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Standards & Beliefs
Standards
OARTY, because of its role in advocating for the most vulnerable children, youth and adults in out of home care in Ontario, believed it important to develop a set of standards that would assist residential care providers in their day to day activities and practices.
OARTY developed these standards as part of the association's broader effort to ensure the highest quality of care for children, youth and adults in need in Ontario, and these standards are meant to go beyond the standards legislated by our licensing Ministry.
The standards along with the supporting principles and beliefs, specify the criteria against which the performance of persons, programs or agencies can be measured, thus providing a basis for holding member agencies accountable to each other and to the communities they serve. They are intended to define clearly and consistently our associations' beliefs about the welfare of children requiring residential care and further, to raise the quality of services provided to children, youth, adults and their families. It is the further intention of this document to strengthen the existing collaborative processes between OARTY member agencies and their community and professional partners.
OARTY recognizes that its member agencies provide a wide array of services and vary in settings and client populations. The standards have been developed with respect and appreciation for the unique blend of services offered by OARTY members. It is also understood that an excess of regulation can limit flexibility and may inhibit the exercise of professional judgment in the delivery of service. OARTY seeks to balance this reality with its desire to provide a measuring tool by which the highest quality care can be ensured.
These Standards, then, should be viewed as directing principles toward the most desirable, beneficial, effective, and ethical levels of performance. They are designed to assist OARTY members in the development of their policies and practices, in the operation of their day-to-day activities and to help caregivers understand their respective roles and responsibilities. Toward that end these guidelines can be used as a constant resource and reference manual. It is also understood that this working document will continue to be developed and modified so that it reflects best practice as supported by the current research and literature.
Principles on which the Standards are based:
The concept of care and treatment is based on certain beliefs and principles governing the provision of services to children, youth, adults and their families. It is these beliefs and principles that then influence the services we provide and the manner in which we relate to each other as members of an association and within the professional community. These beliefs and principles provide the foundation for the development of OARTY's Standards of Care.
Core Beliefs
- That every activity of the agency must be therapeutic, from counseling to food service; from group living to maintenance.
- That those who provide direct care are our most precious resource. The manner in which we treat all current, prospective and past care providers reflects the strength of our belief in a person's value.
- That healthy, honest and open communication among all persons at all levels is essential to the quality of the service we provide personnel and clientele.
- That spirituality, as each of us understands it, helps us become whole and gives us the power and the hope to change our lives for the better.
- That all resources, financial, human, property, etc. available to us are at the service of our agencies to enrich the quality of care of the children, youth, adults and their families
- That any environment to which we expose our children, youth, adults and their families will reflect generous and nurturing care and is essential to their growth, safety and security.
- That, in an atmosphere of respect and integrity, we can support each other, while making every effort to promote and maintain the highest ethical standards of this profession.
- That we are partners with our community.
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