Sunbridge Policy Statements

CONFIDENTIALITY OF CLIENT INFORMATION

The agency personnel must read and sign their acknowledgment of the following

By accepting employment with the agency, I agree to carefully refrain from discussing any client's condition or personal affairs with anyone outside of the agency, unless expressly authorized to do so.

I will not share my medical information with other clients or visitors without clear instructions provided to the agency. I acknowledge that all information seen or heard regarding clients, directly or indirectly, is completely confidential and is not to be discussed, even with my family of coworkers.

My job as an employee requires that I govern myself by high ethical standards. Failure to recognize the importance of confidentiality is not only a breach of professional ethics, but can also involve an employee in legal proceedings. I will not share any information about clients or the agency with the media.

The employee will protect all electronic records, including passwords, as outlined in the HIPPA manual. This is essential for protection of both the client and agency.

I further understand that at no time am I allowed a client to endorse a check over to the home care agency or myself.

I have read and understood the above statement and agree to abide by these policies.

Iunderstand that a breach of policy may result in disciplinary action and possible

Sexual Harassment

It is the policy of this agency not to condone or permit any sexual harassment of our personnel. This would be in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and it is against our policy for any employee, male or female, to sexually harass other employees.

1. Sexual misconduct includes but is not limited to:

a. Making sexual advances;

b. Requests for sexual favors or other verbal physical conduct of a sexual nature as a condition of an employee's employment;

c. Making submission or rejection of such conduct the basis for employment decisions affecting the employee; and

d. Creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment by such

2. Sexual harassment may take different forms. Example of several types of forms are:

a. Verbal sexual innuendo, suggestive comments, jokes of sexual nature, sexual propositions, or sexual threats;

b. Non-verbal sexually suggestive objects or pictures, graphic commentaries, suggestive or insulting sounds, leering, whistling or making obscene or suggestive gestures; and

c. Unwanted physical contact, including touching, pinching, brushing against the body, coerced intercourse or assault.

3.If an investigation into a sexual harassment complaint concludes that an employee violated this policy by sexually harassing another employee, a management representative will be made available to receive the complaint and will immediately investigate the charge and make appropriate recommendations for disciplinary action. The management representative investigating the complaint will be of the same gender as the employee making the complaint.

DRUG/TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL POLICY

Our agency recognizes that substance abuse in our nation and community exacts staggering cost in both human and economic terms. Substance abuse can be reasonably expected to produce impaired job performance, lost productivity, absenteeism, accidents, wasted materials, lowered morale, rising health care costs and diminised interpersonal relationship skills. We are committed to solve this problem and to create and maintain an alcohol and drug-free work place. Violation of this policy will be cause for immediate dismissal.

Our agency seeks to foster the health and safety of all its employees and visitors. Tobacco products pose a significant risk to the health of the user. Additionally, in sufficient concentrations, side-stream smoke can be hazardous to non-smokers in the work environment. We are committed to ensure that each employee has a safe and healthy working environment and to create and maintain tobacco-free work places. All applicants and employees are hereby notified of the tobacco-free work places. The use of tobacco related products is prohibited in all areas of the facility. Anyone wishing to smoke must smoke outside the office area with the door closed. All employees shall abide by the terms of the tobacco-free work places policy as a condition of employment.

Special Instructions:

1. The agency does not presently perform routine drug testing on its employees but may do so at its discretion.

2. If the agency determines that drug testing is in the best interests of the agency, all employees will be notified in writing of our intention to require drug testing on specific or all categories of personnel having contact with clients.