Consumer Rights Policy and Procedure

CONSUMER RIGHTS POLICY AND PROCEDURE

INFORMING PARTICIPANTS OF CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS

Policy: PossAbilities will ensure that participants are informed of their service related and protection rights while receiving services and supports, information on restriction of their rights and where they can receive support on exercising their rights.

Procedure:

A.  Within five working days of admission to PossAbilities services, the Program Director will provide each participant and/or their legal representative with a copy of the Consumer Bill of Rights – Admission and an explanation of those rights. The Program Director will make reasonable accommodations to provide this information in a format or language as needed to facilitate understanding of the rights.

B.  The Program Director will assure the participant and/or their legal representative acknowledges receipt of the Consumer Bill of Rights – Admission by obtaining signatures on the form.

C.  The Program Director will assure a copy of the Consumer Bill of Rights – Admission is placed in the participant’s individual program file.

D.  On an annual basis, the Program Director or Specialist assigned to the participant will provide the participant and/or their legal representative with a copy of the Consumer Bill of Rights – Annual and an explanation of those rights. The Program Director and/or Specialist will make reasonable accommodations to provide this information in a format or language as needed to facilitate understanding of the rights.

E.  The Program Director or Specialist assigned to the participant will assure the participant and/or their legal representative acknowledges receipt of the Consumer Bill of Rights – Annual by obtaining signatures on the form.

F.  The Program Director or Specialist assigned to the participant will assure a copy of the Consumer Bill of Rights – Annual is placed in the participant’s individual program file.

RESTRICTION OF PARTICPANT RIGHTS

Policy:

A.  PossAbilities will enact restrictions to individual participant rights only if determined necessary to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the participant.

B.  Restrictions to participant rights are allowed only in regard to associating with other persons of the participant’s choice, personal privacy, and/or engaging in chosen activities.

C.  Any restriction to individual participant rights will be implemented in the least restrictive alternative manner necessary to protect the participant.

D.  Support to reduce or eliminate the need for the restriction will be provided in the most integrated and inclusive manner.

Procedure:

A.  Prior to restricting an individual participant’s rights the Program Director will meet with the participant and/or their legal representative, case manager and other support providers, if any, to discuss the need for the restriction and set conditions for ending the restriction.

B.  If it is agreed that it is necessary to restrict an individual participant’s rights the Program Director will complete a Notice of Participant Rights Restriction form that includes:

·  Justification for the restriction based on an assessment of the participant’s vulnerability related to exercising the right without restriction.

·  The objective conditions for ending the restriction.

·  A schedule for reviewing the restriction semi-annually from date of initial approval of restriction, or more frequently if requested by the participant, their legal representative or case manager.

C.  The Program Director will assure a signed copy of the Notice of Participant Rights Restriction is placed in the participant’s individual program file.

D.  The Program Director will assure the restriction to the individual participant’s rights is reviewed with the participant and/or their legal representative every 6 months from the date of initial approval.

E.  When the participant and/or their legal representative withdraws their approval of the individual participant rights restriction the Program Director will assure the right is immediately and fully restored.

Policy reviewed and authorized by:

______

Print name & title Signature

Last policy review _____/_____/_____

Last policy revision _____/_____/_____

10/15/13