Clinical Client Rights
You have the right to:
- To be treated fairly, honestly and respectfully by all staff without regard to race, culture, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, spiritual beliefs or socioeconomic status
- To receive services that are inclusive and non-discriminatory
- To be treated with dignity and respect
- To receive an orientation to the services available, any fees you may be charged, and orientation to your rights
- To receive assessment and treatment services that are mutually agreed upon between you and this agency and to be a part of ongoing reviews of your treatment successes
- To participate in significant decisions affecting you and your treatment, ensuring your strengths, needs and preferences are identified
- To understand the likely benefits and possible risks of any recommended treatment
- To understand that your participation in services is voluntary and that you may choose to discontinue your participation at any time
- To review your client file according to agency’s policies and procedures
- To understand that from time to time your file may be reviewed by representatives of the Canadian Centre for Accreditation, the Ministry of Community and Social Services, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General, as part of this agency’s accreditation or compliance processes. This review will only be used to assess our agency’s practices in accordance with Accreditation and Compliance Standards, in order to ensure that Family Counselling Centre Niagara maintains the highest standards of quality service. No information contained in your file will be copied or removed as part of this process.
- If dissatisfied with the service you or someone in your family receives, you are encouraged to discuss this openly and directly with the staff member working with you or your family. If you don’t feel comfortable discussing this with the staff member providing you with service, you may file a complaint by contacting the FCC supervisor or submitting a Family Counselling Centre Complaints Form.
- To provide consent for Family Counselling Centre Niagara to obtain information needed to assist in your treatment from other service providers you have had contact with
- To receive services that are confidential. Family Counselling Centre Niagara will not release information about you or a family member without prior written consent.
- To understand that there are certain times when your information may be released to others without your consent:
- If you or your child is in danger of harming yourself or someone else, we are obligated to take actions necessary to protect you or others from harm
- Professionals who work with children must promptly report any suspicions that a child is, or may be in need of, protection to A Children’s Aid Society
- If you are involved in legal proceedings of any kind the court can subpoena your file
- to know that Family Counselling Centre Niagara will work with you to accommodate any diverse needs/interest, cultural or language/communication needs you have
- Privacy and confidentiality, except for legal and ethical limitations, or when you have given informed consent to obtain or release information
- Be considered the expert in your own life experience
- Access to your personal information in your confidential file by appointment
- Information about services prior to beginning a program
- Inquire about the qualifications, training and experience of our staff
- Express complaints about services by speaking to your counsellor. If you are not comfortable speaking to your counsellor directly, you may speak to the Program Supervisor or the Service Director of Community and clinical Services the Clinical Director or the Executive Director. If your complaint is not resolved, you may make a written complaint. A full copy of the complaint process is available from your counsellor or reception.