2E Provide support according to duty of care and dignity of risk

Community service organisations and workers have a legal and ethical responsibility to provide a duty of care to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people in receipt of their services. Legislative and regulatory obligations underpin an organisation’s policies, and so determine the procedures followed to guide service delivery in promoting and enhancing the safety and wellbeing of people.

While aspects of WHS legislation may vary between states and territories, there are common legislative requirements and obligations under the duty-of-care principle. Everyone in the community service environment has the responsibility of duty of care for themselves, the people they care for, visitors and each other.

The rights of people to dignity and choice, upheld in legislation and service standards, also require that duty of care or safety is not used as a reason to limit a person’s freedom or personal choice. A support worker’s adherence to duty of care and safety must be coupled with the concept of dignity of risk, which means that a person has the right to make their own choices and to take risks.