Report Confirms Colchester Residential Services Society Provides Quality Care

A report from the Department of Community Services confirms that clients and staff of Colchester Residential Services Society are receiving quality care. The report on the agency's operations was released today, Sept. 30.

Colchester Residential Services Society provides residential services and support to people with disabilities in Truro. Community Services initiated the review last November to assess operations and management after allegations of resident-to-staff and resident-to-resident abuse.

"Our protection of persons in care team investigated immediately and concluded that those allegations were unfounded," said Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Minister of Community Services. "A separate review team specifically looked at the society's operations and found them to be solid. I'm confident that Colchester Residential Services Society provides good quality care to its residents."

The province and the society are taking steps to further improve programs and services for people with disabilities, some of which were outlined in report.

Recommendations focus on three key areas: governance, administration and leadership, and programs and services. Highlights include:

• update policies and procedures
• establish a Department of Community Services outreach team for the region
• develop a Colchester Residential Services Society information technology plan

"We're committed to addressing these recommendations, and to working with the department to help strengthen our programs and services," said Shannon McLellan, executive director of Colchester Residential Services Society. "The most important thing to all of us is the safety of the people we support and our staff."

The department and the society have already started work on several recommendations. The society has reviewed and updated its strategic plan and provided additional training and education for staff about the Protection of Persons in Care Act. Community Services is developing new processes for dealing with complaints and will share those with staff and service providers in the coming months.

"My primary concern is the care and well-being of the people we serve," said Ms. Peterson-Rafuse. "We will continue to work with Colchester to ensure people living at CRSS are safe, and that they and staff are getting the support they need from the department."

The report can be found online at www.gov.ns.ca/coms .

FOR BROADCASE USE:

A report from the province released today (September 30th),

confirms clients and staff of Colchester Residential Services

Society are receiving quality care.

The Community Services Department initiated the review last

year to look at operations and management after allegations of

resident-to-staff and resident-to-resident abuse. Those

allegations were unfounded.

Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse says the

review team found the society's operations to be solid and she's

confident they provide good quality care to their residents.

The province and the society are taking steps to further

improve programs and services for people with disabilities, some

of which were outlined in report.