TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESIDENCE

THE LEY COMMUNITY

INTRODUCTION

Residents are accepted on the following terms and conditions and prior to taking up residence these terms must be agreed between the Ley Community and the Resident. This document must be carefully explained to a prospective Resident prior to admission. It is important that a prospective Resident understands that there is no intention to create the relationship of landlord and tenant between the Ley Community and a Resident and that legal possession and control of any rooms occupied by the Resident remain at all times vested in the Ley Community. This document must be explained to prospective Residents prior to admission.

RULES OF THE LEY COMMUNITY

The Ley Community is concerned with providing drug rehabilitation and is run as a therapeutic community. Therapeutic Community life provides residents with the opportunity to take in new values, practice new constructive behaviour patterns, cope with varying degrees of responsibility and establish equal positive relationships with other people.

You will be expected to abide by the main rules whilst in treatment. These are:

• No drugs or alcohol
• No violence or threats of violence
• No harassment
• No theft
• No refusal to participate in the programme

Your request to enter our treatment programme will be treated as a serious commitment to change your lifestyle and in order to do this you will be expected to behave as directed by staff and senior residents. The programme's emphasis is on self help and consequently you are expected to take responsibility for yourself and for others by: fully participating in the work programme, working towards talking openly and honestly about your feelings, beliefs, attitudes and behaviour and by involving yourself with others.

You will have an opportunity to express your feelings and thoughts fully in encounter groups, where there are few rules - the main ones being no physical violence or threats of violence.

You will be expected to participate in all therapy groups and also education activities as directed by staff.

ACTIVITIES

When you enter the Community, your involvement in social activities is usually on a group basis and outings with the Community are initially organised as a group activity.

PERSONAL POSSESSIONS AND VALUABLES

Residents are requested not to bring valuables onto the Ley Community site.

Prospective residents are advised to only bring with them the necessary amount of clothing required for the duration of the programme and a minimum of personal property. Any valuables and personal documents that are brought in will be put in safe-keeping. Any item of property or clothing brought in by a resident that is deemed to promote drug orientated or other negative lifestyle, will be placed in storage for them. On leaving the Ley Community any personal property left behind must be collected within ten days, after that time any such personal property may be destroyed or distributed to other residents.

Cash remaining on a Resident's cash card on leaving will be held for three months for the Resident to collect, and then transferred into Community Funds. A Resident will have no further claim on cash not collected within three months of leaving the programme.

SEARCHES

In order to protect the welfare of residents already in the programme, on arrival at the Ley Community and following periods away from the Community (e.g. Court Appearance), prospective residents must allow themselves, their clothing and personal property to be searched. Searches will also take place in exceptional circumstances during residency at the Ley Community.

VISITING

Family visits will be negotiated with staff. This is usually after several months although this may be flexible depending on a resident’s personal situation and particularly where there are exceptional circumstances.

RESIDENTS MAIL AND TELEPHONE CALLS

All mail shall be received, opened and read by staff. With regards to telephone calls - apart from an initial call upon admission, incoming and outgoing calls are allowed at the discretion of the staff after two weeks in the programme.

FINANCES

A resident’s Income Support Benefits are paid to the Ley Community to cover the cost of keep and treatment. All residents are provided with their weekly Personal Allowance from the Department of Social Security although the responsibility for administering this is retained by staff. On entering the Community, any money brought in will be paid directly into a resident’s personal savings account. Larger amounts can either be sent home if this is possible, or paid into an independent savings account. If a resident leaves the Community prematurely, s/he will be entitled to any money outstanding on their cashcard. However, due to the potential vulnerability of the resident, it may not be appropriate for cash to be given in this instance.

FIRE REGULATIONS AND SMOKING

Residents and visitors should familiarise themselves with the Fire Exits and the Fire Drill Procedures and No Smoking Designated areas.

MEDICINES

If a resident is prescribed medication by their Doctor whilst in the programme, administration of the medication is managed by staff until Stage 5.

RANDOM DRUG TESTING

The Ley Community, in exceptional circumstances, reserve the right to ask a resident to provide a specimen for the purpose of random drug testing.

PERFORMANCE

Every endeavour is made to keep residents in the Community even if unwell, provided the Doctor is satisfied that the Community can give adequate care. Management undertakes to enlist the support of the National Health Service as necessary to enable the resident to remain in the Community in the event of illness, should the resident so wish and unless the resident's Doctor recommends alternative arrangements.

However, Management does reserve the right to ask the resident to leave:

• if the Community is unable to give the care required
• if the resident causes disharmony within the Community or fails to comply with the Terms and Conditions of Residence

CONFIDENTIALITY

The Ley Community acknowledge that residents have a right to privacy. Any personal information divulged by residents will be treated as confidential within the staff team.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

As part of a resident's stay at the Ley Community, the Ley Community is contractually bound to provide various types of reports to various relevant agencies, e.g. social workers, probation officers, GP's, etc. Where necessary, any information given by residents to Ley Community staff may be forwarded to other relevant agencies.

COMPLAINTS

The Ley Community has both a formal and informal complaints procedure. The informal complaints procedure requires a resident to approach a member of staff if the concern is about another resident or the programme itself. If the concern is about a member of staff, the resident should approach the staff member's line manager.

The formal complaints procedure requires a written complaint to be sent to the Chief Executive, stating the issue of concern. If not satisfied by the response given by the Chief Executive, residents have the right to consult the Ley Community Trustees, through the Chairman. If still not satisfied with the outcome, a resident can refer the matter either by telephone, or in writing to: