(a) Application. This Section describes advocacy services the Office of Client Advocacy (OCA) provides to residents of Southern Oklahoma Resource Center (SORC), Northern Oklahoma Resource Center of Enid (NORCE), and Greer Center Facility (Greer) ("the facilities"). Section 1415.1(A)(2) of Title 10 to the Oklahoma Statutes requires the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) to establish an ombudsman program for each institution and residential facility for the mentally retarded operated by OKDHS. OKDHS has conferred on OCA this responsibility. Advocacy services are provided to residents of the facilities consistent with OAC 340:2-3-71.
(b) Grievance coordination. OCA advocates serve as grievance coordinators for resident grievances in accordance with OAC 340:2-3-51.
(c) Abuse and neglect reporting.
- (1) OCA advocates provide training to new employees of SORC, NORCE, and Greer regarding their obligation to report suspected incidents of abuse, neglect, verbal abuse, and caretaker misconduct in accordance with OAC 340:2-3-33.
- (2) OCA advocates receive referrals of suspected abuse, neglect, and maltreatment, and immediately transmit that information to OCA intake in accordance with OAC 340:2-3-33.
(d) Advocacy and monitoring. OCA advocates provide advocacy and monitoring to ensure compliance with policies, rules, and regulations applicable to the health, safety, and well-being of residents. In addition to the activities described in OAC 340:2-3-71, advocacy and monitoring activities at the facilities include:
- (1) a face-to-face visit with each resident at least bi-annually, and more frequently as needed, to assess and address the resident's advocacy needs;
- (2) periodic site visits to facility buildings frequented by residents, including residential units, vocational programs, canteen, and therapy departments, at least quarterly and more frequently as warranted to monitor compliance with health and safety requirements and protection of client rights, including but not limited to privacy rights; • 1
- (3) a visit with a resident at the request of the resident, the resident's guardian, or other person concerned about the well-being of the resident unless contraindicated;
- (4) review relevant documentation within seven calendar days of receipt, including but not limited to: individual plan (IP) and interim IPs; accident and incident reports; OCA investigation findings; and behavior data collection forms, guardianship assessments, and other professional reports and assessments;
- (5) serving as a member of a resident's personal support team;
- (6) attending team meetings when it can reasonably be anticipated that a significant issue will be addressed, including any rights issue and in particular a rights restriction or an intrusive behavior intervention strategy; • 2
- (7) participating in capacity assessment meetings and annual reviews;
- (8) attending facility Behavior Review Committee (BRC) and Human Rights Committee (HRC) meetings as required or indicated;
- (9) attending mortality review meetings pursuant to OAC 340:100-3-35;
- (10) promoting team discussion of alternatives to living in the facility, and consulting with teams regarding community supports and community residential alternatives; • 3
- (11) participation in discharge planning meetings;
- (12) when a resident who has been discharged from the facility is not eligible for assignment of an OCA advocate in the community, providing transition advocacy assistance for 90 calendar days from the date the resident moves out of the facility. The 90 days can be extended by the advocate general or designee as warranted; and
- (13) reporting, for administrative action and correction, policy violations to the facility director or quality assurance designee.