Policy and Procedure

Introduction

Decent Care is committed to supporting participants in their decision making and their right to dignity of risk. When required, each participant is supported to make informed choices about the benefits and risks of the options under consideration.

Scope

This policy applies to all participants, carers and families using Decent Care services, as well as team members and management.

Principle

Each participant of Decent Care will be provided with the opportunity to participate, as fully as possible in making decisions about the events and activities that affect their daily life, specifically concerning the services and supports they receive from the service. Through the provision of information about options, Participants will be supported to exercise control and maximise their independence.

Policy

An informed decision is one made after the person has all the relevant available information about the options, and about the risks involved. Active decision making and individual choice are supported for each participant including the timely provision of information using the language, mode of communication and terms that the participant is most likely to understand. Each participant is encouraged to exercise meaningful choice and control over their supports and maximise the value for money and the overall benefit they receive from their supports. Duty of care issues will be considered when supporting participants to make decisions and take risks.

Procedure

Decent Care will:

Encourage participants to make as many of their own decisions and choices as possible, for example, what activities they would like to do, what they want to wear and how to spend their money
Talk to participants and provide them with about the options available when faced with a choice
Support the participant to understand any information that is provided to them by explaining in a language, terms or mode of communication that suits their needs
Ensure the participant is aware of and understands the risks involved with their choices
Provide participants sufficient time to consider and review their options and seek advice if required, at any stage of support provision, including assessment, planning, provision and review and exit
Ensure that the participant engages an advocate if required in the decision-making process. This can be a formal advocate, friends, family or other support network members.
Support each participant’s right to dignity of risk in their decision-making
Respect each participant’s autonomy, including their right to intimacy and sexual expression.
If there are serious duty of care implications inform the relevant Program Manager immediately (e.g. if the risk threatens the safety of the participant or any person)

Responsibilities

The Managing Directors are responsible for:

Reviewing and approving this policy
Setting a culture of participant choice and control

Program Managers are responsible for:

Ensuring the policy is effectively implemented across the service
Monitor team members compliance with the requirements of the policy
Ensure training and information are provided to team members to ensure participants are supported to access advocates as required.
Reviewing progress notes to ensure participants are supported in decision making.

Team members and students are responsible for:

Familiarising themselves with this policy
Ensuring they have the skills, knowledge and ability to support participants in decision making
Documenting in participant file notes the options that have been provided and any decisions made by the participant.
Documenting and notifying their Program Manager of any participant decisions that may compromise the organisation's duty of care.