Community Living Kingston and District has an Executive Director who reports to a volunteer Board of Directors. The services provided are governed by provincial legislation, including but not limited to: The Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, The Child, Youth and Family Services Act and The Child Care and Early Years Act.

Community Living Kingston and District is committed to ongoing quality assurance and has been fully accredited through The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Services (CARF) since 2007.

Families of children under the age of 18 who are in need of developmental services can contact Community Living Kingston and District directly to inquire about services that might be helpful. The contact person for Community Living Kingston and District is Erin Impola at (613) 546-6613 Ext# 2253 or at erin.impola@clkingston.ca.

Adults requiring developmental services including support for daytime activities and employment or respite, residential, supported independent living, case management and planning supports must contact Developmental Services Ontario (DSO). The DSO is responsible for determining eligibility for adult developmental services by completing an application form and for assessing level of need through administering the Support Intensity Scale (SIS).

To begin this process and to be placed on appropriate lists for service, individuals/families need to start by contacting the DSO. The contact information for the local DSO is (613) 547-8939 or email to regional.access@kos.net and the website is www.dsontario.ca.

Community Living Kingston and District staff can assist with contacting the DSO and/or sharing additional information about services and agencies in Kingston. If you would like to speak to someone directly, please contact Erin Impola at 613-546-6613 Ext.# 2253 for Kingston Services or Robert Yeo at 613- 382 -7702 for Gananoque services. Services cannot begin until the DSO application is completed and eligibility for developmental services is confirmed.

There are often long wait times for services for adults, especially for day support options and residential services. The waiting lists are not first come first served, and services are frequently delivered to those individuals deemed “most in need.” The service also needs to fit with the individual need and interest. For residential, supported independent living and day supports, one waiting list is maintained for all developmental service agencies in the area.

Community Living Kingston and District is one of several developmental service agencies in Frontenac, Lennox and Addington and Leeds and Grenville counties that is represented on the Pressures and Priorities Committee. The committee serves as a single point of access for all requests for residential services, day programs and funding from the Ministry of Community and Social Services. When resources become available, the Pressures and Priorities Committee works in collaboration with the responding developmental services agency to determine the right match for the services.

Community Living Kingston and District has over 300 employees with a range of experience, education and expertise. Potential employees must go thorough and rigid hiring process including an interview, reference checks and criminal background checks. Employees must have minimum qualifications of a two-year post-secondary diploma or degree in a social service field although some candidates with alternative qualifications combined with experience in the field are also considered for employment.

All candidates must have a valid driver’s license and a valid First Aid/CPR certificate. Community Living Kingston and District has many exceptional staff members who have specialized experience and training. Employees hired by Community Living Kingston and District receive an orientation to the organization as well as person-specific training focused on the individuals they will be providing support to.

All staff members have ongoing opportunity for training and professional development through access to a training fund and through agency sponsored training events.

Each person served will have a staff person who is their main contact in the agency. This person will serve as the connecting point for families, service providers, and will take a lead role in advocacy for the person served when needed.

This role will differ slightly based on the area of service and is referenced either as a Facilitator, Resource Consultant, Family Support Worker or Community Support Worker. This staff member will assist the individual and/or family to direct their support in a way that is consistent with what has been identified in their personal plan and/or service agreement.

They will also take the lead in assisting the individual to develop their personal plan with input from others of importance in the person’s life such as family and friends. All staff members in the organization have the responsibility to work with persons served around their identified goals as is appropriate to their role in the organization.

Community Living Kingston and District has linkages to many other organizations and specialists in the Kingston and Gananoque communities. Based on the person’s age and eligibility, Community Living Kingston and District will access specialized services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, augmentative communication, behavior supports, dietary support, and mental health supports.

The staff person designated as the lead contact for an individual would assist in making the required referrals to specialized/professional services as needed.

Community Living Kingston and District assists all individuals who receive service in the process of planning for their future. Typically, this involves the development of a Personal Plan and an Individual Support Agreement. The following categories or sections are central features of the process and the plan:

• Personal Information
• Personal History and Accomplishments
• Relationships
• Socially Valued Roles
• Skills and Interests
• Health information and Safety pertinent to the individual
• Recreation and Spirituality
• Places of importance to the individual
• Dreams, Goals and Aspirations
• Support Required/Obstacles to Overcome
• Action Plan: Who, What and Where

The format, sections and content for the plan can be modified as needed to suit individual needs and interests. Personal Plans are completed on an annual basis at minimum and include the person served and their family as the primary stakeholders along with any other individuals who are closely connected to the individual and have a valuable contribution to make to the process.

Goals and objectives must be clear, measurable and aligned with the quality of life outcomes for the individual. Those goals are monitored and updated throughout the year.

The ISA is an annual, signed, written agreement between the person/family and the organization. It outlines, in detail, the support services that will be delivered by the agency as well as the specific responsibilities of the person served and family in meeting expectations, goals and objectives.

The following processes/areas are captured in the Individual Support Agreement:

• A list of the individuals who contribute to the support arrangements for the individual
• Specific supports to be provided (by the agency as well as natural supports)
• Identifies outcomes to be achieved
• Records responsible party for each commitment
• Provides room for person-specific information or comments and signatures

Completing the ISA on an annual basis also involves reviewing other agency documents and policy such as rights review, abuse training, complaint procedures, the agency mission/objectives and other program specific information such as a participant Code of Conduct. The reviews are recorded to ensure that the organization has fulfilled its obligations as outlined in policy form.

Family and friends are considered to be a very important part in a person’s life. Community Living staff will support family visits and assist with arrangements for visits whenever possible. Families and friends are welcome to drop in to visit the individual they are connected to at any time (with that person’s consent).

Families and friends are invited to participate in special celebrations. With consent, staff members will keep families informed of changes in the person’s life and circumstances. Families and friends are encouraged to participate in planning to help establish personal goals and service goals with the person served.

Community Living Kingston and District staff strives to resolve a complaint as fairly and as quickly as possible. A person who has a complaint should communicate their concern to the supervisor of the particular program where the support is being delivered. If they are not satisfied, the person may discuss the complaint with a senior manager or the Executive Director who will assist to resolve the complaint. If unresolved, you may complain to the Board of Directors.

A person who receives support and has a complaint is encouraged to have the support of an advocate of his or her choice throughout the resolution process. You need to feel comfortable to express your concern and know that Community Living Kingston and District will not retaliate in anyway or withdraw services because of a complaint.

This approach as well as the procedures for raising a complaint with confidence and without fear are described in organizational policy, something that is shared with persons served and families when services are initiated and annually thereafter.