The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is calling for an overhaul of the Supported Residential Services (SRS) sector to address abuse and neglect of vulnerable Victorians.
In her Community Visitors Annual Report 2019-20, the Public Advocate, Colleen Pearce called for a new independent, safeguarding body to protect some 5,000 vulnerable Victorian SRS residents from abuse and neglect and to ensure they were properly cared for.
Dr Pearce said SRS facilities were regulated by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) during the reporting period of the Community Visitors Annual Report 2020.
“SRS have had longstanding abuse, violence, safety and neglect issues,” Dr Pearce said.
“The deficiencies in the regulatory regime are well-documented in this year’s Community Visitors Annual Report which has crystallised the board’s view of the need for an effective, independent safeguarding regime for the sector,” she said.
“Ongoing infestations of bedbugs and cockroaches, poor food hygiene and intimidation of residents, families and visiting professionals were among 45 critical issues of concern reported by Community Visitors at just one SRS facility in Melbourne during the year.”
Dr Pearce said Community Visitors identified a further 1,838 issues during 828 visits to 127 SRS facilities throughout Victoria, including physical and sexual assault, medication mismanagement, and inappropriate food.
“Community Visitors are also concerned about the potential for residents to be charged twice for services; once through their SRS fees and again via the NDIS,” the Public Advocate said.
“Some residents have claimed their NDIS funds have ‘disappeared’; others are concerned about the lack of choice of provider when the SRS operator is also an NDIS provider,” she said.
Dr Pearce said the lack of transparency around the use of NDIS funds, resident complaints about the use of their funds and the neglected appearance of some residents was disturbing
She said that this year OPA sent two consolidated referrals to DHHS containing 145 abuse referrals recorded by Community Visitors and the Department acknowledged receiving the reports but didn’t respond to the issues prior to the end of the reporting period.
The OPA’s 76-page Community Visitors Annual Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
