Referral and consent processes
Internal referrals
Where schools have an established wellbeing team, referrals must be made through the wellbeing lead or equivalent in the school. The wellbeing lead is responsible for ensuring internal referrals made fit within the mental health practitioner (MHP) scope of practice, that is, students with mild to moderate concerns.
Where the MHP is the school’s wellbeing lead, referrals to the MHP service by students, staff or parent/carer(s) must follow the school’s agreed referral process before they are accepted.
A referral is required prior to each intervention/service an MHP conducts with an individual student or student group. Schools may use their own internal referral process when referring a student to the MHP. Schools may also use the department’s template referral form which includes key elements such as the reason for referral. In addition to providing the MHP with the reason for referral, school staff should consider providing the MHP with information on:
- general student demographic information
- prior assessments, for example, behaviour/social emotional assessments, learning difficulties, prior risk assessments
- previous engagement with allied health professionals (where relevant)
- attendance records
- known formal diagnoses.
Informed consent
Once a referral to the MHP service has been accepted, informed consent (from the parent or carer or, where applicable, from students directly) is required before an MHP can provide direct support to students. For consent to be informed, the parent/carer and student must be advised:
- of the details of the service, including the purpose of the service
- what information will be collected and how the information will be used and shared
- that they can withdraw from the MHP service at any stage.
Schools must seek informed consent prior to service provision from an MHP. Blanket consent (for example, consent for the provision of all future services to be provided sought at the beginning of a school year/term) is not considered informed consent and therefore cannot be used by schools.
Process for obtaining informed consent
- Schools must use the MHP consent form to obtain informed consent.
- The consent form must be signed by a parent/carer prior to a service commencing (unless a student is over the age of 18 or considered a mature minor).
- If written or electronic consent cannot be obtained, verbal consent can be obtained via telephone or web conferencing. All of the information contained in the consent form must be communicated and a clear and thorough record of the conversation documented. Interpreting and translation services are available if required.
The MHP should provide a verbal reminder to student(s) that their engagement with the MHP service is voluntary and that they can leave the service at any time.
Referrals to external mental health services
In situations where students need to be referred to external services, MHPs will follow existing processes in place at the school. Where existing processes for external referral have not been established, the mental health coordinator (MHC) will work with the school to establish an appropriate process.
Mature minors
In some circumstances, a student may consent to engaging with an MHP on their own behalf, if an appropriate school staff member considers the student to be a mature minor (as outlined below) for the purpose of making that decision.
In accordance with the department’s Mature Minors policy, a student may ask to make schooling decisions on their own behalf, without the involvement of their parents. In those circumstances, the appropriate school staff member may assess whether the student is a mature minor with respect to providing consent to receive the MHP service. There is no specific age when a young person may be considered sufficiently mature and capable of making their own decision.
Assessing a student as a mature minor
When considering whether a student is a mature minor for the purposes of providing informed consent, the appropriate school staff member can take into account the extent to which the student understands:
- what the MHP service involves
- what the MHP service is for
- why the MHP service is needed
- why it applies to them
- the potential consequences of engaging with or not engaging with the MHP service
- how the information they provide to the MHP service will be used and in what circumstances their information might be shared with others
- any other options available (if relevant).
The MHP can make their own judgement as to whether the student is a mature minor for the purpose of providing informed consent for the MHP service.
If an MHP considers a student to be a mature minor for the purpose of receiving mental health support via the MHP initiative, the student can self-refer and sign their own consent form.
For more information, refer to Mature Minors and Decision Making.
Refusal to provide consent
If a referral is received but appropriate consent is not received, the MHP service is unable to proceed, and this must be documented by the MHP.
In these circumstances, schools should work with the parent/carer and student to consider other suitable support options including referrals to external agencies. Refer to the Resources tab for referral options.
Withdrawing consent
Informed consent that has been granted at a point in time for a student to receive MHP support can be withdrawn at any time and services must cease if consent is withdrawn.
Privacy, confidentiality and information sharing
The MHP consent form details how a student’s privacy and confidentiality is safely managed and outlines the circumstances under which the disclosure of student information to the principal (or delegate) may be required.
An MHP may disclose student information to an appropriate staff member in particular circumstances on a ‘need to know’ basis to perform primary functions.
Such circumstances include:
- supporting student education
- social/emotional wellbeing
- reducing risk of harm to student or others
- making adjustments or providing a safe workplace.
For more information, refer to Privacy and Information Sharing
Reviewed 29 January 2024