All clients of JACS Toronto have a right to safe and supportive care, as well as responsibilities and expectations to uphold. The following list details both client rights and responsibilities:
Client Rights
As a JACS Toronto client, you have:
- A right to a safe and supportive environment
- A right to feel and express your emotions
- A right to your opinions and convictions
- A right to your experience, even if it is different than that of other people
- A right to receive professional care
- A right to your JACS circle of care abiding by the JACS Clinical Standards of Care and ethical model
- A right to recognition of individuality, including privacy in treatment and care, with confidentiality kept in regard to all communication and records
- A right to say to no to any treatment, recommendation, or referral
- A right to negotiate for change
- A right to ask for help, emotional support, or anything else you may need
- A right not to take responsibility for someone else’s problems
- A right to appeal a decision made by JACS Toronto involving you within one month of the action taken
Client Responsibilities
As a client of JACS Toronto, you are asked and expected to uphold the following responsibilities to ensure safety among all clients and staff:
- To help maintain a substance-free environment while accessing services, including refraining from using substances while in individual or group sessions
- To treat other clients and staff with respect
- To use “I” statements and speak from personal experience
- To refrain from discriminatory comments or actions including, but not limited to, sexism, antisemitism, racism, homophobia, bi-phobia, transphobia, and any other behaviour that is derogatory to marginalized persons
- To maintain an atmosphere of confidentiality including, but not limited to, refraining from recording group or individual sessions (audio or video), or disclosing identifying client information or discussions between group members outside of group. When participating in services, the client must ensure a confidential space (i.e., using headphone or ensure a secure space)
- To maintain a safe environment for clients and staff, including, but not limited to, physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and cultural safety. At JACS Toronto, there is zero tolerance for intimidation, harassment, violence, displays of aggression, etc.
Any breach of these responsibilities will result in direct action in sole discretion of the clinical team.
