Supported Decision Making Policy

Introduction

Bloom Healthcare recognises the fundamental right of individuals with disabilities to make their own choices and decisions regarding their care and services. This Supported Decision-Making Policy reflects our commitment to empower our Participants, acknowledging their capacity to participate in decisions that affect their lives. Our approach ensures that all individuals we support are afforded respect, dignity, and the autonomy to make informed decisions, in line with the philosophy of supportive decision-making.

Bloom Healthcare is committed to empowering our Participants by actively supporting their decision-making processes. This commitment ensures they are provided with the information, support, and environment necessary to make informed and autonomous choices about their care, services, and lives.

Scope

This policy applies to all staff within Bloom Healthcare directly involved in the provision of care and services to our Participants.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline Bloom Healthcare’s approach to supporting the decision-making of our Participants. It aims to ensure that our service delivery framework respects and promotes the autonomy, preferences, values, and rights of the individuals we serve.

Principles

Our approach to supported decision-making is grounded in the following principles:

Recognition of Autonomy: Acknowledging the inherent right of individuals to make decisions affecting their lives.
Informed Support: Providing the necessary assistance for Participants to make, communicate, and participate in decisions.
Client-Directed Decisions: Ensuring that the will, preferences, and rights of Participants guide all decision-making processes.
Safeguarding Rights: Upholding Participants’ human rights, with measures to protect against undue influence and exploitation.

Roles and Responsibilities

Participants are recognised as the primary decision-makers in matters concerning their care and service plans.
Staff are responsible for facilitating the decision-making process, providing necessary and understandable information, and respecting and implementing Participants’ decisions.
Management is tasked with ensuring that this policy is effectively implemented across Bloom Healthcare and providing staff with appropriate training and resources on supported decision-making principles and practices.

Approach to Supported Decision-Making

Bloom Healthcare adopts a personalised and respectful approach to supported decision-making. This involves:

Recognising the unique needs, preferences, and circumstances of each Participant.
Ensuring clear, accessible, and relevant information is provided to assist with informed decision-making.
Encouraging and supporting Participants in expressing their decisions and preferences.
Recognising that Participants require the support of their network to make decisions.

Implementing Supported Decision-Making

To effectively implement this policy, Bloom Healthcare will undertake several strategies, including:

Providing ongoing training and education to staff on supported decision-making, focusing on communication skills, ethical considerations, and person-centred practices.
Ensuring clear and open communication channels between Participants and staff, facilitating a mutual understanding of needs and preferences.
Utilising decision aids and other tools to assist Participants in understanding their options and the implications of their choices.
Engaging the support of the Participant’s network to assist the client to make decisions.
Providing resources for clinicians to use to assist their clients to use a support decision-making process.

Bloom Healthcare commits to reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of this policy regularly, ensuring that our practices continue to uphold and promote the principles of supported decision-making. This policy is a living document and will be updated as necessary to reflect best practices and feedback from Participants, their families, and our staff.

Training

All new employees and contractors will receive training on this policy during their induction. Bloom Healthcare will provide regular training to ensure that all employees and contractors are aware of this policy and understand their responsibilities.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Bloom Healthcare will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of this policy on an ongoing basis, using feedback from employees, Participants, and customers, as well as incident data.
The Director/s and management team will be responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented effectively, and that progress is tracked and reported to relevant stakeholders.
Employees and contractors are encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions for improving the policy and related procedures.

Review

This policy will be reviewed annually to assess its effectiveness and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Any necessary revisions or updates will be made in a timely manner and recorded on the Policy and Procedure Register.