This is the tip of the iceberg, the public and even family members of people placed in homes would be shocked at the kind of things taking place in group homes for the developmentally disabled, including abuse. And, who exactly is supposed to have oversight you might be asking.... well, Licensing? Community Living BC? MCFD? The Representative? Like this mother found out, not really anyone, unless you can provide evidence a crime has committed you are SOL to get an investigation of any sort. Well this whole thing goes a way towards meeting Campbell's great goals for enhancing the lives of special needs people. It's like a dog chasing it's tail, try making a quality of care complaint about treatment of residents in CLBC funded homes?
Ultimately though, the BC government is responsible, the buck stops there. They can "devolve" and privatize as much as they want, when the United Nations is knocking on the door, it will be the door of the BC government they are knocking on for answers. And when the world's media is here in 2010, this will all make great coverage, the billions spent on a 10 day party when the entire social safety net has been torn apart and this is but one example of many.
Complaints Resolution Process
The CLBC Complaints Resolution Process clarifies what recourse individuals and families have when they are dissatisfied with a service provided by CLBC or disagree with a decision made by a CLBC staff member.
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Maybe some of the media can talk about some of the other issues in group homes in the sector... residents being given wrong medications, unsafe vehicles, the hiring of untrained, sometimes unskilled workers. How about physical, financial and even sexual abuse that goes unreported. Inadequate staffing, warehousing and parking residents in front of TV's for hours. Anyone who's worked in the sector has seen something awry at some point in time, but, who do you report it to so that conditions are investigated? To the agency? Who needs the funding. Notice the article reported "his funding is "attached" to his current group home." This agency is paid BIG money for an individual, such as in this story. These houses are big business and they need to protect their funding (profits) and their source of funding (CLBC). I'm sure this agency got a good deal on their lease. At the very least, a full environmental assessment should be made prior to placing anyone there, or having staff work in the environment. But I guess the real story is whether the agency incurs any liability IF and this important, IF they knew about the possible environment damage, signed the lease anyway and then moved people in without doing due diligence in placing vulnerable and people with compromised health issues in there. Anyone who has involvement with people placed in these types of homes might consider doing Freedom of Information requests for things like environmental assessments, dated prior to residency. How about Worksafe & Licensing investigations? These are all available and should be free to families who might want to ensure their loved ones are getting the best care possible.
Community Care Facilities
Adult Care Regulations
The adult care regulations protect seniors and people with disabilities in licensed group homes and residential care facilities by ensuring operators meet operating, management and health and safety requirements. The current regulations can be viewed at:
http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/C/CommuCareAssisted/536_80.htm
Community Care and Assisted Living Act [SBC 2002]
Assisted living registrar
24 (1) The minister must designate a person to be the assisted living registrar.
(2) The registrar may delegate, in writing, any power or duty of the registrar under this Act to a person who, in the opinion of the registrar, possesses the experience and qualifications suitable to carry out the tasks as delegated.
(3) A delegation under subsection (2) may include any terms or conditions the registrar considers advisable.
http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/C/02075_01.htm#section24
I think it's the Registrar who you are supposed to make quality of care complaints to about care problems in group homes funded by CLBC, which qualify as assisted living residences, or community care facilities:
"assisted living residence" means a premises or part of a premises, other than a community care facility,
(a) in which housing, hospitality services and at least one but not more than 2 prescribed services are provided by or through the operator to 3 or more adults who are not related by blood or marriage to the operator of the premises, or
(b) designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to be an assisted living residence;
"community care facility" means a premises or part of a premises
(a) in which a person provides care to 3 or more persons who are not related by blood or marriage to the person and includes any other premises or part of a premises that, in the opinion of the medical health officer, is used in conjunction with the community care facility for the purpose of providing care, or
(b) designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to be a community care facility;
http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/C/02075_01.htm#section1
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Read the MAPCL 2006 - 2007 Annual Report for details about their financial statements.
Interesting to read the Auditor’s report too, it sounds as though they aren't entirely sure about some of the paperwork, but nothing is untoward.
MAPCL received quite a boost for revenue from MCFD/CLBC from 2006 to 2007: $25,719,126, but their entire revenue was $27,830,208.
Wonder where the “Other” revenue comes from?
Pg 27 Under Operations Activities it notes that MAPCL had a surplus of revenue after expenses in the amount of $551, 118 in the 2007 fiscal statement. I thought non-profits to make profits? Wonder if there were any performance bonuses for managers?
http://www.mapcl.org/MAPCL-download/Annual-Report-2007/MAPCL%20Annual%20Report%2006-07.pdf
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Group home's past use as grow-op alarms mother
Blind, autistic man's family fights to get him moved for his health and safety
Tuesday, April 8, 2008 | CBC News
Excerpts:
The mother of a legally blind, autistic man is worried about his health and wants him out of the B.C. group home he lives in, partly because the house was previously used as a marijuana grow-operation.
Not tested for grow-op damage
Fournier said MAPCL did not get an environmental assessment done, even after it learned of the home's history in November 2007.
"In this case, we are happy that you brought it to our attention," Fournier said. "We are going to remedy the situation. As far as inspections are concerned — that hasn't been as successful as we would have hoped."
Mancinelli said she has found another suitable home for Jeffrey, where he can have his outdoor trampoline, but the Crown corporation that holds the purse strings has refused to move him. She said Community Living B.C. (CLBC) told her Jeffrey could not be moved, despite her concerns, because his funding is "attached" to his current group home.
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