Policies
The Nepean Centre is committed to offering access to services based on people’s eligibility and relative priority, regardless of their race, colour, national origin, sex, religion, marital status, physical and intellectual impairment, political convictions, and sexual preferences.
The Nepean Centre ensures that each person, who meets the eligibility criteria and is seeking a service, has equal access to services based on relative need and available resource.
Eligibility for the Nepean Centre is defined in the Act as a person having a disability that:
1. is attributable to a physical, intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or a combination of such impairments.
2. is permanent or likely to be permanent.
3. results in:
a) A substantially reduced capacity of the person for communication, social interaction, learning or mobility; and
b) The need for continuing support services
The intake process includes an Intake Assessment Priority Tool which can be used to help determine the support needs of clients and where appropriate, place on a waitlist.
There are several forms/assessments that need to be completed prior to accessing the service. These include Person Centred Care Plans, Behaviour Support Plans, Medication Treatment Sheet and a Respite Service Agreement.
Where a person requires an interpreter service during the entry process, the Nepean Centre will ensure this support is available. The person is invited to bring along a Support Person or Advocate to any discussions. Any decisions will be made in collaboration with the person and with input from all relevant stakeholders.
The Nepean Centre reserves the right to withdraw services in situations where its duty of care responsibilities to either its clients or its staff are demonstrably compromised. The Nepean Centre does not accept referrals where the person has violent or destructive challenging behaviours. Challenging behaviour is behaviour that places others at risk, and/or reduces the person’s access to environments, activities, or experiences. This can include aggressive, anti-social or dangerous behaviours.
1.1.4 Community Linkage Policy
1.1.5 Advocacy Policy and Procedures
2.8 Continuity of Supports Policy
3.5 Transition to or from Nepean Centre Policy
3.5.2 Transitions of Care between Disability Services and Hospitals
Nepean Centre Inc. is a child safe organisation. That means we have an obligation to do the best we can to keep children safe from harm and abuse.
Victorian organisations that provide services or facilities for children are required by law to implement Child Safe Standards to protect children up to 18yrs of age from harm.
Child Safe Standards aim to:
- promote the safety of children.
- prevent child abuse.
ensure organisations and businesses have effective processes in place to respond to and report all allegations of child abuse.
Child Safe Standards work by:
- driving changes in organisational culture – embedding child safety in everyday thinking and practice.
- providing a minimum standard of child safety across all organisations.
- highlighting that we all have a role to keep children safe from abuse.
Although all children are vulnerable, some children face additional vulnerabilities. The standards provide three overarching principles for organisations to cover:
- the cultural safety of Aboriginal Children.
- the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- the safety of children with a disability.
1.5.2 Participant Safeguard Policy
1.5.3 Working With Children Policy
2.9 Emergency and Disaster Policy
All participants have the right to services which optimise their health without compromising their quality of life.
Staff respect a participant and their family’s right to choose from the same range of health services as other members of the community, and do not seek to influence a participant or family’s choices because of their own health care beliefs.
The Nepean Centre undertakes ongoing assessment, review, and evaluation of individual needs through a range of mechanisms including individual assessments, which identify and prioritise health issues.
Based on assessment, review and evaluation outcomes, the Nepean Centre will develop strategies that address ‘at an early stage’ factors which contribute to unwanted health outcomes.
Staff undertake appropriate training to enhance their knowledge and skills.
Participants have the right to:
- access supports that promote, uphold and respect their legal and human rights.
- exercise informed choice and control.
- freedom of expression, self-determination and decision-making.
- access supports that respect culture, diversity, values and beliefs.
- access a service that respects their dignity and right to privacy.
- support access to make informed choices to maximise their independence.
- access supports free from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation or discrimination.
- receive supports that are overseen by strong operational management.
- access services which are safeguarded by caring carers who work within a well-managed risk and incident management system.
- receive services from workers who are competent, qualified and have expertise in providing person-centred supports.
- consent to the sharing of information between providers during transition periods.
- select to opt-out of providing information, as required by NDIS.
Participants using our support services have responsibilities to Nepean Centre. We ask that they:
- respect the rights of our staff to ensure a workplace that is safe, healthy and free from harassment.
- abide by the terms of their agreement with us.
- understand that their needs may change and, correspondingly, services provided may need to change to meet their needs.
- accept responsibility for their actions and choices, even though some decisions may involve risk.
- inform us if they have any problems with our staff or the services received.
- share appropriate information to develop, deliver and review their support plan.
- care for their health and well-being (as much as they can).
- provide information that will help us better meet their needs.
- provide us with a minimum of 24 hours notice if they will not require service.
- understand that our staff are only authorised to perform the agreed number of hours and tasks outlined in their service agreement.
- contribute and participate in the safety assessments of Nepean Centre.
- pay the agreed amount for the services provided.
- inform us in writing (where able) and provide appropriate notice and explanation before terminating our service.
- advise our staff when asked if they wish to opt-out of a service.