Privacy, Dignity and Confidentiality Policy
Purpose
T h i s p o l i c y i s t o e s t a b l i s h s t a n d a r d s o f p r i v a c y , d i g n i t y a n d c o n f i d e n t i a l i t y i n A u r o r a S u p p o r t S e r v i c e s d e a l i n g s w i t h p r o s p e c t i v e , c u r r e n t a n d p a s t u s e r s o f t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n 's s e r v i c e s .
T h i s p o l i c y a p p l i e s t o a l l o f t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n 's p r o g r a m s a n d a c t i v i t i e s .
Procedures
The following procedures are to be implemented to ensure Aurora Support Services meets its policy objective of ensuring all participants of the organisation have the same level of privacy, dignity and confidentiality as is expected by the rest of the community.
Aurora Support Services will:
-Involve the relevant participant in discussions concerning them whenever they are present.
-Only collect information about the participant that can be shown to be directly relevant to effective service delivery and the organisation's duty of care responsibilities.
-Seek the written consent of the participant or family prior to obtaining information from any other source.
-Seek the written consent of the participant or family prior to releasing information to any other source.
-Ensure that personal information is stored securely and is not left on view to unauthorised Aurora Support Services staff or the general public.
-Ensure that only those Aurora Support Services staff who need access to the above information will be granted access.
-Advise the participant and family of the nature of the personal information that is held by Aurora Support Services about the participant.
-Advise the participant and family of their right to view the information that Aurora Support Services keeps in respect of the participant.
-Ensure that personal information about a participant is only held by Aurora Support Services as long as it is remains relevant to the delivery of effective services and Aurora Support Services duty of care obligations (refer Archiving Procedure).
-Inform the participant if their privacy has or may have been breached and explain what is being done to deal with the breach.
-Promptly investigate, remedy and document any consumer grievance regarding privacy, dignity or confidentiality.
Continuous Improvement
The Executive Director / Assistant Executive Director is responsible for reviewing and updating this policy on a two yearly basis. However, if at any time the legislative, policy or funding environment is so altered that the policy is no longer appropriate in its current form, the policy will be reviewed immediately and amended accordingly.