Promoting and Protecting Rights Policy

Policy Statement

We will always strive to ensure our services are free from discrimination, neglect and abuse, and uphold the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of our clients, their families and carers. We acknowledge the dignity of our clients who may choose to take risks, while taking action to create a safe environment when receiving our services.

Responsibilities

Implementing this policy is the responsibility of all Horizon Therapy Services Employees. The Practice Manager is responsible for ensuring all staff read and implement this policy and associated procedures, and that feedback is sought from our clients to ensure continuous improvement in everything we do.

Legislative Content

Legislative ContentThe United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the UN Convention) states that a person with disability has the right to liberty, security and freedom from abuse and neglect, and where these rights have been violated, to have equal recognition by law and access to justice.

The Policy is consistent with the UN Convention, as well as the objects, principles and requirements of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013, its associated Rules, and the NDIS Practice Standards.

Our Service Commitment

All staff will proactively work to ensure that:

• our clients access supports that:
  – promote, uphold and respect their legal and human rights and are enabled to exercise informed choice and control
  – promote, uphold and respect individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination and decision making
  – respect their cultural diversity, values and beliefs
  – protect their dignity and right to privacy
  – are free from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation or discrimination
• our clients are supported to make informed choices, exercise control and maximise their independence relating to the supports we provide
•  Each participant’s right to access an advocate (including an independent advocate) of their choosing is supported, as is their right to have the advocate present
• allegations and incidents of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation or discrimination, are acted upon, each participant affected is supported and assisted, records are made of any details and outcomes of reviews and investigations (where applicable) and action is taken to prevent similar incidents occurring again.
• children receiving our services:
  – access supports that promote and respect their legal and human rights, support their development of functional skills, and enable them to participate meaningfully and be included in everyday activities with their peers
  – receive active involvement from their support network in the development of supports they receive from us
• when we are concerned that a child is at risk, we comply with all relevant state and territory legislation relating to the reporting of risk of harm.

Person-Centred Approaches to the Promotion of Human Rights

People with disability remain at the centre of prevention and responses to discrimination, abuse and neglect. We will do this by:

• listening and learning to understand the way people communicate, including their communication preferences and wishes
• keeping people informed about what is going to happen before taking action and throughout any response to abuse and neglect
• providing information in a format that supports the person (for example, plain English, Communication Pictographs (COMPIC), photos, picture cards, audio hearing), and as relevant, their family and friends, to identify and report abuse or neglect and uphold their consumer rights.

Monitoring and review

The Horizon Therapy Services Management Committee will monitor and review the implementation of this policy on a quarterly basis. Feedback from our clients will also be sought as part of our commitment to customer feedback and through our Advisory Committee.

Further information

For further information on this policy and associated risk management procedures, contact Helen Shayler, General Manager at helen.shayler@horizontherapy.com.au.

Document Revision

This policy and procedure will be revised as required and at no later than one year from the date of last major revision.