Compulsory treatment allows for the detention of a person for the purpose of treatment. The person may be:
- admitted to a residential treatment facility under an order specified in section 152(2) of the Disability Act 2006; or
- subject to a supervised treatment order.
An STO is a civil order made by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) that enables the detention of a person with an intellectual disability who poses a significant risk of serious harm to others.
The detention of the person involves physical locking the person in a premise or constantly supervising or escorting the person to prevent freedom of movement.
The compulsory treatment team supports the functions and responsibilities of the Victorian Senior Practitioner under the Disability Act and broader work with forensic disability stakeholders outlined in the following:
- Supervise the implementation of an STO
- Develop guidelines with respect to compulsory treatment
- Provide advice, education and information with respect to compulsory treatment to disability providers and registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers
- Provide information with respect to the rights of persons with a disability and NDIS participants who may be subject to the use restrictive practices and compulsory treatment
- Review treatment plans and develop treatment plan certificates.
- Represents the Victorian Senior Practitioner at VCAT hearings
- Work jointly with forensic disability stakeholders to support the development of policy and joint problem solving with the NDIS
- Provide consultations and advice for people at risk of significant harm to others. For example: for people at risk of being subject to compulsory treatment, people transitioning from prison, and DFATS to the community.
Resources available
Guidelines for supervised treatment orders
This document provides disability service providers and registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers operating in Victoria with guidance and information about supervised treatment under Part 8 of the Disability Act 2006 (Disability Act), and how to apply for a Supervised Treatment Order.
These guidelines are arranged in two parts:
- Part One provides an overview of restrictive practices and supervised treatment.
- Part Two provides information about how to apply for an STO.
Guidelines for supervised treatment orders (Word)
Obligations of service providers operating a residential service for people on supervised treatment orders
These guidelines explain the obligations of service providers operating in a residential service for people on supervised treatment orders under the Disability Act 2006.
Flowcharts
The compulsory treatment flowcharts provide information for all processes related to compulsory treatment including making an application for an STO, applying for a material change and revocation of an STO.
- Process 1: Assessment orders (Word)
- Process 2: Apply for a supervised treatment order – new clients (Word)
- Process 3: Apply for an interim STO – new clients (Word)
- Process 4: Apply for a supervised treatment order – existing clients (Word)
- Process 5: Develop a treatment plan – new clients (Word)
- Process 6: Develop a revised treatment plan – existing clients (Word)
- Process 7: Develop a treatment plan – RTF clients (Word)
- Process 8: Apply for a treatment plan review – RTF clients (Word)
- Process 9: Extended leave – RTO clients (Word)
- Process 10: Submit a treatment plan with amendments (Word)
- Process 11: Implementation reports (Word)
- Process 12: Revoke a supervised treatment order (Word)
Compulsory Treatment – Treatment Plan Practice Guide
This Treatment Plan Toolkit should be used by practitioners developing a treatment plan for a person subject to compulsory treatment (STO or at DFATS). It provided information about what needs to be considered and included in every section of the treatment plan.
Implementation Report Practice Guide
This practice guide supports people when writing an implementation report for people subject to compulsory treatment and the type of information required in each section.
- Senior Practitioner Report 2018-2019 (PDF) - September 2020
- Senior Practitioner Report 2018-2019 - Plain English (PDF) - September 2020
- Research on a page - antipsychotic medications (Word) - June 2020
- Why is that locked? (Word) - June 2020
- COVID-19 Compulsory treatment fact sheet (Word) - April 2020
- Red flags for Authorised Program Officers - registered NDIS providers (Word)
- Red flags for Authorised Program Officers - disability service provider (Word)
- Treatment plan guide (Word)
- Anti-libidinal medication use in people with intellectual disability who sexually offend (Word)
- Anti-libidinal medication use in people with intellectual disability who sexually offend (PDF)
- Clinical risk assessment in people with intellectual disability (Word) on our Providers website.
More information
For more information, see the Victorian Senior Practitioner.
Contact
Phone: (03) 9096 8427
Email: Victorian Senior Practitioner