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Post by REALITY on Jan 12, 2007 15:01:07 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 12, 2007 15:02:14 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 12, 2007 15:04:26 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 12, 2007 15:26:34 GMT -5
CAS Case Records and Restraint Policy
MAINTENANCE OF CASE RECORDS 1. The case record is an individual's book, in which all-pertinent information on The resident is kept. 2. Our case record master files are in binders in the main office with the resident's name on them for easy identification. Case records are kept on each resident on the home’s computer. These records have been generated from placement on and are available for the staff review. 3. Case records and they up to date status is the responsibility of the residential Supervisor/Management. 4. Case records are not to leave the residence, and staff reading or working on records should do so away from other residents and any other person not directly involved with the care of the child. 5. All written case records are kept locked, in a secure place. Electronic records are protected by password. 6. All closed case records will be retained for 20 years from the date of discharge (added July 7/04) 7. All case records will contain documentation that the resource has attempted to retain any prior to placement information on the resident available from the placing agency. (added July 7/04) 8. All case records and their contents are available to the youth, parents, and agencies by request. (added July 7/04) 9. All case records must include the following: - Any personal, family and social history of the child, psychological assessments, psycho-educational assessments, voc assessments and all risk screening summaries - Personal Background, Resident's full name, other names used, sex, date of birth, name of Caseworker, and placing Agency, and the name, address and phone number of resident's Parents/Guardian. - Medical-Authorization for treatment, consents for psychometric drugs, reports of examinations and treatment, past medical records, dental, ophthalmologic and hearing appointments. - School-Academic reports from previous schools, plan for school placement, report cards, school notes, and contacts made with the school (discipline, teacher/parent meetings etc.).
- Plan of Care - Basic information re: - Indicators of Success, Outcomes, Goals, Present Status. - predicted discharge date. - Legal documents-court dates etc. - Serious occurrences-incident reports. - Family Contact-visits, and behavior on visits. - When an individualized agreement for service system is in place with the Agency this record will be placed in the case record otherwise the acknowledgement of the existence of and agreement as signed by the child over the age of 12 on placement, will be in the file
RESTRAINT POLICY –, 2003
NO STAFF MEMBER WILL RESTRAIN A RESIDENT WITHOUT BEING TRAINED IN APPROPRIATE METHODS AS PRESCRIBED BY CPI
Policy: As a general rule, staff will not use physical restraints. Only when there are exceptional circumstances with children who have demonstrated behaviour requiring such intrusive and potentially dangerous behaviour management techniques, should a restraint be considered. The use of approved restraint techniques can be utilized preferably when there is another adult present and after the staff has been appropriately trained by a certified trainer to ensure the safety of the child. Under no circumstances will ___________permit Management or child and youth worker staff to utilize ground restraints or facedown arms crossed over chest prone restraints. uses the techniques as prescribed by CPI. A physical restraint is only to be used in situations where a child is at immediate risk of serious self-harm or seriously injuring another person and not as “therapeutic holding”. A physical restraint should only be used after less intrusive behavioral interventions or de-escalating techniques have been considered and attempted. Physical restraints are never to be used as a threat or punishment. Definition From the Ministry of Community, Family and Children’s Services policy directive effective December 31, 2001: “For the purpose of this policy, a physical restraint is defined as the physical control of a child by one or more persons to safely restrict the movement of the child, using one of a variety of holding techniques, with the least amount of force necessary to inhibit the ability of the child to move freely.” Procedure: The decision to use a physical restraint is to be made on a case by case basis taking into account the following: the child’s health condition, prescription medication being taken by the child or for all children in residential group home — the child’s worker and or the area manager is to review with the child’s psychologist any planned behaviour management strategies; the exhaustion of all other appropriate behaviour management techniques, the child’s age, developmental stage and social history. Appropriate behaviour management strategies must be documented in the Plan of Care. Under no circumstances will permit Management or child and youth workers caregivers to utilize ground restraints or facedown arms crossed over chest prone restraints. This policy will be included in the service contract agreements signed for children placed by Children’s Aid Societies with or as part of a management contract. A person or persons who have full knowledge of the child and full knowledge of the behaviour management strategies outlined in the Plan of Care must do restraints. Patterns of restraint and any concerning incidents will be reviewed by management and sent to the child’s worker. Immediately following the incident, the child care youth workers will contact management who will contact the Ministry of Community, Family & Children’s Services to report a serious occurrence and will contact the child’s worker or after hours worker as per the agreement for service. All persons with any involvement in a restraint within 24 hours shall complete an incident report. All incident reports must be dated, signed. Management will complete the serious occurrence report form and attach the incident report to it and will forward these reports to the Ministry of Community, Family & Children’s Services and the agency within 7 days of the incident. The report will include: the events leading up to the restraint, a description of the actual restraint, persons present, date of last restraint training of the person doing the restraint, and the events immediately following the restraint. The person involved in the restraint will debrief the circumstances surrounding the incident with the child and document this in the incident report. The area manager will review the incident report and will debrief the staff involved with the incident and document this on the incident report. As part of the debriefing review a plan to prevent or minimize the need for restraints in the future will be developed.
RESIDENT COMPLAINT PROCEDURE 1. If a resident in the program has a complaint about the program, staff, or the method in which he is treated, he is allowed numerous ways of expressing his dissatisfaction, they are: (a) Residents are allowed to express concerns/complaints in the presence of other children and staff. (b) Residents are allowed to express their concerns privately to the staff. (c) Children are allowed to present their complaints or concerns to the Supervisor, Case Manager or Managements. (d) Children may call their worker collect, unless in the midst of a confrontation, at which time the child may phone when the situation has been resolved. (e) Children may write/phone the Advocacy Office using the forms available in the residence. (f) Children may fill out a written complaint form to resolve internal minor conflicts. Upon receipt of the complaint form the person in which the resident wished to address the complaint with will reply within 24 hours and will document this with the results on the form. (Appendix 2 –)
SERIOUS OCCURRENCES
Serious Occurrences which may be described from the excerpt as taken from the Ministry’s Policy (revised February 2003) as follows must be reported
Serious Occurrences to Be Reported To the Ministry and the Board/Owner
1. Any death of a client which occurs while participating in a service 2. Any serious injury to a client which occurs while participating in a service: a. caused by the service provider b. accidental c. self-inflicted/unexplained-treatment required 3. Any alleged abuse or mistreatment of a client which occurs while participating in a service. 4. Any situation where a client is missing, in accordance with ministry requirements for applicable program sectors; otherwise where service provider considers matter to be serious. 5. Any disaster, such as fire, on the premises where a service is provided. 6. Any complaint concerning the operational, physical or safety standards of the service, which is considered by the service provider to be of a serious nature. 7. Any complaint made by or about a client, or any other serious occurrence concerning a client, that is considered by the service provider to be of a serious nature. 8. Physical Restraint (added Feb/03)
(1) Abuse includes: a) to suffer physical harm b) to be sexually molested or sexually exploited c) To require but not be provided with medical treatment • with respect to children, abuse is defined in CFSA, Section 68(1) • CFSA, Section 68(2) and (3) specify the duty to report to a children's aid society information regarding a child's need of Protection and abuse (2) CFSA, Regulation 550/85, Section 95(2) specifies reporting requirements where a child is absent from a residential service.
DEATH 1. Any staff who may be in the situation where a resident may have died, will immediately remove all other residents out of the area. 2. Cover the body. 3. Notify the Hospital for an ambulance, and contact the Coroner. The Coroner will pronounce that the resident is dead. 4. The Police will also be notified if the death was not of natural causes. 5. Contact residential Supervisor and Management. 6. The Management will notify the placing Agency, Ministry of Community and Social Services and Guardian. (After the medical professionals have examined the body, and pronounced the resident dead). 7. No person shall leave the residence in the event of a death. All staff will be notified and kept on emergency call. 8. A written report will be sent to the placing Agency, Parents and Ministry, stating what occurred, when, how (if known), any follow-up investigations that may be done and the conclusions. This will be completed within 48 hours of the occurrence.
SERIOUS INJURY 1. Any staff noting an injured resident will give immediate first aid (after determining the nature of the injury/illness). 2. The staff designated as in charge, will decide if the injury is to such extent that medical attention is required. 3. If medical attention is required, staff will immediately notify the residential Supervisor. They will state the incident, the time the injury occurred and what action was taken (first aid measures). 4. If the injury is a serious one (unconscious) staff will call an ambulance immediately then notify residential Supervisor. 5. Staff will accompany resident to the Hospital and ensure that all pertinent information is brought to the Hospital (Health Card, address, placing Agency and Guardian, medical inf. and cautions etc.). 6. Once resident has been hospitalized contact the placing Agency and Parents immediately. All pertinent information will be divulged and a written summary will be sent to the above-mentioned individuals. The Management will contact the Ministry of Community, Family and Children’s Services in the case of a Serious Injury.
THREATS OF SUICIDE 1. All threats of suicide by residents must be taken seriously. 2. Staff must remove all articles (objects etc.) that the resident may harm themselves. 3. Staff must monitor the resident closely. 4. Contact the residential Supervisor immediately, for direction and for additional support staff if necessary.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE 1. Take resident to the Hospital in the fastest and safest manner available. (Give first aid if possible). 2. Keep resident under close observation. 3. Make Hospital staff aware of suicide attempt. 4. Immediately following the incident, the House Parent or child care youth workers will contact the area manager who will contact the Ministry of Community, Family & Children’s Services to report a serious occurrence and will contact the child’s worker or after hours worker as per the agreement for service. 5. An incident report shall be completed by all persons with any involvement in a suicide attempt within 24 hours. All incident reports must be dated, signed and submitted to the area manager within 24 hours. The area manager will complete the serious occurrence report form and attach the incident report to it and will forward these reports to the Ministry of Community, Family & Children’s Services and the agency within 7 days of the incident. 6. In the case of a drug overdose, make all attempts to identify the drug and possible amount taken. Take the drug bottle (if possible) to the Hospital with you and notify Hospital personnel, if possible of the drug taken.
AWOL - ABSENT WITHOUT OFFICIAL LEAVE A resident is considered AWOL if he/she leaves at any time without permission. 1. In the case of our lower functioning residents as well as any resident under the age of 12 the missed resident will be reported missing immediately. 2. The residential Supervisor is to be notified immediately when a resident is discovered missing. 3. Alert all staff on shift that a resident is missing. 4. Search the entire premises (closest, basement, outside etc.). 5. If the resident is not found during the initial search, notify the Police that the resident is missing from the premises. The requirements related to missing persons reports includes all children in the care of children's aid societies e.g.. Crown wards, society wards or those in care through temporary care or special needs agreements. The target group includes children in care who are on independent living status, as well as those who are in transition from one placement to another. When a child is placed in a, foster care, or independent living or making a transition from one type of living accommodation to another ie. From independent living to home or community and when that child is: a) Absent from a residence, operated by without permission for twenty-four hours or more; or is b) absent from a residence foster home or independent living operated by without permission for a period of less than twenty-four hours, and the absence is considered by the Management of his designate to pose a serious risk to self or others;
is responsible for the following: • Filing a Missing Persons Report with the Police and; submitting a Serious Occurrence Report to the Ministry (if considered by the Management or his Designate to pose a serious risk to self and/or others); • Notifying the CAS that the child is missing and that it has filed a Missing Persons Report and submitting a Serious Occurrence Report (if considered by management or designate to pose a serious risk to self and/or others). • providing by mail or fax, to the responsible CAS, a summary or copy of whatever information was given to police for the Missing Person Report, • providing to the responsible CAS, a copy of the Serious Occurrence Report; and • Notifying the parents or legal guardian, of the child's absence in cases where the child is in the care of the CAS through a temporary care agreement or special needs agreement.
The CAS is responsible to: Assess the circumstances regarding the child's risk to self and/or others and determining if, based on Serious Occurrence Reporting Procedures criteria, they need to submit a Report to the ministry.
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Post by REALITY on Jan 12, 2007 15:27:54 GMT -5
CAS Client Rights and Complaints Policy
POLICY
Approved by: _________________________ Number: FS1-30 Executive Director
Date: Page: 1 of 1
CLIENT RIGHTS AND COMPLAINTS RESOLUTION
Clients are entitled to:
ƒx prompt and courteous service; ƒx inclusion in the decision-making with respect to their child and family (subject to the ¡§best interests¡¨ of the child being paramount); ƒx access to the complaints resolution process; ƒx confidentiality; and ƒx access to their record and that of their children (subject to review by Legal Services).
Staff, foster parents and volunteers are expected to provide services within the spirit of the Society¡¦s Statement of Core Values. Services are to be provided with sensitivity and compassion as well as with respect for individual dignity and cultural diversity.
Clients are to receive, as part of the intake process, written information about their rights and the Society¡¦s Complaint Procedure.
The Society¡¦s Complaint Procedure is to be followed in the resolution of any complaints from clients. Any such complaints are to be resolved, to the extent possible, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. Clients may have a friend or advisor accompany them and help them in the resolution of any complaint.
If a complaint is not resolved through meetings with staff using the four-step process, the client has the right to have their complaint reviewed by the Board of Directors.
If a complaint is not resolved by the Board of Directors, the client has the right to have their complaint reviewed by the Ministry of Community, Family and Children¡¦s Services.
Staff members have the right to be notified of the details of any complaint respecting their provision of services. They also have the right to equal access to the person(s) handling the complaint beyond the first step of the Complaint Procedure.
Cross Reference
Family Services standard 1.10 C.F.S.A. s. 68
PROCEDURE
Approved by: _________________________ Number: FS1-30 Executive Director
Date: Page: 1 of 3
CLIENT RIGHTS AND COMPLAINTS RESOLUTION
Clients receiving services from the Society will be entitled to prompt and courteous service at all times. All staff, foster parents, and volunteers will be bound by the Society¡¦s Code of Ethics, which sets out clear expectations for how clients will be treated. If the client is dissatisfied with the services they are receiving, he/she has access to a Complaints Procedure in an attempt to resolve their concerns.
At the point of intake when a case is opened for service, the Child Protection Worker will advise the client as to their rights and the complaints procedures and will make available to the client a copy of the Complaint Procedure.
It is expected that every effort will be made by the client and staff member to resolve complaints and differences directly in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
Clients are expected to use each level of complaint resolution before proceeding to the next level. Clients have the opportunity to have a friend or advocate accompany them to any meeting beyond the first level of the Complaint Procedure.
Staff members have the right to be notified of the details of any complaint respecting their provision of services. They also have the right to equal access to the person(s) handling the complaint beyond the first level of the procedures.
The Complaint Procedure involves four steps:
STEP 1:
DISCUSSION WITH THE STAFF MEMBER
The client will discuss their complaint directly with the staff member who is responsible for providing services.
PROCEDURE
CLIENTS RIGHTS AND COMPLAINTS RESOLUTION Number: FS1-30
Page: 2 of 3
STEP 2:
DISCUSSION WITH THE MANAGER
If the complaint has not been resolved at Step 1, the client may bring the matter to the attention of the staff member¡¦s Manager, preferably in writing to request a meeting. Every effort will be made by the Manager to deal with the complaint, including providing the opportunity to meet with the client. The Manager will contact the client to arrange a meeting within 5 business days of receiving the complaint. Within 10 business days following the client meeting with the Manager, the Manager will send a letter to the client setting out any agreement they have reached, or if no agreement is reached, setting out the Manager¡¦s decision regarding the complaint. If the complaint is not resolved the client can go to Step 3 within 10 business days.
STEP 3:
DISCUSSION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF SERVICES
In this step the client contacts the Director of Services outlining the complaint. The Director of Services will arrange a meeting with the client. It is the responsibility of the Director of Services to find out from the Manager the steps that have been taken to resolve the client¡¦s complaint, which he/she will do before meeting with the client. The goal of the client meeting with the Director of Services will be to look for a solution to the problem. The Director will let the client know his/her decision within 10 business days.
STEP 4:
DISCUSSION WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In this step the client may contact the Executive Director outlining the reasons for requesting a meeting with the Executive Director. The Executive Director will arrange a meeting with the client. The Executive Director (prior to meeting with the client) will have met with the Director of Services to find out what steps have been taken to resolve the client¡¦s complaint. The goal of the meeting with the Executive Director will be to look for a solution to the problem. The Executive Director will let the client know his/her decision within 10 business days. If the complaint is not resolved the client should go to Step 5 within 10 business days.
PROCEDURE
CLIENTS RIGHTS AND COMPLAINTS RESOLUTION Number: FS1-30
Page: 3 of 3
STEP 5:
DISCUSSION WITH THE SOCIETY¡¦S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
If Step 4 does not resolve the problem, the client may write to the Executive Director indicating the wish to have their complaint reviewed by the Board of Directors. Within 10 business days of receiving the letter, the Executive Director will arrange a meeting between the client and a committee of the Board of Directors. The client will be notified of the date, time and place of the meeting with the committee. Within 10 business days after the client meets with the committee, the client can expect to receive a letter outlining the Board¡¦s decision and recommendations. If the client is not satisfied with the response received from the Board of Directors, the client may have the matter further reviewed by a Director of the Ministry of Community, Family and Children¡¦s Services.
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Post by REALITY on Jan 12, 2007 15:36:47 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 14, 2007 18:25:48 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 14, 2007 18:28:12 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 14, 2007 18:32:47 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 14, 2007 18:43:23 GMT -5
CLEONet is an online clearinghouse for community legal education in Ontario. www.cleonet.ca/
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Post by REALITY on Jan 14, 2007 18:45:18 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 14, 2007 18:46:51 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 14, 2007 19:22:57 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 14, 2007 20:00:14 GMT -5
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Post by REALITY on Jan 14, 2007 20:01:10 GMT -5
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