Woden Community Service (WCS) is committed to engaging with the people in a service user’s support network, including families, friends, kin, guardians and carers.
WCS recognises, respects and values your role in providing ongoing support for a person accessing our services.
Rights of support persons
In your role as a support person for a service user, WCS will:
- respect your privacy, confidentiality, individual human worth and dignity
- inform you about, and involve you in, services for the service user, where appropriate and where the service user expressly consents for this to occur
- support you to maintain your own wellbeing, particularly in relation to any difficulties you may experience through supporting or caring for the service user
- provide support and education to assist you in your caring or support role
- enable you to raise any complaints or concerns regarding the services we provide.
Responsibilities of support persons
WCS expects that you will:
- respect the humanity and dignity of the person you support
- consider the opinions and skills of WCS staff and treat WCS staff with dignity and respect
- play your part in assisting WCS to provide services to the service user
- voice any complaints or concerns as they arise so we can deal with the matter
(see Providing Feedback & Making Complaints for more information).
Support for support persons
It can be rewarding to support someone but it can also prove challenging at times. Given the important role you play, it is important that you prioritise your own mental health and wellbeing. You can talk to WCS staff about getting support or contact one of the below services:
Carers ACT offers a range of supports and services designed to nurture, connect and empower carers through practical support such as short-term replacement care when you need a break, counselling, educational workshops, social and therapeutic activities and advocacy. For further information, visit www.carersact.org.au or call the Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737.
ADACAS (ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service) is an independent, not-for-profit, advocacy organisation helping people with disabilities, older people and their carers. For further information, visit www.adacas.org.au or call (02) 6242 5060.
