BackDisability services provider Autism Plus and the Department of Health and Human Services put clients at risk by failing to move a group home resident who was accused of sexually assaulting vulnerable housemates.
The resident, identified as “Edward” in the report, was involved in a series of alleged assaults in the group home for people with disabilities from October 2014. Despite concerns expressed by Autism Plus, the families of other residents, Victoria Police and Community Visitors, Edward remained in the group home until April 2015 when he allegedly raped and threatened to kill a fellow resident.
Ombudsman Deborah Glass said the events raised serious concerns about the suitability of Autism Plus to provide programs and care for DHHS clients. The for-profit provider received more than $260,000 in 2014 to provide Edward with one-on-one staff to client care.
The report also raises questions about action and inaction by DHHS officials, in particular the role of Child Protection, and poor co-ordination between Child Protection and Disability Services.
Ms Glass said individuals and systems had failed Edward, other group home residents, day program users and their families. “I have in previous reports expressed concerns about the safeguards available to people with disability, and that the extreme vulnerability of some people will not lessen with the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Oversight is needed for all facilities, not least when the provider has a profit motive. Over 5,000 people with disability live in supported accommodation in Victoria; the department owes it to them, indeed to our need to be a humane society, to do better.”
Read the full press release below and find the Ombudsman's Report here.
Source: Victorian Ombudsman, Australia
