This Board will review applications made by individuals seeking a review of: the certification of involuntary admission; the issuance of a Community Treatment Order (CTO); and/or an alleged denial of a right.
The composition of the Board shall reflect the cultural, ethnic, and regional diversity of the province.
The Board shall comprise a minimum of 13 members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council and include:
• a chairperson, who is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
• four persons, each of whom is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and who expresses an interest in mental health and addictions issues
• four persons, each of whom is a physician
• four persons, each of whom is neither a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador nor a physician and each of whom expresses an interest in mental health issues, with preference being given to a person who has lived or living experience of mental health issues
A panel of three members of the Board shall be appointed by the chairperson to hear and decide an application.
All Board members would be expected to have the following competencies:
• demonstrate a commitment to the legislative purpose, mission, and values
• understand the need to base decisions on the legislative principles
• have a strong interest or awareness of mental illness and addictions issues
• attend hearings, meetings and conference calls
• be comfortable using online communications technology (email, online meetings, conference calls, etc.)
• maintain absolute adherence to confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest
• articulate ideas, opinions, rationales, and comments in a clear, concise, and logical manner
• have strong listening skills and ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing
• understand the need to base decisions on the legislative principles
• be nonjudgmental, flexible, calm, and polite
Panel Chairs will require additional competencies:
• experience in conducting hearings, and know how to balance the informal/formal nature of hearings
• be comfortable using technologies to conduct a hearing
The Board Chair will require the following additional competencies:
• Timeliness in responding to issues that arise regarding the operation of the Board
• Use a proactive approach
• Ability to clarify, handle and resolve contentious issues
The following attributes are important considerations in selecting members:
• Expressed interest in health care
• Lived or living experience (individual or family)
• High ethical standards and integrity.
• Appreciation of the responsibilities to the public
• Flexible, responsive and willing to consider others’ opinions
• Capable of a wide perspective on issues
• Ability to listen and work as a team member
• No direct or indirect conflict of interest
• Strong reasoning and conflict resolution skills
• Effective listening and communication skills (written and oral)
• Available to participate in Board meetings
Membership should also carefully consider the inclusion of individuals with diverse experiences including, but not limited to, regional representation, age, ethnicity, disability, gender balance and lived and living experience with mental illness and/or substance use disorders and addictions.
Ideally, Board members will participate in hearings in the area of their residence; however, they can expect to deal with matters via telehealth due to conflicts, non-availability of members in the area, etc.
Time commitment will vary, depending on the availability of other Board members. Board members can expect to sit on approximately ten hearings per year (about once per month on average). Many of the scheduled hearings may be cancelled on very little notice. Each hearing is approximately 1 to 1.5 hours in length, and the time for decisions is about .5 to 1.5 hours. Each Board member must be sensitive to, and aware of the time restrictions of the Act, and ensure timelines are met accordingly.
The Board Chair has a larger time commitment. The Chair will deal with hearing issues (timing, conflicts, etc.), the Annual Report, and questions from Board members. Generally, the time commitment for the administrative aspect of the Board is about 1 to 2 hours a week, not including the Annual Report.
A member of the Board shall be appointed for a term of three years. A member of the Board is eligible for reappointment for an additional single term of three years immediately upon the expiry of their initial term of office.
Where the term of a member expires, they will continue to be a member until reappointed or replaced.
The Mental Health Care and Treatment Review Board is seeking to fill two positions, each for members who are licensed physicians. Expressions of interest are being sought from individuals who possess the background, experience and skill set identified in the board profile above and who can bring unique perspectives to the table. Consideration will also be given to a variety of demographic factors to ensure the Board is representative of the population they serve.
