Findings detailed in the Community Visitors Annual Report 2019-20 have been drawn from 4142 visits by 400 active volunteer Community Visitors across the state.“The report identifies a range of issues critical to the safety, treatment, care and human rights of Victoria’s most vulnerable citizens who, due to their disabilities, require 24-hour care in state regulated or managed services,” Public Advocate Colleen Pearce wrote. “These issues include continuing abuse, assaults and violence, particularly resident-on-resident and patient-on-patient, as well as concerning issues relating to Community Visitors being frustrated in their work with facilities, denied access to incident reports, vulnerable people still failing to access or benefit from the NDIS, insufficient accommodation for people with a mental illness and a failure of regulation in the SRS sector, resulting in the troubling neglect of residents.”
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Community Visitors recorded 669 abuse-related issues in 2019-20, up more than 30 per cent from 2018-19. The volunteers attend supported residential, mental health and disability services. Dr Pearce called for a new independent, safeguarding body to protect some 5000 vulnerable Victorian supported residential services residents from abuse and neglect and to ensure they are cared for properly.Supported residential services are almost all privately operated facilities that provide accommodation and support for Victorians who need help with everyday activities.“Community Visitors reported a number of instances of residents being given Notices to Vacate, and the eviction of residents including those receiving respite accommodation,” the report said. “They note, with concern, the frequency of the following chain of events: substance abuse leading to allegations of assault leading to eviction.”
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Community Visitors, especially in the Barwon area, were concerned by a lack of timely access to drug and alcohol support services, noting this gap would likely result in many continuing a dangerous spiral of abuse and violence, the report said. The report also noted Community Visitors to the Barwon Health mental health inpatient unit, the Swanston Centre, were very concerned about the impact of coronavirus lockdown on consumers in the acute inpatient unit. “Many consumers are smokers and, with all leave suspended, there was an increased risk of behaviours of concern as frustration levels grew,” the report noted.“Leave arrangements were reviewed and new leave plans established to allow consumers time limited leave while maintaining public health directives for COVID-19 restrictions.”
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