Streamlining Tribunal Support: Secretariat Support for the Mental Health Review Tribunal

We receive and process applications for review by patients, maintain schedules and registers, arrange hearings, and notify requirements for evidence and attendance. We also receive and disseminate reports and decisions and maintain official records and information systems. All applications must be set down within 21 days, or at the latest, 28 days upon receipt. Tribunal hearings occur throughout New Zealand, requiring efficiency, planning and attention to detail to arrange.

Our work is underpinned by robust system and processes to manage sensitive information and arrange hearings. This includes providing guidance and support to Tribunal members to help them fulfil their duties.  

Allen + Clarke also reports on trends and outcomes, and prepares quarterly updates for the Ministry of Health. We provide data analysis for, and assist the Tribunal with, its annual reporting.

We implemented robust privacy protocols aligned with the Privacy Act 2020 and Health Information Privacy Code 2020, including restricted server access, need-to-know information sharing and secure tracking of applications. 

Our rigorous tracking database ensures applications are monitored closely throughout the process, maintaining visibility of key milestones.

We have established clear communication channels, provide comprehensive pre-hearing documentation for participants, and have developed clear guidance and standardised reporting templates.

Our team structure offers flexibility and can scale as needed to meet varying levels of demand while maintaining quality and continuity of service. This approach has helped free the Tribunal to focus on its core function of protecting patients' rights while we handled all administrative requirements efficiently and professionally.