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Service User Reviews.
The Policy.
It is the Aim of Hayfield Support Services to
regard each service user as an individual with changing and developing needs and
aspirations. It is therefore
recognised that it is necessary to continually review and reassess the situation
of each service user.
The service user must be at the centre of the
assessment and review process. Hayfield provides an environment in which service users are
enabled and encouraged to take an active role in all parts of this process. Each
service user has a named residential key worker and a named day care instructor
who will provide a focus and access to the process.
The review process will also be accessible to
representatives of the referring authority, and to family and carers where
appropriate. Service users also
have a right to request the support of an independent advocate. (Other
individuals may be invited to contribute to the process or to attend review
meetings as appropriate, and with the agreement of the service user).
The assessment and review process will result in
the production of a Review Report which will be regularly up-dated as individual
circumstances change. This will
include details of current individual needs and goals.
All Review reports produced by Hayfield staff
will be made available and will be conveyed to the service user in an
appropriate medium. Service users
will have access to all review meetings, and will have the right to choose how
and by whom the the contents are communicated to them. (The referring authority
representative or family and carers may request or arrange for independent
communication support). The
contents of all review meetings and decisions taken at them will be recorded,
and will be available to the service user, and representatives.
The Process.
Meetings.
New service user applicants will undertake a 6
week period of assessment, after which they will be involved in an Initial
Review Meeting along with Hayfield staff, Local Authority representative and
their family or carers if appropriate. Decisions
taken and goals set at this meeting will be incorporated in the service
user’s report of individual needs and goals.
Thereafter, Review Meetings will be held twice
yearly and the circumstances and progress of the service user will be reported
on and reassessed. Where
appropriate, changes or additions will be made to the current report of
individual needs and goals.
Review Meetings are generally held at 11.00am
on a Thursday. Meetings can be
arranged at alternative times to take account of exceptional circumstances.
A minimum of two weeks notice is generally required in order to make
such rearrangements.
Participants at Review Meetings would normally
include the service user, Hayfield staff, and the Local Authority
representative.
It is recognised that service users have the
right not to attend their Review Meetings if they so wish.
Attendance at Review Meetings of other
individuals, including family and carers is available only with the agreement
of the service user.
Communication support will be available at all
Review Meetings, and the service user has a right to choose how and by whom
this support is provided, including the involvement of independent support.
(It is recognised that some service users may
feel uncomfortable with having “strangers” present at their Reviews.
Others may have limited communication skills or have idiosyncratic signing
systems, which may be inaccessible to otherwise skilled interpreters.
Therefore independent communication support is not generally provided
but is available as required).
Notification.
A programme of review meetings is prepared at
least 6 months in advance, so that all service users and others have notice of
the process.
Initial notification will be given to the
service user and Hayfield staff.
A notification letter will be sent to the Local
Authority representative 4 to 6 weeks prior to the Review.
In addition, a reminder telephone call will be made in the week prior
to the review.
It will be the responsibility of the Local
Authority representative to inform the service user’s family or carers about
the Review, and to invite their attendance if appropriate.
Invitations to or contributions from other
individuals or agencies will be made by Hayfield, only if agreed by the
service user.
The service user may invite the attendance of
an advocate or other representative, either personally or through Hayfield,
their Local Authority representative or their family or carers.
In the event of non-attendance of the Local
Authority representative or other invited individuals, the arranged Review
Meeting will go ahead, and copies of reports and minutes will be sent to
relevant parties.
June 2005 | 
