Choice and control policy

Policy statement

ARMAR HEALTHCARE promotes and protects individual rights including freedom of expression, self-determination and decision-making.

This policy supports ARMAR HEALTHCARE to apply the National Standards for Disability Services, in particular Standard 1: Rights. This policy guides staff to support people to exercise their rights and have choice and control over their services.

Scope

This policy applies to all staff including permanent and casual, contract workers, temporary agency workers, and volunteers. This policy is owned by the Board.

Principles

ARMAR HEALTHCARE respects the rights of people with disability in exercising choice and control about matters that affect them.
Collaboration and consultation with people with disability (and other key stakeholders where appropriate) promotes and ensures active choice and control in relation to the services.
All people with disability are assumed to have capacity to make decisions, exercise choice, and provide informed consent regardless of their disability.
People are supported to develop their capacity to make independent decisions.
Timely information is provided in appropriate formats to support informed decision-making including people’s rights and responsibilities.
Choice includes smaller decisions about everyday living through to more complex consultation on co-design of service.
ARMAR HEALTHCARE supports people with disability in a way that is appropriate to their circumstances and cultural needs so as to maximise people’s opportunities to make choices and have control over decisions that affect their lives.
ARMAR HEALTHCARE recognizes the role of family, carers and advocates in representing people’s interests and promoting choice and control in the planning and delivery of supports.

Definitions

Dignity of risk – autonomy and self-determination used by a person when making decisions, including the choice to take some risks in life.

Informed consent – voluntary agreement and willing acceptance of a proposition and following action where the person making the decision has appropriate information and capacity to make the decision free or fear or influence.

Relevant legislation and policy

Carers Recognition Act 2010
Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Disability Services Act 1986
Equal Employment Opportunity Act 1987
Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
United Nations Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities
National Standards for Disability Services
National Disability Insurance Scheme 2013: Principles
National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguarding Framework

Approvals

Date of approval: [13/01/23]

Date of review: [13/01/24]

Signature of management: