First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Policies Template Manual

Part 7: Health and Safety

First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program
Policies Template Manual
Community Logo

Part 7: Health and Safety
Community Name

Policy: Liability Protection
Policy Number: 7.5

Approval:
Date:

Policy

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program carries the required amount of liability insurance and has a written liability protection plan that identifies when formal written contracts are required.

All staff employed with the First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program and who are required to drive their own vehicle carry vehicle liability coverage in the amount of $1,000,000, Or more, and must also have a current, valid driver's licence

Policy Rationale

To ensure that processes are in place for ethical and legally sound contract management, including financial protection for Unforeseen or inappropriate conduct staff, which may result in legal action.

Policy Details

Program management is legally responsible and accountable for the liability of all contracted services and the financial security of the Program. Program management provides a safe physical environment for the Program.

Formal written contracts outlining all terms and conditions are prepared for:

• Any services provided to other programs and organizations
• Student placements
• All research activities
• All employees of the Program
• All consultant services and any other purchased services related to the Program

The liability protection plan details who is responsible to initiate written contracts for the First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program. All contracts are regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with legislation requirements. Legal consult will be obtained as necessary to review contracts.

The liability protection plan outlines the types of liability protection provided to:

• The Program
• Employees
• Partner organizations and programs
• The client, in the event of violation of legislation, practice, and client care, and from individual employees

All incidents of concern will be immediately documented and assessed and a plan of action will be identified. Legal consult may be necessary when incidents of concern are identified.

Process Guidelines

All staff receive an individual contract of employment that outlines the details of the requirements of the Program.

Program contracts and agreements include a clear detailing of the:

• Responsibility of the Program
• Requirements of the contract
• Definition of contracted services
• Obligations to the Program
• Basis of payment

All staff are provided with an orientation that includes an explanation and clear understanding of:

• Reporting and recording of liability concerns
• Recognition of potential liability problems
• The consequences of no action when liability problems are identified
• The responsibility to provide the Program with annual proof of vehicle liability coverage in the amount of $ 1,000,000, or more, if required to use one's own vehicle to provide services
• A copy of valid, current driver's licences must be on file for all staff required to drive in order to deliver services

Ongoing education and training of staff are provided when changes in practice are necessary.

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program reports and records liability concerns.

Program management communicates to staff regarding changes of practice that may result from investigation of a liability concern.

Performance Measurement Suggestions

Indicator: This information is to be developed by communities as they work with their Programs. For an example of the kind of measures that should be identified, refer to the Hiring Policy template.

Formula:

Related Standards

1.5 Contract Management
3.1 Services Delivery
3.2 Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Protection Services
4.1 Health and Safety
4.2 Equipment and Materials
4.3 Building/Physical Space
5.1 Planning
5.5 Quality of Work Life

Some Suggested References

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Planning Resource Kit: Program Criteria, Sections 2, 3A, 4 and 5
Draft Liability Documents: May, sections 2.13, 2.14, 3.4, 3.11, 3.17 and 4.12 -- 4.15; June, pgs 7-12, 16-17, 21, 25, 30-34

CCHSA AIM Standards, 1999 -- Leadership and Partnerships
Provincial/Territorial and Federal Legislation
DIAND/FNIHB Home and Community Care Directives

Review Process:
Dates:

Each community is responsible for developing and putting in place their own procedures. These procedures need to outline the practical steps to be taken to carry out the process guidelines for this policy.

Suggested Procedures

1. Procedure to guide the content of written contracts and service agreements.
   Suggested tools:
• Sample contracts and service agreements for standard wording and layout
2. Procedure for reporting and recording of liability concerns.
   Suggested tools:
• Form for reporting liability concerns, including follow-up activity
3. Procedure for validating staff vehicle liability.
   Suggested tools:
• Personnel record that includes recording of vehicle liability, if required, and annual updating to ensure liability information is still valid
4. Procedure for conducting criminal reference checks.
5. Procedure for the regular review of insurance coverage.

First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program
Policies Template Manual
Community Logo

Part 7: Health and Safety
Community Name

Policy: Negligence
Policy Number: 7.6

Approval:
Date:

Policy

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program accepts responsibility to ensure that the competence of all management and staff involved with the Program has been assessed and, where appropriate, additional skills and training have been provided.

Policy Rationale

To ensure the delivery of safe client care through the effective recruitment and training of competent human resources.

Policy Details

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program strives to protect clients, families and staff through detailed hiring practices and appropriate education and training. Program management is responsible to ensure that the public will be protected from any violation of conduct, including false reporting.

Program management has proven skills and training to supervise staff.

All employees are required to show proof of their education and training, including certification where appropriate, at the time they are hired.

References of all staff are checked prior to hire. When appropriate, criminal records may be obtained for staff working with the program.

The conduct of all staff is professional at all times. Any violation of conduct and the course of action to be taken is documented and reported to the appropriate authorities immediately. All complaints will be investigated thoroughly.

Due diligence is demonstrated when a question of negligence occurs. Legal consult will be requested, where appropriate, to review and advise Program management on necessary actions when a situation of negligence occurs.

Process Guidelines

Orientation of staff includes an explanation of:

• Expectations regarding the staff's code of conduct
• Certification requirements for specific skills
• Responsibility of staff to practice competently
• Requirements to maintain competence and/or certification in skills
• Performance review expectations
• The process for reporting, recording and handling a violation of conduct
• Consequences that may result of a violation of conduct

Ongoing training and development is provided for staff who require certification of skills. Professional standards of practice are discussed, as appropriate.

Regular reviews of staff performance and practice occur and training and development plans are discussed at that time.

The Human Rights Code will be followed at all times.

Performance Measurement Suggestions

Indicator: This information is to be developed by communities as they work with their Programs. For an example of the kind of measures that should be identified, refer to the Hiring Policy template.

Formula:

Related Standards

3.1 Services Delivery
3.3 Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Protection Services
4.1 Health and Safety
5.2 Recruitment and Retention
6.4 Information Exchange

Some Suggested References

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Planning Resource Kit: Program Criteria and Sections 2, 3A, 4 and 5
Draft Liability Documents: May, section 4 to 4.15; June, pgs 7-12, 28- 29.

CCHSA AIM Standards, 1999 -- Leadership and Partnerships, Human Resources
Provincial/Territorial and Federal Legislation
DIAND/FNIHB Home and Community Care Directives

Review Process:
Dates:

Each community is responsible for developing and putting in place their own procedures. These procedures need to outline the practical steps to be taken to carry out the process guidelines for this policy.

Suggested Procedures

1. Procedure for conducting checks of references, certifications, and education and training, as well as criminal checks, as required.
   Suggested tools:
• Checklist for obtaining information about and checking references, certifications, education and training and conducting criminal checks, as required
2. Procedure for annually reviewing certifications, education and training, and any other updates of information for personnel files.
   Suggested tools:
• Update checklist for information about references, certifications, education and training, and criminal checks, as required, to be kept in individual personnel files
3. Procedure for annually completing staff performance reviews.
   Suggested tools:
• Performance review process guideline
4. Procedure for securing personnel files and access to personnel files.
5. Procedure for identifying ongoing education, training and development required and for tracking the progress of training plans and staff training sessions.
   Suggested tools:
• Update checklist to record information about current individual staff education and training, to be kept in individual personnel files
6. Procedure for reporting, recording and handling complaints, with a specific procedure for high-risk complaints.
   Suggested tools:
• Incident report form
7. Procedure to guide Program management when violation of conduct occurs.
   Suggested tool:
• Form to record information about the violation, consequences and follow-up required

First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program
Policies Template Manual
Community Logo

Part 7: Health and Safety
Community Name

Policy: Client Abuse
Policy Number: 7.7

Approval:
Date:

Policy

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program has a strict policy of zero tolerance for client abuse by health care workers. The Program accepts accountability and responsibility for Recording and reporting situations of suspected client abuse.

Policy Rationale

To ensure staff have a clear understanding of the seriousness of any client abuse caused by the staff and the consequences that may result. These consequences may range from limited measures with the start of the disciplinary process to more severe actions, up to and including termination.

Policy Details

Program management has a moral responsibility to protect clients at all times from any form of client abuse. The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program uses professional standards of practice where appropriate to guide client/provider relationships.

All cases of suspected client abuse by Program staff are to be reported immediately to Program management and to the appropriate authorities. Reporting of client abuse follows legislative standards. All cases of suspected client abuse are to be investigated immediately. Program management is responsible for recording, monitoring and tracking all cases of client abuse by Program staff.

Education is provided to all staff on the client/ provider relationship to ensure that they know about proper conduct and the consequences of a violation of that relationship.

Process Guidelines

During orientation and ongoing training sessions, the First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program educates and trains all staff about:

• The types of client abuse, how to detect client abuse and how to assess the suspected degree of client abuse
• The legal requirements to record and report client abuse and the steps to take when a situation of client abuse is suspected
• Treatment for the various types of client abuse
• Consequences of a violation of the client/provider relationship related to client abuse

A team approach will be used to assess suspected cases of client abuse by Program staff. Other community services may be used to assist with management of client abuse and to provide a social network for the client where appropriate.

Where appropriate, a written, informed consent from the client will be obtained to report the suspected case of abuse.

The Program is reviewed on a regular basis and changes are made, as required, to reflect changes to legislation or health care practices.

Performance Measurement Suggestions

Indicator: This information is to be developed by communities as they work with their Programs. For an example of the kind of measures that should be identified, refer to the Hiring Policy template.

Formula:

Related Standards

3.1 Services Delivery
3.2 Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Protection Services
3.5 Client Rights
3.6 Ethical Issues
3.7 Confidentiality
4.1 Health and Safety
6.2 Data Collection and Reporting

Some Suggested References

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Planning Resource Kit: 4
Draft Liability Documents: May, section 3, 3.1, 3.3, 3.11, 3.13, 3.17, 3.20; June, pgs 15, 22.

CCHSA AIM Standards, 1999 -- Human Resources
Provincial/Territorial and Federal Legislation
DIAND/FNIHB Home and Community Care Directives

Review Process:
Dates:

Each community is responsible for developing and putting in place their own procedures. These procedures need to outline the practical steps to be taken to carry out the process guidelines for this policy.

Suggested Procedures

1. Procedure for reporting, recording and handling complaints, with a specific procedure for high-risk complaints.
   Suggested tools:
• Incident report form
2. Procedure for reporting, recording and handling suspected client abuse.
   Suggested tools:
• Incident report form
• Client consent form
3. Procedure to guide Program management when client abuse occurs.
   Suggested tools:
• Form to record information about the situation, consequences, and follow-up required, as well as the process for reporting the occurrence to the appropriate authorities
4. Procedure to determine and implement disciplinary processes.
   Suggested tools:
• Form for individual personnel records that indicates the reason for discipline, the disciplinary plan, and any follow-up required
5. Procedure for handling gifts and donations that clients wish to make to individual staff and to the Program.

First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program
Policies Template Manual
Community Logo

Part 7: Health and Safety
Community Name

Policy: Infection Control
Policy Number: 7.8

Approval:
Date:

Policy

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program uses infection control principles and practices in care delivery in order to reduce the risk of infection to clients, families, staff, and the entire community.

Policy Rationale

To ensure that staff and clients are protected against infectious diseases and infections.

Policy Details

Hiring practices are designed to reduce the risk of infection and the spread of disease. All staff provide a record of current immunization status at the time of hiring. Written reports of medical examinations of staff must be provided within a period of time after being hired.

Immunization of staff is required where exposure to high-risk infections exist, such as Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis. Consents forms are obtained from staff prior to any immunization. All staff exposed to high risk infections and communicable diseases are screened immediately.

Program management complete an investigation of any incidents. All cases of exposure to high-risk infections and communicable diseases are reported to the appropriate health authorities, and, if necessary, to community leadership. Incidents will be reviewed and analyzed by Program management to identify ways to improve care delivery and reduce risk of infection to clients, families and staff.

Process Guidelines

Orientation of First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program staff includes an explanation of:

• Infection control principles and practices that include:
• Hand washing techniques
• Aseptic techniques
• Use of personal protective equipment
• Care and cleaning of equipment
• Supplies required for universal precautions
• Disposal of blood and body fluids
• Needle use and disposal
• Types of infections in the community
• Accidental spills
• Identification and isolation of infectious diseases
• Care of clients with infectious diseases
• Reporting and recording of infectious diseases
• Reporting and recording of staff incidents of exposure to infectious diseases
• Environmental assessment of client access to safe drinking water, disposal of waste products and safe food management
• Client/family teaching about infection control Training and education of staff about infection control practices is conducted on an ongoing basis.

All staff use universal precautions when providing direct care. Staff are provided with the necessary personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to infectious diseases

The health status of all staff is monitored on a regular basis. Records of any staff exposure to infectious diseases are maintained in the individual staff personnel files.

Program management follows the Occupational Health and Safety Act guidelines for infection control.

All hazardous wastes must be properly labeled, handled and discarded.

Any buildings or other physical space used for the Program meet legislated safety requirements.

Performance Measurement Suggestions

Indicator: This information is to be developed by communities as they work with their Programs. For an example of the kind of measures that should be identified, refer to the Hiring Policy template.

Formula:

Related Standards

3.1 Services Delivery
3.3 Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Protection Services
4.1 Health and Safety
4.2 Equipment and Materials
4.3 Building/Physical Space
4.5 Emergency and Disaster Planning
5.5 Quality of Work Life

Some Suggested References

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Planning Resource Kit: Sections 3A, 4
Draft Liability Documents: May, section 5.9; June, pgs 6-9, 28

CCHSA AIM Standards, 1999 -- Environment
Provincial/Territorial and Federal Legislation
DIAND/FNIHB Home and Community Care Directives

Review Process:
Dates:

Each community is responsible for developing and putting in place their own procedures. These procedures need to outline the practical steps to be taken to carry out the process guidelines for this policy.

Suggested Procedures

1. Procedure for universal precautions.
2. Procedures for care of specific infectious diseases (ie chickenpox, hepatitis, HIV, etc.).
3. Procedure for monitoring immunization status of staff on a regular basis.
4. Procedure for handling situations of employee exposure to infectious disease.
5. Procedure for special precautions to be taken by pregnant employees who are working in situations that may expose them to infectious diseases.
6. Procedure for handling accidental spills.
7. Procedure for handling needle stick injuries.
8. Procedure for sharps disposal.
9. Procedure for communication with local authorities regarding exposure to high-risk infections and communicable diseases.