CLIENT RIGHTS POLICY
Stepping Stone Community Services, LLC (SSCS) recognizes and adheres to all Client’s Rights listed in Ohio Administrative Code 5122-26-18. All clients will be treated with respect and dignity, while receiving services in an environment that is free from psychological and physical abuse. No employee of Stepping Stone Community Services shall in any way violate the following rights. Clients who feel their rights as defined in this policy have been violated are encouraged to file a grievance with Stepping Stone Community Services.
Each client of SSCS shall have the following twenty-one rights:
- The right to be treated with consideration and respect for personal dignity and personal liberty, autonomy and privacy and within parameters of relevant sections of the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code.
- The right to reasonable protection from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, humiliation and the right to receive humane treatment in a welcoming, comfortable, stable and supportive environment.
- The right to receive services in the least restrictive, feasible environment.
- The right to participate in any appropriate and available service that is consistent with an individual treatment plan, regardless of the refusal for any other service, unless that service is a necessity for clear treatment reasons and requires the person’s participation.
- The right to give informed consent to services and concurrent services or to refuse any service, treatment or therapy, including medication absent an emergency.
- The right to participate in the development, review and revision of one’s own individualized treatment plan and receive a copy of it.
- The right to freedom from restraint or seclusion unless there is immediate risk of physical harm to others.
- The right to be informed and the right to refuse any unusual or hazardous treatment procedures.
- The right to be advised and the right to refuse observation by others and by techniques such as one-way mirrors, tape recorders, video recorders, television, movies, photographs or other audio and visual technology. This right does not prohibit an agency from using closed-circuit monitoring to observe common areas, which does not include bathrooms.
- The right to confidentiality of communications and personal identifying information within the limitations and requirements for disclosure of client information under state and federal laws and regulations.
- The right to have access to one’s own psychiatric, medical or treatment records, unless access to certain information is restricted for clear treatment reasons. If access is restricted, the treatment plan shall include the reason for restriction, a goal to remove restriction, and the treatment being offered to remove the restriction.
- The right to be informed in a reasonable amount of time in advance of the reason for terminating participation in a service, and to be provided a referral, unless the service is unavailable or not necessary.
- The right to be informed of the reason for denial of a service.
- The right not to be discriminated against for receiving services on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, developmental disability, genetic information, human immunodeficiency virus status, or in any manner prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
- The right to know the cost of services.
- The right to be verbally informed of all client rights, and to receive a written copy upon request.
- The right to file a grievance.
- The right to have the grievance procedure explained orally and in writing; the right to file a grievance with assistance if requested; and the right to have a grievance reviewed through a grievance process, including the right to appeal a decision.
- The right to be informed of one’s own condition.
- The right to consult with an independent treatment specialist or legal counsel at one’s own expense.
- The right to exercise rights without reprisal in any form including the ability to continue services with uncompromised access. No right extends so far as to supersede health and safety considerations.
Stepping Stone Community Services will ensure that every client has access to Grievance Report Forms and our Client Right’s Officer, as means to address any violation of Client Rights.
Stepping Stone Community Services Client Right’s Officer can be reached from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday:
Client Right’s Officer
Linda Walker
(330) 577-4099