This policy and procedure confirms Continuity Care’s commitment to participants/consumer/clients’ rights and sets out how these rights are to be communicated and supported by staff. This policy applies to all staff as well as existing and potential Continuity Care participants/consumer/clients (including children), their family members, carers and other supporters. It meets relevant legislation, regulations and Standards as set out in Schedule 1, Legislative References.

PERSON CENTRED SUPPORTS Outcome Each participants/consumer/client accesses support that promotes, upholds and respects their legal and human rights and is enabled to exercise informed choice and control. The provision of supports promotes, upholds and respects individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination and decision-making. Indicators ·         Each participant’s/consumer’s/client’s legal and human right is understood and incorporated into everyday practice. ·         Communication with each participant/consumer/client about the provision of supports is responsive to their needs and is provided in the language, mode of communication and terms that the participant/consumer/client is most likely to understand

Continuity Care respects and fully commits to upholding the rights of all people, including those with disabilities. Continuity Care’s Participants/consumers/clients Charter sets out participants/consumers/clients rights. It also sets out participants/consumer/clients’ responsibilities and the responsibilities of Continuity Care in ensuring the rights of all participants/consumer/clients and staff are upheld.

In supporting participants rights, Continuity Care complies with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, NDIS Act 2013 (Cth) and NDIS Practice Standards (2018). Continuity Care provides all prospective and existing participants with information about their rights by: ·         providing them with Continuity Care’s Participants Charter and Participants Handbook; ·         [including rights information on it’s website;] ·         displaying the Participants Charter in Continuity Care ’s facilities; and ·         verbal explanation by Continuity Care staff. As per Continuity Care’s Service Access Policy and Procedure, staff will also discuss participants rights and responsibilities with them during intake and assessment. A full copy of this policy and procedure must be provided upon request. Staff must provide rights information to participants and their families in ways that suit their individual communication needs. Written information can be provided in [different languages and Easy English] or explained verbally by staff. Staff can also help participants access interpreters or advocates where required. To ensure its supports are delivered to the highest standard, Continuity Care reviews all feedback and complaints and makes adjustments to it’s practices where needed, particularly where feedback indicates that participants rights are not being upheld. Any feedback that raises concerns about a participants rights will be discussed during team meetings, with changes to service delivery processes endorsed by the Continuity Care and implemented by the Operations Manager / Managing Director as soon as practicable. Refer to Continuity Care ’s Feedback and Complaints Policy and Procedure for more information. Staff Responsibilities Continuity Care expects all staff to support and uphold participants rights in accordance with this policy and procedure, in all areas of service delivery. This policy and procedure and the Protecting Participants from Harm Policy and Procedure outline how Continuity Care ensures staff are aware of their responsibilities to protect participants and their rights. As per Continuity Care’s Human Resources Policy and Procedure, all staff must undergo Induction, which includes training in participants rights. Staff knowledge and application of supporting and upholding participants rights is monitored on a day-to-day basis and through annual Performance Reviews. Additional formal and on-the-job training is provided to staff where required. Staff must think about where participants rights are relevant to their work and the work-related decisions they make. Where rights are relevant, staff must consider whether or not the decision or action limits a participants rights in any way. Staff must be able to demonstrate that any limitation on a participants rights is reasonable, lawful, necessary, and proportionate in the circumstances. Staff must also work collaboratively with each participants to ensure culturally appropriate practices are being upheld by Continuity Care and its staff. Staff must document any specific culturally appropriate requirements that the participants requests or has arranged with them, within the participants file and Support Plan. Monitoring and Review This policy and procedure will be reviewed at least every two years by Continuity Care. Reviews will incorporate staff, participants and other stakeholder feedback. Continuity Care’s feedback collection mechanisms, such as participants satisfaction surveys, will assess participants and their supporters. ·         satisfaction with the support they are provided to exercise their rights and responsibilities; ·         awareness of what to do if their rights are violated; ·         satisfaction with the quality of services they receive; ·         satisfaction that their privacy and confidentiality are maintained; ·         views on how easy it is to access the feedback and complaints system; ·         satisfaction with how complaints and feedback are managed; ·         satisfaction with the management of reviews and appeals; and ·         awareness of their rights and the extent to which they feel able and supported to exercise them. Continuity Care’s Continuous Improvement Register will be used to record improvements identified and monitor the progress of their implementation. Where relevant, this information will be considered as part of Continuity Care’s service planning and delivery processes