Melrose House Rest Home supports a Charter of Rights for residents of residential care homes.

This expresses the basic values of respect and dignity that residents should encounter in all care homes.

The exercise of these rights should be considered the absolute prerogative of each resident, regardless of circumstances, disability or age. Restrictions must only occur in circumstances where there are demonstrable reasons to justify such departures. These circumstances should be recorded and the records should be kept for external scrutiny.

Trial Period

The right to enter the home initially on a trial basis during which nothing will be done to dispossess the individual of their previous accommodation.

Contract/brochure

The right to receive a contract outlining the rights and obligations of both the home and the resident.

Appropriate care

The right to have their social, emotional and physical needs and wishes identified, acknowledged and met wherever possible with particular attention being paid to those people in minorities.

Assessment/review

The right to participate fully in the formulation of their care plans and to be informed of all services that may be relevant to their needs (regardless of their immediate availability).

Quality Of Life

The right to live within a safe and comfortable environment, within which social care practices support and stimulate in order to enable each individual to enjoy their life to the full.

Dignity

The right to be treated in such a manner as to allow the individual to retain dignity at all times.

Privacy

The right to receive care that provides adequate security to the individual, protecting them both from the "behaviour of others"and from any undue danger created by their own behaviour or circumstances.

Individuality

The right to be treated as a valued individual at all times.

Independence/Choice

The right to make choices about their own lifestyle and to exercise personal independence on all possible occasions, including those within which there is a degree of personal risk.

Life in the home

The right to be informed of any matters likely to affect their life within the home and to participate fully in all decisions affecting their homes.

Access to information

The right to have access to their personal file.

Citizenship

The right to exercise all their civil and natural rights and to have access to all local services (health leisure, education and social services).

Continuity

The right to maintain links with family, friends and other personal contacts from the past

Personal Responsibility

The right to take responsibility for their own personal affairs (including the rights to manage their own finances and to administer their own medicines) and to undertake all those daily living tasks of which they are capable.

Advocacy/Complaints

The right to be represented by an advocate of their choice and the right to have access to a formal complaints procedure (which includes the right to contact the registration authority direct).