Our Policies

Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

Abuse, Assault or Neglect

Progressive Pathways believes that the safety and best interests of the person who is the subject of suspected or alleged abuse, assault or neglect is paramount.

Participants and their families, and Progressive Pathways’ employees should:

  • understand their rights;
  • be aware of what constitutes abuse, assault and neglect, and
  • be aware of signs and indicators

Employees are to be trained in the prevention and protection of the Participant from abuse and be committed to ensuring their safety.

Response to allegations of abuse or neglect shall occur promptly, sensitively and confidentially to protect the person from further harm and offer the person the medical, psychological and legal assistance to which they are entitled. Staff, participants, carers and advocates should be aware that any allegations or suspected instances of abuse or neglect, may be reported to the National Disability Service Abuse and Neglect Hotline. Phone: 1800 880 052 TTY: 1800 301 130

Advocacy

Advocacy is the process of standing alongside an individual who is disadvantaged, and speaking out on their behalf in a way that represents the best interests of that person.

Progressive Pathways encourages and respects the rights of any participant to use an advocate of their choice. The participant has the right to change their advocate at any time. We also recognise that effective advocacy needs to be independent and separated from direct service delivery.

Progressive Pathways invites advocates participation in all areas relating to the services of the person they are supporting.

This includes but is not limited to:

  • assessments;
  • reviews;
  • complaints and disputes;
  • informed decision making;
  • meetings;
  • policy development and review;
  • participation in subcommittees and/or working groups;
  • strategic planning; and
  • general meetings or for any other communication between the participant and staff.

Procedures
The support worker is to establish links with advocacy groups and inform the participant of the availability of such assistance. A register of service providers and agencies that provide advocacy services is maintained.

Where prior consent has been obtained, Progressive Pathways will supply the advocate with current and timely information in relation to the service provision being provided to the person they are representing, recognizing that to be effective the advocate needs to be kept informed.

Progressive Pathways acknowledges and respects the role of people who act as independent advocates for participants and will undertake to ensure that participants have unimpeded access to their advocate.

Progressive Pathways will ensure that information about advocacy and how to arrange the involvement of an advocate will be given to the participant at the initial assessment meeting. This information will be repeated to the participant at regular intervals during the period of service delivery.

Progressive Pathways will accept, at any time during service delivery, the appointment of an advocate to represent the participant. The participant or their appointed representative can inform either the support worker of their need for an advocate.

Client's Rights and Responsibilities

Individuals are given a copy of their rights and responsibilities during the initial intake process and will be asked to sign they have read and acknowledged that they have received this information.

Rights:

  • You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
  • You have the right to be informed about what services are available.
  • You have a right to choose what service you will receive.
  • You have the right to privacy and confidentiality.
  • You have the right to express your own views and ideas.
  • You have the right to have someone with you when seen by a health professional.
  • You have the right to have someone to speak on your behalf.
  • You have the right to have access your records held by this agency.

Responsibilities:

  • To respect Progressive Pathways’ staff and other participants and communicate appropriately and respectfully at all times.
  • To understand that the home is a “workplace” and that workplace health safety must be adhered to.
  • To respect the conditions on the agreed service plan between you and Progressive Pathways. 

Confidentiality, Privacy and Dignity Policy

Progressive Pathways understands we are trusted with keeping your information private and only discussing or sharing this information with appropriate people as outlined in Progressive Pathways’ policies and procedures. We respect your right to privacy and will only disclose information with your consent.

Progressive Pathways keeps participant’s personal information in a private file stored in a locked filing cabinet in the Progressive Pathways office. Progressive Pathways does not pass your personal information on to anyone without your consent. Participants are asked to sign a consent form which outlines what information they wish Progressive Pathways to obtain, release and store. Disability support workers are required to sign a confidentiality agreement that protects the rights of participants.

Information Privacy Principles
Progressive Pathways adheres to the Privacy practices as outlined in the Eleven Information Privacy Principles as extracted from Section 14 of the Information Privacy Act 2009.

Progressive Pathways’ Confidentiality Agreement

All Progressive Pathways’ employees are required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement upon appointment to the organisation.

Code of Conduct

What is Code of Conduct?

Progressive Pathways is committed to encouraging a safe, supportive and productive work environment. This can only happen when everyone cooperates and agrees to suitable standards of conduct. Some of these standards are set out in the Employee Code of Conduct.

The code of conduct is not intended to be exhaustive and cannot anticipate every situation which may morally or eithically compromise the emploee, or Progressive Pathways. In the regard expects its employees to use their common sense and sound judgement . However, compliance with this Code is an obligation owed by all employees to each other and to Progressive Pathways. Breach of this Code will result in disciplinary action or dismissal.

Employee’s of Progressive Pathways have an ongoing responsibility to comply with organisational Workplace Health and Safety policies and procedures, Legislated Acts and regulations and to adhere to safe work practice.

All Progressive Pathways’ employees are required to read and sign a Code of Conduct Form upon appointment to the organisation.

 

Complaints

All people in our community have the right to complain if a service they are receiving is inadequate. They have the access to appropriate bodies who will listen and act on any grievances that occur.

Progressive Pathways recognises and supports the right of the participant and their family to complain about the service provided. If people are concerned or unhappy with their service or the treatment they receive they are invited to discuss their grievance with Progressive Pathways. We make every effort to resolve grievances in this initial process. We want you to feel comfortable to initiate this process without fear of discrimination and in the knowledge that a satisfactory resolution will be pursued.

Contact Progressive Pathways with your concerns and we will address all complaints whether formal or informal in a fair and positive manner with confidentiality maintained throughout the process. Progressive Pathways does care and we will act to ensure matters are addressed.

A great first step would be to discuss your concerns with the person involved. If you don’t believe that has resolved things, then contact your support worker or a senior staff member. Matters of a serious nature will be handled by a senior staff member or manager of Progressive Pathways to investigate. 

If you feel a complaint has not been adequately addressed, then contact us to find out other avenues and agencies you can contact.

 

Culturally Appropriate Support

Progressive Pathways provides proactive strategies to promote the cultural, ethnic, religious, and individual beliefs of the service users. Support and/or advocate person(s) are encouraged to share the cultural values with disability support workers and Progressive Pathways’ staff to assist in this process.

Progressive Pathways provides flexible, sensitive and culturally appropriate care for our participants. We work towards building relationships and connectedness between staff, participants and their families, in order to achieve mutual understandings and the needs of all participants.

Progressive Pathways is aware of how race and ethnicity influence family life and the way in which support is carried out. Staff are provided with cultural awareness training as well as collaborating with families to meet cultural requirements.

Duty of Care and Dignity of Risks

Duty of Care

A Disability Support Worker has a duty of care to the person with a disability that they are supporting and others in the general community when working within a community environment. A duty of care is breached if a person behaves unreasonably or fails to act (which can also be unreasonable in a particular situation). A duty of care can be breached either by action or inaction.

Harm can fall under any or all of these four headings:

  • Physical;
  • Mental;
  • Emotional; and
  • Financial.

Duty of Care means that while you are receiving our services we will do everything reasonable to take care of your safety and wellbeing at all times. Progresssive Pathways has a responsibility and Duty of Care to staff. We will not be able to provide support where duty of care to participants and /or staff person is compromised.

Dignity of Risk

Progressive Pathways believes you have the right to make an informed choice; to experience life and take advantage of opportunities for learning, developing competencies and indepence and, in doing so, take an informed and calculated risk.

Progressive Pathways and suppport workers are under obligation to ensure duty of care is carried while supporting the person to fulfil their desired goals.

Least Restrictive Alternative

The Least Restrictive Alternative principle states our need to be least intrusive on the lives of those we support. We recognise your right to live in an environment which is most supportive and the least restrictive of your freedom.

We will respect your autonomy and independence. You will have the opportunity to exercise choice and make decisions about your life. We encourage you to be involved in the decision-making process at various levels of service delivery, either by participating directly or having a representative participate.

When assisting you to exercise choice and make decisions, we will take care to ensure you understand the meaning of the options presented; and we will give you as much information as possible to enable you to make informed choices. Our support workers will discuss with you any risk that you may face as a result of a decision. If there is doubt about the possibility of harm, you can further discuss concerns with a senior staff member at Progressive Pathways.

  • We believe we can support you to exercise your right to make decisions about issues affecting you by ensuring:
  • Individual Care Plans state your preferences;
  • The day-to-day routines developed give maximum opportunity for you to exercise choice and make decisions;
  • You are encourage, where practical, to make decisions about your residence, employment and relationships; and
  • We encourage you to develop skills required to participate in meetings.

Progressive Pathways believes you should make decisions or be supported in making decisions about who will assist you in your personal care and the timing of your daily routine (for example, when to go to bed, when to eat, when to do chores, what to eat and so on). We will empower you by ‘stepping back’ and letting you do tasks at your own pace.

Handling of Files and Storage of Information

Progressive Pathways is committed to ensuring that participant’s personal information is protected within privacy laws. Progressive Pathways will only collect information that is relevant applicable to the Participant Centred Plan / Care Plan process and meeting the needs of the participant.

Where requested, translated materials and interpreter services wil be provided.

Disposal of personal information is carried out in a manner of which is in keeping of the privacy act. Participants are able to request at any time, assistance from a support person or advocate with the collection, storage, disposal and accessibility of their personal information in discussion with Progressive Pathways.

Incidents

It is the intention of Progressive Pathways to provide a safe working environment for both service users and workers. This policy also insures that when an incident occurs it is reported properly in line with Progressive Pathways service policy and state/federal legislation. Progressive Pathways aims to minimise incidents by documenting, reviewing and redressing the negative consequences of incidents.

Progressive Pathways considers an incident to be of concern if any person associated with services provided by Progressive Pathways is injured, put at risk or distressed.

If a staff member considers an incident to be of concern, he or she will:

  • Take immediate action to ensure the people involved are safe, calm and or receiving appropriate assistance
  • Inform the Coordinator/Manager as soon as possible and
  • Complete an Incident Report form within 3 days after the event

Incident reports will allow Progressive Pathways to continuously review practices to ensure we are doing everything possible to maintain a safe working environment for everyone.

Participation and Integration

One of the most important goals of Progressive Pathways services is to provide participants with every opportunity to participate in community life.

Community inclusion helps clients gain:

  • Experiences necessary for normal growth and development that is not possible in isolated settings.
  • A range of social and personal relationships with other members of the community.
  • Greater levels of independence by using community facilities and services.

Progressive Pathways believes each individual should be supported in pursuing activities of their choice. This could involve working together with community groups to create opportunities for activities with other members of the community and to increase the friendship network of the participant.

Valued Status

In the past, people with disabilities have been disadvantaged by being limited to lifestyles not valued by the rest of the community.  Progessive Pathways actively works to help participants to develop and maintain skills to achieve valued roles in the community.

Professional Boundaries

Talking about Professional Boundaries is as difficult as it is important.  But Progressive Pathways is committed to good practice on professional boundaries with participants.

We recognise that staff must establish rapport with participants and provide support that optimises their potential to lead a meaningful life. In doing so, staff need to maintain appropriate professional boundaries between themselves and participants.  A professional boundary is not always black and white in community care services.

There is no single all-inclusive definition of what constitutes professional boundaries.  Our intent is to provide guidance on acceptable and unacceptable practice, enabling us to apply clear and consistent standards across Progressive Pathways.

In setting out a professional context for working with participants, some basic values and principles that govern our professional practice are:

  • Boundaries define the limits of behaviour, which allow a professional support worker and a participant to engage safely in a supportive caring relationship.  These boundaries are based upon trust, respect and the appropriate use of power.
  • The relationship between staff and participant is a therapeutic caring relationship that must focus solely upon meeting the needs of the participant. It is not established to build personal or social contacts for staff.  Moving the focus of care away from meeting a participant‘s needs towards meeting the employee’s own needs is not acceptable.

Risk Management

Progressive Pathways conducts risk assessment yearly (or more frequently if required) in order to identify, minimise or eliminate any potential risks for staff and/or participants.

Disability Support workers also have a responsiblity to report to the senior staff member if they feel that they or the participant is at risk of being injured during any task.

Where support is provided in the participant‘s home, we at Progressive Pathways undertakes yearly home risk assessment with the Participant/Advocate/Nominated stakeholder in order to identify, minimise or eliminate any potential risk for staff and/or participants in the home.

Our goal is not to immediately eliminate any concerns, but rather to assess the likelihood of injury or harm occurring as a result of the identified risk.  We actively work to seek solutions that minimise and manage risk to an appropriate level.  Risks will only be eliminated if the significance of an identified risk necessitates this action.