Service Principles

Whether you contact us by phone, in writing, or talk directly with Council staff, there are certain standards and principles which you can expect:

1. Respect and Dignity

You can expect to be treated with dignity and respect and to have your privacy protected.

2. Privacy and Confidentiality

We are strongly committed to protecting your privacy.
Any information we obtain from you will be held securely and will not be disclosed to anybody else without your permission.
You have the right to request access to your information and to ask for it to be corrected if necessary.

3. Assessment without Discrimination

Your specific support requirements will be accommodated as far as possible. The decision to provide a service will be based on your individual assessed need and the capacity of services to meet that need.

4. Information

You have the right to know about services, so that you can make your own decisions. This information booklet explains the services which are available from the City of Yarra and other relevant agencies.

5. Decision Making

You have the right to make choices about the services you want and you are encouraged to decide how best the services can meet your needs. You also have the right to refuse or cease services.

6. Complaints and Feedback

If you have any concerns about any of our services please discuss this with us. Our aim is to ensure you consistently receive quality services, so your feedback, whether positive or negative is vital. If you do not wish to make a formal complaint we also welcome informal feedback.

7. The Right to an Advocate of your Choice

If you don’t feel comfortable talking with Council officers on your own, you may find it helpful to have someone else with you to speak on your behalf. This person is called an Advocate. You can choose anyone to be your advocate and some agencies specialise in providing advocacy people for when dealing with government organisations. We can provide you with contact numbers for these agencies.

8. Needs Based Services

All services will be purchased and provided on the basis of relative need. This means that those households with the highest need and least ability to afford these services will be given priority of access to Council support services.

9. Duty of Care

Council is bound by a duty of care to ensure that all our staff and service providers:

• exercise reasonable care in the provision of services
• act to protect the health, well-being and safety of you and your household.

The City of Yarra has adopted a Statement of Client’s Rights.
The two part statement clearly sets out Council’s expectations of your responsibilities when receiving our services.

Your Rights

The right to be treated with courtesy.

The right to be assessed for access to services without discrimination.

The right to be part of decisions made about your care.

The right to refuse services or an offer of services at any time.

The right to choose from available alternatives.

The right to involve an advocate of your choice.

The right to receive good quality services.

The right to be informed and consulted about services and other relevant matters.

The right to complain if you are not happy with the service.

The right to privacy and confidentiality, and access to all personal information kept about you.

Your Responsibilities

To respect and treat staff and other service users with courtesy and respect.

To respect the human worth and dignity of the service provider staff and other service users.

To take responsibility for the results of any decisions you make.

To cooperate with staff providing services for you.

To provide a safe work environment for staff and help them to provide you with services safely.

To refrain from smoking whilst the carer is in the room.

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Further information

Aged and Disability Services
Collingwood Town Hall
140 Hoddle St Abbotsford
Telephone 9205 5555 - 9205 5285
Email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Links

Within this site
Yarra City Councl

External sites (Yarra City Council accepts no responsibility for the information or opinions contained within external sites)
Disability Online Victoria Funded by Department of Human Services

Information supplied by: Electronic communications & design officer - 9205 5214

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