Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Restriction: Attend program of treatment
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Restriction: Attend program of treatment

National Restrictions Library 2.0: This restriction applies to restictions imposed or accepted from 16 September 2024. For restrictions imposed or accepted before this date please see the National Restrictions Library 1.0.

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Restriction description

A practitioner with this restriction must not practise until we publish approved practice locations. We must approve practice locations. Before approving practice locations, we check that the location is appropriate for the practitioner’s health condition. 

A practitioner with this restriction must:

  • only practise at published practice locations
  • nominate a senior person at each practice location
  • nominate a health practitioner who is treating their health condition
  • attend a treatment program in line with the treating practitioner’s requirements.

We often apply this restriction due to concerns about a practitioner’s health. To protect the practitioner’s privacy, usually some of the restriction details are not publicly available.

We monitor compliance in several ways, including by checking that:

  • the nominated practice location is appropriate for the practitioner’s health condition if needed
  • the practitioner is only practising at published practice locations
  • the practitioner is not practising if there are no published practice locations
  • a senior person at each practice location understands the requirements of the restriction 
  • the practitioner has provided us with the treating practitioner’s details
  • the practitioner completes the treatment program in line with the treating practitioner’s requirements.

If you have any concerns about a health practitioner’s conduct or performance, you can find out How to raise a concern.

Full text of restriction

  1. From #start date#, the practitioner must not practise other than at practice locations that are approved and published below. 
    #No practice locations have been # approved# / The following practice locations have been approved: #approved practice locations effective on #date#.
  2. The practitioner must comply with the Ahpra Protocol: Attend program of treatment (273 KB,PDF) in force at the date these conditions are imposed and as updated from time to time.
  3. The practitioner must attend a program of treatment with a nominated treating mental health professional from whom they are receiving treatment of their health condition (treating practitioner). 
  4. The practitioner must nominate a senior person at each practice location (senior person). 
  5. <include if required> The practitioner must not be the only #registered health practitioner/profession# at any practice location.
  6. <include if required> The practitioner must comply with the Ahpra Protocol: Practice Limitations (298 KB,PDF) in force at the date these conditions are imposed and  as updated from time to time. 

‘Treating mental health professional’ is defined as # a registered health practitioner, psychiatrist, general practitioner, nurse practitioner, addiction specialist, psychologist, or an alcohol, tobacco and other drugs counsellor or the equivalent#

You will receive a monitoring plan that details contact information, due dates, and the information you will need to provide to show that you are complying with your restrictions.

Forms

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Where can you seek further information about your restrictions?

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Please contact your case officer for more information. 

For general information see our Frequently asked questions about Monitoring and compliance page

If you have not yet received contact details for your case officer, please email your enquiry.

Where can you go to for support?

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We are here to support and guide you through your compliance. 

The contact details for your case officer are included on all our correspondence with you.

We also encourage you to use independent support services, including those provided on our Practitioner support services page.

You can also contact your legal representative or professional union to support you.

You have experienced a relapse of your health condition, what should you do?

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  • You should contact your Ahpra case officer as soon as possible. 
  • You should consider whether your health condition could impact on your safe practise of your profession. 
  • Your treating practitioner may be able to help you decide whether it is appropriate stop practising for a period to recover.
  • We will consider your individual circumstances including the nature and severity of the relapse, your practice setting, and the history of your health condition when making a decision.
  • Further regulatory action is less likely to be required for practitioners who seek appropriate treatment for their health condition and stop practising when necessary.

Can you start practising before your practice location has been approved?

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If you have no approved practice locations published to the public register, you must not practise. 

You must only practise at approved and published practice locations.

What if your nomination of a practice location is not approved?

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Generally, we will provide you further opportunity to nominate a different practice location, or to address any shortfalls in the nomination. 

We will not consider incomplete nominations. We will let you know if we require any further information to progress your nomination. 

If your practice location is not approved and published to the public register, you must not practice at that location.

What if you no longer practise at your approved practice location?

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  • You should notify your case officer using the contact details on your monitoring plan. We will remove your practice location from the public register.
  • If you have no other practice locations published, you must not recommence practising until you have had a new practice location approved.

What if your nominated treating practitioner is no longer available?

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You should notify your case officer as soon as possible using the contact details on your monitoring plan. You will be required to nominate a new treating practitioner within 30 days of notice that your current treating practitioner is unavailable.

Why are you required to seek approval of a practice location?

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The requirement to seek approval of a practice location, for the purpose of these restrictions, is intended to allow for closer scrutiny of the practice setting compared to other forms of action (such as, but not limited to, supervised practice). This helps to confirm if your practice location is suitable, can help you comply with your restrictions, and provide us with independent information so we can confirm you are practising safely.

In considering the appropriateness of a practice location for a practitioner subject to these restrictions, significant weight is placed on the presence of independent persons such as the senior person with whom Ahpra can communicate and seek assurances from regarding the practitioner’s compliance. 

Why is the practice required to have a senior person?

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Senior persons play an important role in protecting the public. Sometimes they are not a registered health practitioner. They are responsible for providing us with accurate practice information and are our primary contact to confirm you are practising safely. 

It is important your senior person is sufficiently independent from you to be reasonably relied upon and is able to provide independent and reliable information to help us monitor your compliance with your restrictions.

What if your senior person is no longer available?

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You should notify your case officer as soon as possible using the contact details on your monitoring plan. You will be required to nominate a new senior person within 14 days of notifying us that your previously nominated senior person is no longer available.

Your circumstances have changed, what should you do?

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You must contact your Ahpra case officer or team as soon as possible if you have had a change of circumstances or are unable to comply with the requirements for any reason. See your monitoring plan for contact information.

You may be able to apply for a change in your restrictions, or an extension of the date of commencement of the requirement for treatment. Circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis.

 
View the
National Restrictions Library 2.0 View all
Ahpra Protocols
 
 
Page reviewed 13/09/2024
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