Home and Living > Ameeyk on Hurd > Community Visitors Program (CVP) - Procedure
Authorised by Chief Executive Officer
Revised Date: 16 October 2024
Introduction
Community Visitors play a vital role in safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of people with disability.
Community Visitors visit Victorian accommodation facilities for people with disability or mental illness in their local area. They monitor and report on the adequacy of the services provided and, where possible, communicate with residents or patients to ensure they are being treated with dignity and respect.
Community Visitors are Victorian Governor in Council appointees, are appointed for a three-year term, and have significant powers of entry and inspection.
They visit unannounced and write a brief report at the conclusion of the visit detailing who they have spoken to, what documents they have looked at, any issues of concern, as well as good practice they have observed.
Community visitors have the power to visit ‘SDA dwellings’, including SIL homes.
Related legislation
Guardianship and Administration Act 2019
Mental Health Act 2014
Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006
Disability Act 2006
Supported Residential Services (Private Proprietors) Act 2010
Disability & Social Services Amendment Act 2023 (Vic)
Procedure
•When Community Visitors visit Ameeyk or Palmer Houses, staff will:
•Request that the Community Visitors produce identification when they arrive at the house. If the Community Visitors fail to produce identification, access to the premises should be denied.
•Introduce the Community Visitors to participants/residents and explain their role and when necessary, make available information about the CVP as provided by Community Visitors.
•Provide the Community Visitors with reasonable assistance to carry out their responsibilities effectively during the visit.
•Inform participants/residents and respect their right to speak confidentially to the Community Visitors if they choose.
•Give full and true answers to the best of their knowledge to questions asked by a Community Visitor, in relation to their responsibilities under the current State Disability Act. Where a staff member is unable to answer a question asked by a Community Visitor, the required information should be provided to the Community Visitor as soon as possible.
•Read and sign the Record of Visit completed by Community Visitors. Signing of the report indicates that they have noted the contents; it does not mean endorsement or agreement.
•Ensure that a copy of the completed Record of Visit, including any Issues Reports, is provided to the House Coordinator
•All information of the Community Visitors visit and the contents of the reports are confidential
Responsibilities
•The responsibilities of Community Visitor volunteers include:
•spending 8-10 hours per month visiting facilities
•enquiring into the quality of services and care provided to residents or patients
•observing and, where possible communicating with residents or patients and staff, to identify problems
•ensuring that the treatment and service given to residents or patients maintains their dignity and respect
•assessing the opportunities available to residents or patients to participate in recreational and educational activities
•assessing whether living environments put patients or residents at risk
•following up on complaints and concerns raised by residents or patients
•liaising with staff and management to resolve identified issues
•referring broader or more serious issues to Office of Public Advocate (OPA).
If relevant, the House Coordinator is responsible for responding in writing to the Regional Convenor in a timely manner, appropriate to the seriousness of issues raised by Community Visitors.
Community visitors and residents
Residents can ask the house coordinator or support person to invite a community visitor to the property at any time.
Once the Kyeema worker asks for a community visitor, Kyeema must arrange it within 72 hours. They can do this by contacting the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA).
A community visitor should visit the house within seven days. The OPA will contact the resident or Kyeema if this is not possible.
The resident can also arrange for a community visitor themselves. For more information, contact the OPA’s Community Visitors Board on 1300 309 337 or visit OPA.
For residents: What is a Community Visitor? KCF-17
Reporting
If an issue is raised by the Community Visitors, the Community Visitors Program (CVP) – Issues Response Form HL-03 is to be completed, and a copy emailed to the relevant persons within 21 days. The email addresses are included on the Community Visitors Program (CVP) – Issues Response Form.
Review and Evaluation
Update HL-03 when the CVP Regional Convenor and/or the CVP Coordinator change
Complaints
If you have a complaint about the Community Visitor Program you can complete the online complaints form available on the Office of the Public Advocate website.
Workers at the Houses are to be made aware of this procedure.
Record Keeping
Community visitor records must be kept for five years and be available for residents to inspect.
Completed Record of Visit form to be filed in the Community Visitor folder at the relevant house.
Electronic copies:
•K:\Ameeyk House\Community Visitor Report
•K:\Palmer Street Houses\Community Visitor Report
If required, file the Community Visitors Program (CVP) – Issues Response Form HL-03 in the Community Visitor folder (after emailing to the CVP Regional Convenor & CVP Coordinator) at:
Related documents
Community Visitors Program (CVP) – Issues Response Form HL-03
Easy Read - What is a Community Visitor KCF-17