Application for Registration As an Approved Centre

Application for Registration as an Approved Centre

Section 64 Mental Health Act 2001

Overview

When do you need to fill in this application?

If you are operating as a ‘centre’, you need to be registered with the Mental Health Commission. This means, if you are providing mental health services to persons with a mental illness or disorder in an in-patient/hospital setting, you need to fill out this application.

Not sure if you are operating as a centre? Go to the Registration page on our website and fill out the ‘Operating as a Centre’ form.

Registration lasts for a period of three years, so you need to re-apply 3 months before your term expires, if you intend to carry on operating as a centre.

You also need to re-apply if you intend to move premises or if the registered proprietor changes.

Who can fill it in?

The registration application should be filled in by, or on behalf of, the proposed registered proprietor. The registered proprietor may be a natural person, a company, a charity, or the Health Service Executive.

What information is needed?

The application requires information about how the facility is run, the profile of residents, how it is financed, how it is staffed and how those staff are governed. The application also seeks information about the premises and the types of services that are provided. For new applicants, the application requires information on how the facility intends to comply with regulations.

How is a decision made?

The Commission considers the information provided in this application, as well as any reports made by the Inspector of Mental Health Services and any Corrective and Preventative Action (CAPA) plans, Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs), registration conditions and enforcement actions to determine the following:

Whether the facility is operating as a centre; and
Whether the facility is operating, or likely to operate in compliance with the Mental Health Act 2001 (Approved Centre) Regulations 2006.

The Commission may register the facility, register the facility with specific conditions attached, or refuse to register the facility. This decision is governed by Section 64 of the Mental Health Act 2001.

What happens following registration?

If the registration application is approved, the facility is entered on the Register of Approved Centres and must ensure that the carrying on of the approved centre is in compliance with the Mental Health Act 2001 and associated rules, regulations and codes of practice. You will need to seek authorisation for changes to the terms of registration and you will need to provide the Commission with specific data i.e. death notifications, episodes of restraint.

The Inspector of Mental Health Services undertakes an annual regulatory inspection of all approved centres and provides a report on compliance with statutory requirements.

Guidance Notes - Please Read Carefully

General Information

Please complete this application electronically and submit by email. A copy of the application is available on our website at
Alternatively, you can complete this application in BLOCK CAPITALS using a ballpoint pen in BLACK INK.
Incomplete applications will be returned to the sender for completion and shall not be processed until such time as all the requested information is received. This will cause unnecessary delays in the registration process.
All sections and sub-sections of the application must be completed, unless otherwise indicated.
It is an offence to knowingly provide false or misleading information [Section 64(8)(b) Mental Health Act 2001].
Completed applications, including supporting documentation, should be returned to Standards and Quality Assurance Division, Mental Health Commission, Waterloo Exchange, Waterloo Road, Dublin 4. Email: .
Where the application is submitted electronically, a scanned copy of the signed declaration will only be accepted if there is a confirmation of intention in the associated email. The email must be sent from the signatory.

Specific Information

Section 1:[ALL APPLICANTS]

This section of the application asks for general details about the facility to which this application refers.

Section 2:[HSE APPLICANTS ONLY]

This section is only to be completed where the person applying to be the Registered Proprietor is the Health Service Executive and asks for information about the proposed registered proprietor nominee.

Section 3:[PRIVATE/INDEPENDENT/VOLUNTARY FACILITIES]

This section is only to be completed where the person applying to be the Registered Proprietor is private or independent from the Health Service Executive and asks for information about the person applying to be the registered proprietor and the organisation running the facility.

Section 4:[ALL APPLICANTS]

This section asks for information about the premises that your service operates in.

Section 5:[ALL APPLICANTS]

This section asks for details on the staffing of the facility.

Section 6:[ALL APPLICANTS]

This section details required supporting documents.

Section 7: [ALL APPLICANTS]

This section requires the person applying to be the Registered Proprietor, or nominee, to declare that the information he/she has provided is true and accurate before signing the application. A person who gives false or misleading information shall be guilty of an offence.

Appendix 1: [NEW APPLICANTS]

Appendix 1 is to be completed when the facility to which this application refers is not currently entered in the Register of Approved Centres. You must explain how you intend to comply with the Mental Health Act 2001 (Approved Centres) Regulations 2006.

Appendix 2: [ALL APPLICANTS, AS NECESSARY]

Appendix 2 provides further space to provide information about wards/units in the facility.

Key Terms

Act

The “Act” means the Mental Health Act 2001,

Approved Centre

A “centre” means a hospital or other in-patient facility for the care and treatment of persons suffering from mental illness or mental disorder. An “approved centre” is a centre that is registered pursuant to the Act. The Mental Health Commission establishes and maintains the Register of Approved Centres pursuant to the Act.

Clinical Director

As per Section 71 of the Mental Health Act 2001, the governing body of each approved centre shall appoint in writing a consultant psychiatrist to be the clinical director of the centre. A consultant psychiatrist may be the clinical director of more than one approved centre.

Facility

Facility refers to a hospital or in-patient facility. When a facility is registered by the Commission, it is known as an approved centre.

Mental disorder

Mental disorder has a detailed definition under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act 2001. Generally, it means a mental illness, significant intellectual disability or severe dementia and in addition there is a concern that a person may be at risk of harming themselves or other people or the person’s health may get worse if he or she is not admitted to an approved centre.

Mental illness

Mental illness means a state of mind of a person which affects the person’s thinking, perceiving, emotion or judgment and which seriously impairs the mental function of the person to the extent that he or she requires care or medical treatment in his or her own interest or in the interest of other persons.

Patient

A person to whom an involuntary admission or renewal order relates. The term patient is to be construed in accordance with Section 14 of the 2001 Act (as amended).

Person

“Person” shall be read as importing a body corporate (whether a corporation aggregate or a corporation sole) and an unincorporated body of persons, as well as an individual, and the subsequent use of any pronoun in place of a further use of “person” shall be read accordingly.

Registered Proprietor

The person whose name is entered in the Register as the person carrying on the centre.

Registered Proprietor Nominee

The person with delegated responsibility for the running of the facility.

The Register

The Commission shall establish and maintain a register which shall be known as “the Register of Approved Centres” and is referred to in Section 64(1) of the Act as “the Register”.

Resident

A person receiving care and treatment in an approved centre who is not the subject of an admission order or a renewal order.

Section 1: General Information

To be completed by all applicants

For MHC use only
1.1 / Facility Details
(a) / Facility name: / Click here to enter facility name. /
(b) / Address: / Click here to enter address.
(c) / Telephone number: / Click here to enter number. /
(d) / Fax number: / Click here to enter fax number. /
1.2 / Operation of facility
(a) / Does the facility provide care and treatment to persons suffering from mental illnessormental disorder? / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
(b) / Is the primary nature of the facility, or part of the facility, to provide care and treatment to a person(s) suffering from a mental illness or mental disorder? / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
(c) / Are any other healthcare services provided at the facility? / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
If Yes, please specify:
Click here to enter text.
(d) / How long has the facility operated at the above address? / Click here to enter text. /
(e) / Is the facility subject to an inquiry of any kind? / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
(f) / Is this application being made in respect of an existing approved centre?
(if yes please fill out 1.3) / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
(g) / Is this a replacement facility for an existing approved centre, or part of an approved centre? / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
If Yes, please give detail:
Click here to enter text.
(h) / For new applicants [currently unregistered facilities], what is the intended opening date? / Click here to enter text. /
For MHC use only
1.3 / Existing approved centres
(a) / Has the approved centre name changed since last registration: / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
If Yes, please give detail:
Click here to enter text.
(b) / Reason for application: / Expiration of current registration period / ☐ /
Change of registered proprietor / ☐ /
1.4 / In-patient Charges
(a) / Please provide details of charges payable by in-patients: / Click here to enter text.
1.5 / Health insurance coverage
(a) / Is the facility approved for the provision of services by private healthcare insurers? / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
Please provide details:
Click here to enter text.

Section 2: Health Service Executive

To be completed when the person applying to be the Registered Proprietor is the Health Service Executive

For MHC use only
2.1 / Registered proprietor nominee
(a) / Name of proprietor: / Health Service Executive
(b) / Name of proprietor nominee:(person with delegated responsibility for the running of the facility) / Click here to enter name /
(c) / Address: / Click here to enter address.
(d) / Telephone number / Click here to enter number. /
(e) / Fax number / Click here to enter fax number. /
(f) / Mobile telephone number / Click here to enter mobile number. /
(g) / Email address / Click here to enter email. /
2.2 / Employment detailsof person applying to be the registered proprietor nominee
(a) / Name of current employer: / Health Service Executive
(b) / Position within organisation: / Click here to enter text. /
(c) / Date started in current post: / Click here to enter a date. /
(d) / Key responsibilities: / Click here to enter text. /
2.3 / Garda Vetting
(a) / Has the proprietor nominee been Garda Vetted? / Choose an item. /
(b) / Date of vetting disclosure: / Click here to enter a date. /
2.4 / If the Health Service Executive does not own the facility
(a) / Name of owner: / Click here to enter text. /
(b) / Address of owner: / Click here to enter text. /
(c) / Is a lease arrangement in place: / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
If yes, specify applicable period:
Click here to enter text.
2.5 / Community Healthcare Organisation
(a) / Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) of the facility: / Choose an item. /
(b) / Mental health service area / catchment: / Click here to enter text. /

Section 3: Private/Independent/Voluntary Facilities

To be completed when the person applying to be the Registered Proprietor is a person other than the HSE

For MHC use only
3.1 / Information about the person applying to be the registered proprietor
(a) / Name of proprietor: / Click here to enter name. /
(b) / Name of proprietor nominee, if different to proprietor:
(where the proprietor is an organisation, please provide details of the person with delegated responsibility for the running of the facility) / Click here to enter name. /
(c) / Address:
(if different to address given in Section 1.1) / Click here to enter address.
(d) / Telephone number: / Click here to enter number. /
(e) / Fax number: / Click here to enter fax number. /
(f) / Mobile telephone number: / Click here to enter mobile number. /
(g) / Email address: / Click here to enter email. /
3.2 / Employment details of person applying to be the registered proprietor
(a) / Name of current employer: / Click here to enter text. /
(b) / Position within organisation: / Click here to enter text. /
(c) / Date started in current post: / Click here to enter a date. /
(d) / Key responsibilities: / Click here to enter text. /

For MHC use only
3.3 / Organisation detail
(a) / Name of organisation:
If different to facility name under Section 1.1 / Click here to enter text. /
(b) / Address of organisation:
If different to address under Section 1.1 / Click here to enter text. /
(c) / Please indicate the relevant type of organisation: / Charity
Complete 3.4 below / ☐ /
Company
Complete 3.5 below / ☐ /
Agency funded under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004 / ☐ /
Agency funded under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 / ☐ /
Other, please specify:
Click here to enter text. / ☐ /
3.4 / If the organisation is a charity
(a) / Please provide the charity registration number:
Charities Regulatory Authority number (not Revenue Commissioner number) / Click here to enter text. /
3.5 / If the organisation is a company
(a) / Names of company directors: / Click here to enter text. /
(b) / Company registration number: / Click here to enter text. /
3.6 / If the organisation is a subsidiary of a holding company
(a) / Name of registered holding company: / Click here to enter text. /
(b) / Addressof registered or main office of the holding company: / Click here to enter text. /
(c) / Names of the directors of the holding company: / Click here to enter text. /
For MHC use only
3.7 / If the proposed registered proprietor does not own the facility
(a) / Name of owner: / Click here to enter text. /
(b) / Address of owner: / Click here to enter text. /
(c) / Is a lease arrangement in place: / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
If yes, specify applicable period:
Click here to enter text.

Supporting documentation required (see Section 6):

A bank reference as to financial standing, including:
a statement of your ability to ensure the financial viability of the facility; and
a statement of whether you have ever been bankrupt or sequestration of estates ordered.

A copy of management accounts, year to date.
Copies of the two most recent annual accounts
A service plan for the facility.
Copies of any service level agreements (SLAs) with the Health Service Executive (HSE) or other care providers.
A copy of the current tax clearance certificate (only applicable to a company, or subsidiary)

Section 4: Premises

To be completed by all applicants

For MHC use only
4.1 / Information about the facility
(a) / Number of wards/units in the facility: / Click here to enter number of wards/units. /
(b) / Number of beds you are applying to register:
Total number of beds in the facility / Click here to enter total number of beds. /
(c) / Maximum number of residents that can be accommodated in the facility at one time:
If less than maximum number of beds / Click here to enter maximum number of residents. /
(d) / Maximum number of involuntary patients that can be accommodated in the facility at one time:
If difference to number of beds and/or number of residents (b) and (c) above / Click here to enter maximum number of involuntary patients. /
(e) / Service(s) provided by the facility:
Tick all that apply – you must tick at least one / Acute adult mental health care / ☐ /
Continuing mental health care / long stay / ☐ /
Psychiatry of later life / ☐ /
Mental health rehabilitation / ☐ /
Forensic mental health care / ☐ /
Mental health care for people with intellectual disability / ☐ /
Child and adolescent mental health care
Specify age range(s):
Click here to enter text. / ☐ /
Other, please specify:
Click here to enter text. / ☐ /
4.2 / Description of premises
(a) / Is the facility accessible to persons with disabilities?
‘Access’ is defined in the Disability Act 2005 / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
If no, please provide details:
Click here to enter text.
(b) / Does the facility have seclusion facilities: / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
(c) / Does the facility have an Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) suite: / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
(d) / Does the facility operate CCTV:
Not including CCTV cameras in public areas (entrances/reception) operating for security purposes. / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
(e) / Is the facility, or part of the facility, a locked ward/unit: / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
4.3 / Existing approved centres
(a) / Are you applying to change the number of beds (or residents) in the approved centre? / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
If Yes, please provide details:
Click here to enter text.
(b) / Have any material alterations[1] been made to the approved centre since the last registration: / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
If Yes, please provide details:
Click here to enter text.
4.4 / New applicants only
(a) / Was the facility purpose built, or converted for use as a mental health service: / Purpose built / ☐ / Click to enter a date. /
Converted for use / ☐ / Click to enter a date. /
(b) / Does the facility have facilities for Mental Health Tribunals
If the facility admits detained patients / Hearing room / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
Consultation room / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /
Waiting room / YES / ☐ / NO / ☐ /

Supporting documentation required (see Section 6)

For all new applicants, or if any material alterations have been made to the premises since last inspection, please provide:

Floor plan
Site map

4.5 / Information about each ward/unit
(a) / Name of ward/unit: / Click here to enter text. /
(b) / Number of beds: / Click here to enter text. /
(c) / Maximum number of residents:
If less than maximum number of beds / Click here to enter text. /
(d) / Service(s) provided by the unit/ward:
Tick all that apply – you must tick at least one / Acute adult mental health care / ☐ /
Continuing mental health care / long stay / ☐ /
Psychiatry of later life / ☐ /
Mental health rehabilitation / ☐ /
Forensic mental health care / ☐ /
Mental health care for people with intellectual disability / ☐ /
Child and adolescent mental health care / ☐ /
Other, please specify:
Click here to enter text. / ☐ /
4.6 / Information about each ward/unit
(a) / Name of ward/unit: / Click here to enter text. /
(b) / Number of beds: / Click here to enter text. /
(c) / Maximum number of residents:
If less than maximum number of beds / Click here to enter text. /
(d) / Service(s) provided by the unit/ward:
Tick all that apply – you must tick at least one / Acute adult mental health care / ☐ /
Continuing mental health care / long stay / ☐ /
Psychiatry of later life / ☐ /
Mental health rehabilitation / ☐ /
Forensic mental health care / ☐ /
Mental health care for people with intellectual disability / ☐ /
Child and adolescent mental health care / ☐ /
Other, please specify:
Click here to enter text. / ☐ /