Reporting misconduct

Under the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act (2003), the Chief Executive of the Child and Adolescent Health Service has obligations to both the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) and the Public Sector Commission (PSC) in relation to reporting suspected misconduct by CAHS staff.

Find out more about the types of misconduct and how to report misconduct at CAHS.

Types of misconduct

Staff misconduct, however, could concern issues such as allegations of:
  • sexual impropriety – behaviour that is sexually demeaning to a consumer including comments or gestures
  • sexual misconduct
  • breaches of patient confidentiality
  • physical or mental impairment of a health care professional which comprises the care of a consumer (for example, under the influence of drugs or alcohol)
  • fraud or illegal practice of a financial nature
  • theft by a public officer
  • medication issues, where it is alleged that the loss of patient’s own medication is as a result of the actions of a public officer (for example, theft).
The CCM Act defines two types of misconduct – serious and minor.

Serious misconduct

Serious misconduct is when a public officer, for example a staff member either:
  • acts corruptly or corruptly fails to act in the course of their duties
  • corruptly takes advantage of their position for the benefit or detriment of any person
  • commits an offence which carries a penalty of two or more years.
Examples include:
  • abuse of public office
  • blackmail
  • bribery
  • deliberately releasing confidential information
  • extortion
  • obtaining or offering a secret commission
  • fraud or stealing
  • forgery
  • perverting the course of justice.
Read more information on serious misconduct reporting and processes:

Minor misconduct

Minor misconduct is behaviour by a public officer which either:

  • adversely affects the honest or impartial performance of the functions of a public authority or public officer
  • involves the performance of functions in a manner that is not honest or impartial
  • involves a breach of the trust placed in the public officer
  • involves the misuse of information or material that the public officer has acquired in connection with their functions as a public officer, whether the misuse is for the benefit of the public officer or the benefit or detriment of another person
AND is significant enough to give grounds for termination as a public officer under the Public Sector Management Act (whether or not the public officer to whom the allegation relates is a public service officer or is a person whose office or employment could be terminated on the grounds of such conduct).
 
Read more information on minor misconduct reporting and processes in the public sector:

If there is suspicion of misconduct

If there is reasonable suspicion of misconduct, the Chief Executive of the Child and Adolescent Health Service is required to report:

  • serious misconduct matters to the CCC
  • minor misconduct matters to the PSC
In both cases, however, to be reportable to either agency, there must first be reasonable grounds for making a notification. This will usually require some form of preliminary enquiries to be conducted to determine relevant facts and circumstances.

How to report misconduct to CAHS

To make a report about misconduct in Child and Adolescent Health Service, please email CAHSIntegrityandEthics@health.wa.gov.au or call 64565214. Your report remains confidential.
 
Last Updated: 07/07/2023