outlines a subset of actions from the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards that can be used with the Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations to complete an assessment to both sets of standards.
It only includes actions not already covered by the Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations to avoid duplication and streamline the accreditation process.
This Module is for community managed organisations providing mental health care via a digital platform.
Service providers implementing both sets of standards will be assessed in a single assessment process.
Download the Digital Mental Health Module for Community Managed Organisations
If you are unsure which standards are right for your service, please contact our Safety and Quality Advice Centre.
Resources
We have worked closely with consumers, families, carers and kin to develop resources specifically for consumers and carers.
Consumer and carer resources
What are the NSQMHCMO Standards and why should they matter to me?
I want to share my experience to help improve mental health services. What do I need to know?
What is accreditation to the NSQMHCMO Standards?
I have been asked to be part of the accreditation process. What next?
I am a Peer Worker. How do the NSQMHCMO Standards affect me?
Advisories
Advisories are formal guidance documents that explain how to interpret or assess our national safety and quality standards. They help health services, accrediting agencies and assessors understand critical information about standards and accreditation. Advisories are routinely reviewed, and revisions are summarised in the notes section of the relevant advisory.
You can view advisories for the Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations on our advisories page.