ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY REGARDING ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

 

Purpose: D’Vine Path is committed to promoting and assuring the health, safety and security of our clients. Therefore, D’Vine Path has adopted a “zero tolerance” policy regarding abuse or neglect of individuals with developmental disabilities, also known as regional center clients, as well as failure to report suspected abuse or neglect.

 

Definition: Abuse includes physical abuse, neglect, financial abuse, abandonment, isolation, abduction, or other treatment which results in physical harm, pain or mental suffering or deprivation, by a person providing care and supervision, of goods and services which are necessary to avoid physical harm or mental suffering.
 

*Physical Abuse: The use or attempt to use force on the person of another, unreasonable physical constraint, sexual abuse, or prolonged or continual deprivation of food and water. It also means the use of isolation, physical or chemical restraint, or psychotropic medications without medical authorization, for the purpose of punishment.
 

* Mental Suffering: Fear, agitation, confusion, severe depression or other forms of emotional distress that is brought about by threats, harassment or other forms of intimidating behavior.
 

*Neglect: Negligent failure of a person(s) having care or custody of an individual to exercise a reasonable degree of care including, but not limited to, a failure to assist in personal hygiene and the provision of food, clothing, and shelter, or failure to provide medical care or protection from health and safety hazards.

 

Responsibility: All staff, volunteers or other agents; all guests speakers utilized by D’Vine Path clients; and all D’Vine Path staff, including employees, contractors, consultants or other agents of D’Vine Path.

 

Policy: Client abuse committed by D’Vine Path employees, volunteers or outside guest speakers shall not be tolerated. All such abuse or allegations of such abuse shall be reported immediately to the proper authorities. Failure to report shall not be tolerated.

 

D’Vine Path Employees. Any abuse or allegations of abuse involving a D’Vine Path employee shall be reported to the appropriate governmental authorities. Any D’Vine Path employee found to have engaged in abuse against a client shall be subject to severe discipline, up to and including immediate termination. Any D’Vine Path employee who fails to report abuse or allegations of abuse shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination.

 

Procedures:

Notice upon Hire. D’Vine Path staff serving D’Vine Path clients shall ensure that their employees are fully informed upon hire regarding this Policy and the mandatory abuse and neglect reporting laws.

D’Vine Path Annual Notice. D’Vine Path shall notify its employees of this Policy on an annual basis.

   

Immediate Action Required. If D’Vine Path staff becomes aware of client abuse or neglect, D’Vine Path shall take immediate action, to the extent permitted by law, to ensure the health and safety of the affected client and all other clients receiving services and supports from D’Vine Path.

 

Inconsistencies:

If any inconsistency exists between this Policy and the reporting laws, the provisions in the reporting laws shall prevail.