The Mental Health Commission has begun seeking applications for the post of Inspector of Mental Health Services, who will be responsible for visiting and inspecting all relevant hospitals and centres in the State, writes The Mental Health Commission has begun seeking applications for the post of Inspector of Mental Health Services, who will be responsible for visiting and inspecting all relevant hospitals and centres in the State, writes Joe Humphreys.
The inspector, which the commission hopes to appoint by the summer, is charged under the Mental Health Act, 2001, with reporting to the body on the quality of care and treatment given to persons in receipt of mental health services.
The inspector also has a duty to establish the degree and extent to which workers in the sector comply with codes of practice prepared by the recently-formed commission.
Advertisements for the post, which carries a salary of €168,406, have been placed in the press. Details are also available online at www.mhcirl.ie
Three other positions in the commission have been advertised, including that of Director of Mental Health Tribunals, whose task it is to independently review all decisions to detain patients on an involuntary basis for reasons of mental disorder.
The post carries a salary ranging from €65,011 to €80,414, as does the position of Director of Standards and Quality Assurance. The forth post being advertised is Head of Corporate Services (salary €49,009-€61,109).
The commission's chief executive, Ms Bríd Clarke, said yesterday "these will be new appointments related to the implementation of the Mental Health Act offering people an opportunity to make key contributions to mental health services."
The main function of the commission, which was established in April 2002, is to promote high standards in the delivery of mental health services.