Advocacy | Complaints | Reporting | What is Abuse or Neglect? | dLCV
Each individual receiving service at Southeastern Virginia Training Center shall be assured the freedom to exercise their legal, civil, and human rights related to those services. Persons receiving services shall be assured respect for basic human dignity and that services provided are consistent with sound therapeutic practice. The Rules and Regulations to assure the rights of Individuals Receiving Services from Providers of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services provide details on individual rights and can be accessed on website of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services at www.dbhds.virginia.gov. Each person and the authorized representative receive an annual notification of individual rights related to services received at Southeastern Virginia Training Center.
Advocacy
Lashanique “La-La” Green is the assigned Human Rights Advocate (Advocate) for Southeastern Virginia Training Center. The Advocate monitors an advocacy system at Southeastern Virginia Training Center to promote compliance with individual rights. The Advocate is available to help people make a complaint about a possible violation of their rights and will represent the person upon request or consult with any other representative the individual may choose. The Advocate assigned to Southeastern Virginia Training Center is independent of the Training Center’s Facility Director and reports directly to the Office of Human Rights of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The Advocate can initiate or directly receive a complaint from anyone at anytime. If the person or Authorized Representative is not satisfied with the resolution of the complaint, a petition for a hearing may be submitted to the Local Human Rights Committee.
Ms. Lashanique “La-La” Green
Human Rights Advocate
Southeastern Virginia Training Center
2100 Steppingstone Square
Chesapeake VA 23320
Phone: (804) 454-5105
Email: lashanique.green@dbhds.virginia.gov
Human Rights Complaints
Southeastern Virginia Training Center has an informal complaint process to respond to possible violations of individual rights regarding their services. Residents can make a complaint to any employee of the facility. Family members, volunteers, consultants, or employees can make a complaint on behalf of a resident. Once a complaint is received an event report will be completed and designated training center staff will attempt to resolve the complaint within 5 days. If the complaint is not resolved, then the Facility Director refers the complaint to the Human Rights Advocate.
Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect
Any person who has any knowledge or reason to believe that a person may have been abused or neglected must immediately report this information directly to Heather Fisher, Facility Director, or her designee. Reason to believe abuse or neglect may have occurred can be based on direct observation, a report made by a resident or staff member, behavioral/physical indicators of abuse or neglect, or by any other means. An allegation of possible resident abuse is so serious that any information regarding it must be given directly to the Facility Director of Southeastern Virginia Training Center so that immediate action can be taken to protect residents. The person reporting the allegation should describe the incident as fully as possible, giving the names of any persons involved, the time, date and location of the incident, and the names of any witnesses.
What is Abuse or Neglect
“Abuse” means any act or failure to act by an employee or other person responsible for the care of an individual that was performed or was failed to be performed knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally, and that caused or might have caused physical or psychological harm, injury, or death to an individual receiving services. Examples of abuse include but are not limited to the following: 1. Rape, sexual assault, or other criminal sexual behavior; 2. Assault or battery; 3. Use of language that demeans, threatens, intimidates or humiliates the person; 4. Misuse or misappropriation of the person’s assets, goods or property; 5. Use of excessive force when placing a person in physical or mechanical restraint; 6. Use on a person of physical or mechanical restraints that is not in compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, and policies, professionally accepted standards of practice or the person’s individualized services plan; and 7. Use of more restrictive or intensive services or denial of services to punish the person or that is not consistent with his individualized services plan. “Neglect” means the failure by an individual, program or facility responsible for providing services to provide nourishment, treatment, care, goods, or services necessary to the health, safety or welfare of a person receiving care or treatment for mental illness, intellectual disabilities or substance abuse. See ยง 37.2-100 of the Code of Virginia.
disAbility Law Center of Virginia
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