Physical and DHHS residential Outlines roles and responsibilities of disability services sexual assault services practice support staff working in residential services managed by manual, 3rd the Department for responding to physical and sexual edition assault. Not specified Managing Focuses on disciplinary investigations. Performance and Conduct in Disability Services Policy Not specified Promoting Better Aims to assist in the effective management of all adverse Outcomes - events and promote a learning culture and continuous Systemic improvement in disability service delivery. Improvement Policy: Managing and reviewing adverse events Source: Compiled by the Family and Community Development Committee from Department of Health and Human Services publications and supplementary evidence. Despite this extensive guidance from the Department, appears to be inconsistencies between approaches adopted by disability service providers in responding to abuse. The Victorian Ombudsman’s report identified that guidance on serious misconduct does not apply to funded ‘departmental providers, which adopt a variety of separate approaches.’ Similarly, the Office of the Public Advocate identified lack of clear requirements relating to investigations and disciplinary action to be undertaken by disability services providers in response to abusive incidents perpetrated by staff: The (DHHS) Residential services practice manual 3rd edition does not specify what action must be during an investigation of staff to resident violence. In providing material to the Committee relating to guidance, the Department acknowledged two for improvement: There is a need to provide specific guidance for the investigation of allegations of staff to client assault within disability services. There is a need to strengthen disciplinary investigation practice for community sector organisations and build on an investigation framework being developed to respond to quality of care concerns for out-of-home care for children. These enhancements are scheduled to be undertaken as part of its Strengthen work plan. safeguards for people with a disability In addition to the guidelines and policies listed in Table 5.2, the Department conducts internal and external investigations of critical incidents occurring within funded disability service providers, and undertakes quality of care reviews.
Physical and sexual assault DHHS residential services practice manual, 3rd edition Outlines roles and responsibilities of disability services support staff working in residential services managed by the Department for responding to physical and sexual assault. Not specified Managing Performance and Conduct in Disability Services Policy Focuses on disciplinary investigations. Not specified Promoting Better Outcomes - Systemic Improvement Policy: Managing and reviewing adverse events Aims to assist in the effective management of all adverse events and promote a learning culture and continuous improvement in disability service delivery. Source: Compiled by the Family and Community Development Committee from Department of Health and Human Services publications and supplementary evidence. Despite this extensive guidance from the Department, appears to be inconsistencies between approaches adopted by disability service providers in responding to abuse. The Victorian Ombudsman’s report identified that ‘departmental guidance on serious misconduct does not apply to funded providers, which adopt a variety of separate approaches.’ Similarly, the Office of the Public Advocate identified lack of clear requirements relating to investigations and disciplinary action to be undertaken by disability services providers in response to abusive incidents perpetrated by staff: The (DHHS) Residential services practice manual 3rd edition does not specify what action must be during an investigation of staff to resident violence. In providing material to the Committee relating to guidance, the Department acknowledged two for improvement: There is a need to provide specific guidance for the investigation of allegations of staff to client assault within disability services. There is a need to strengthen disciplinary investigation practice for community sector organisations and build on an investigation framework being developed to respond to quality of care concerns for out-of-home care for children. These enhancements are scheduled to be undertaken as part of its Strengthen safeguards for people with a disability work plan. In addition to the guidelines and policies listed in Table 5.2, the Department conducts internal and external investigations of critical incidents occurring within funded disability service providers, and undertakes quality of care reviews.