Person-Centred Practice and Rights Policy

Purpose. This policy sets the practice principles that every Willow program must follow so that the people it supports direct their own support, exercise their rights and are treated with dignity.

1.Principles

Support at Willow starts with the person's goals, strengths, culture, relationships and preferences. Workers must ask before they act, explain choices and respect the decision the person makes even when the worker would choose differently. The person's plan belongs to the person.

2.Rights

Every person Willow supports has the rights set out in the Statement of Rights under the Aged Care Act, the NDIS Code of Conduct and the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities (Victoria). Willow will give each person a plain language copy of their rights at intake and will explain how to make a complaint and how to contact an advocate.

• To be treated with dignity and respect
• To make decisions about their own life and support
• To privacy and confidentiality
• To be free from abuse, neglect, discrimination and restrictive practice that is not authorised
• To complain without fear and to use an advocate

3.Supported decision making and dignity of risk

Workers must presume that every adult can make decisions with the right support. Where a person chooses something that carries risk, workers will discuss the risk with them, record the conversation and the person's decision in the progress notes, and put in place the supports the person agrees to. Workers must not remove a person's choice to protect Willow from risk.

4.Cultural safety and diversity

Willow will provide support that is safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ people and people of all faiths. Workers must use interpreters where language is a barrier and must never rely on children to interpret for a parent.

5.Restrictive practices

Willow must not use a restrictive practice unless it is authorised, documented in a behaviour support plan, used as a last resort for the shortest time and reported as required. Any unauthorised restrictive practice is a reportable incident and must be recorded and notified under the Safeguarding, Abuse and Neglect Prevention Policy.

6.Family, carers and advocates

Workers will involve family, carers and nominated advocates where the person wants them involved. Where a person's wishes and a family member's wishes differ, the person's wishes come first. Willow will provide carers with information about carer support and respite.