Representation network
Representative Network is an Austrian adult protection association that works for people with mental or intellectual disabilities. The association maintains offices in all federal states except Vorarlberg and, according to its statutes, is non-partisan, non-profit and non-profit. The Federal Ministry of Justice enables the work of the association through funding. As of December 2017, 573 full-time and 711 volunteer employees were working for the association based in Vienna at 80 locations.
history
In 1981 the “Association for Guardianship” opened the first office. Since 1991 there is the second department of the representative network, the patient advocacy, which works in psychiatry. In 2005, residents' representatives were added as a third area of responsibility. Since 2007, these three service areas of guardianship, patient advocacy and residents' representatives have been operating under the name of Representation Network. From 2007-2018 the three service areas appeared under the name “Representation Network - Guardianship, Patient Advocacy, Resident Representation”. Due to the new legal situation - the Adult Protection Act came into force on July 1, 2018 - the area of activity "Guardianship" was renamed "Adult representation". The association is now officially called “Representation Network - Adult Representation, Patient Advocacy, Resident Representation”.
Areas of activity
Adult representation
The association supports people who are limited in their decision-making ability due to a mental illness or a comparable impairment. Central tasks are advising those affected and their relatives and setting up and registering various representation options. In addition, relatives are trained and, on behalf of the court, it is clarified in individual cases whether representation is necessary or whether there are alternatives. The association also provides legal adult representatives who represent those affected, for example in banking transactions, contract conclusions or in contact with authorities and offices. There are four recognized adult protection associations in Austria (formerly: Sachwaltervereine ). In addition to the representative network, these are the Lower Austrian Regional Association for Adult Protection, Adult Representation and Resident Representation (NÖLV), the Institute for Social Services Vorarlberg (IfS) and the Salzburg adult representative.
Patient advocacy
If a person is endangering himself or others due to a mental illness and there is no alternative way of averting the danger, they can be placed in accommodation . This means that the person concerned is forcibly admitted and treated in an inpatient psychiatric facility. The patient advocates represent these patients in court proceedings in which a decision is made on the admissibility of the placement. You stand up for their rights and concerns and support them in relation to the hospital. They are independent of the hospital. The Accommodation Act is the basis for their work.
Resident Council
People with mental or intellectual disabilities who live in nursing homes, facilities for the disabled, hospitals or facilities for children and young people sometimes endanger themselves or others. The Residence Act, which has been in force since 2005 , stipulates the conditions under which these residents may be restricted in their freedom. Facilities are obliged to report all restrictions on freedom to the residents' council. The residents' representatives check and then intervene depending on the situation. In addition to representing those affected, the aim is also to shorten the duration of restrictions on freedom as far as possible and to find alternatives. In addition to the representative network, the Lower Austrian Regional Association for Adult Protection, Adult Representation and Residential Representation (NÖLV), the IfS (Institute for Social Services Vorarlberg) and the Salzburg adult representative body are also active in the resident representation.