Your rights as a hostel resident

Hostel residents’ rights can be found in the following:

the Hospitals and Health Services Act 1927
the Hospitals (Licensing and Conduct of Private Psychiatric Hostels) Regulations 1997
Licensing and Accreditation Regulatory Unit (LARU) Code of Conduct required to be met by hostel supervisors
the resident’s agreement with the hostel licensee
the LARU Licensing Standards for the Arrangements for Management, Staffing and Equipment : Private Psychiatric Hostels (LARU Licensing Standards)
the National Standards for Mental Health Services (National Standards)

Mental Health Advocates can support residents to explain their rights and ensure they are being observed.

Hostel resident rights include:

Right to a safe environment
Right to dignity, confidentiality and privacy
Compliance by Approved Supervisors on site with the LARU Code of Conduct
Right to access information held about them
Right to provision of quality and varied foods provided in sufficient quantities and the nature of the food provided in some hostels
Provision of clothing and toiletries in some hostels
Right to maintenance of standards in administration of medication
Right to recovery-oriented care and services
The percentage of a pension which must be returned to the residents for the resident's own use
Right to access an interpreter
Right to personal space and storage
Right to access adequately sized communal areas which have been appropriately furnished
Right to provision of clean linen
Exit plans and a minimum notice period prior to closure.