Policies
CLBC’s policies guide our operations and provide information about how CLBC supports eligible individuals and families.
CLBC is accountable to the Province of BC, and our policies are directed and developed in accordance with both legislation and government expectations. The Community Living Authority Act sets out CLBC’s mandate and its accountability to government.
Our policies reflect broad service standards and policy direction set by the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction through an annual Letter of Expectations. CLBC develops and implements policy in accordance with this direction.
CLBC policies are developed and implemented in accordance with the Foundational Policy Principles:
- Equity Approach
- Citizenship in Community
- Individual Self-Determination
- Commitment to Relations with Indigenous Peoples and Communities
- Working Together to Build Capacity
- Accountability
Read the Policy Authority Policy here and the Policy Framework Policy here for more information.
In this section of the website you can read policies that explain how CLBC and its staff work with service providers, community partners, and individuals and families to provide supports.
Read other relevant policies here, including Quality Assurance, Privacy and Organizational policies.
Click here to find all COVID-19 interim guidance documents.
Behaviour Support and Safety Planning Policy
The Behaviour Support and Safety Planning policy outlines requirements for service providers who support individuals with challenging behaviours in CLBC-funded services.
It reflects a positive approach to behaviour supports for adults and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and understanding behaviours as a form of communication.
The policy clarifies that a ‘Safety Plan’ is required whenever a restrictive practice, such as the use of restraints, is being considered. It is accompanied by the “Guide for Service Providers” that provides more detail and best practice guidance on the expectations outlined in the policy.
Find additional materials here.
Community Supports Policy
CLBC’s vision is one of full citizenship in which people with developmental disabilities lead good lives, have rich relationships with friends and family, financial security, choices in how they live their lives, employment opportunities and are accepted and valued as citizens.
This policy outlines two methods of putting this vision into practice through the use of generic services and informal supports.
Core and Enhanced Funding Policy
This policy explains Core and Enhanced Funding and how it can be used for supports to individuals and families.
Core support is the standard amount of funding offered to people who have no other CLBC funded services while CLBC works to fulfill their service requests.
People with high needs who have no other CLBC services may receive Enhanced funding while CLBC works to fulfill their service requests.
The policy also connects Core and Enhanced Funding to other CLBC policies, which helps explain how the funding can be used.
Cultural Safety Policy
The Cultural Safety Policy is a key step forward to one of CLBC’s 2022 – 2025 Strategic Plan goals: to ensure our actions align with the rights of Indigenous peoples. Having a Cultural Safety Policy in place allows CLBC to build tools for staff and service providers to learn how to offer our services in a culturally safe way.
The policy describes the cultural safety principles and practices that will guide how CLBC staff and service providers engage, support, monitor, and plan with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals, their families and/or support networks, and communities. It promotes inclusion, anti-racism, equity, reconciliation, and flexible service delivery for Indigenous individuals that CLBC serves.
Eligibility Policy
The purpose of this policy is to provide clarification on the criteria and process used by CLBC to determine eligibility for its direct or funded supports and services. In addition, this policy addresses the need for consistency and equity in determining access to services.
Note: the CLBC Eligibility Policy and Eligibility Form were updated in April 2018 to reflect the language (“intellectual disabilities”) and criteria used in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5) that practitioners use to assess individuals to determine eligibility for CLBC services. There are no significant changes to CLBC’s eligibility criteria.
Learn if you may be eligible for CLBC supports and services.
Employment Policy
This policy brings focus to the importance and value of employment in the lives of individuals supported by CLBC. The policy orients staff to the emphasis on employment and provides general guidance for integrating it into their work.
Click here to learn more about CLBC Employment Supports.
External Reviews Policy
An External Review is a neutral third-party investigation of a situation, incident or service, that results in recommendations and possible action. This policy sets out the requirements for External Reviews to ensure that they are conducted in a consistent and transparent way.
This policy applies to CLBC Quality Service Managers, quality service analysts, and the Director of Quality Assurance.
Individual and Family Preference in Procurement
Individual preference is a way for an individual and/or their family to take an active role in expressing preference for the service provider that best meets their needs.
CLBC works with many different service providers to arrange for services for people who are eligible for funded supports. We pay individuals, private companies and non-profit societies to provide approved residential, community inclusion and family support services. The process of finding the right service provider for an individual and then negotiating what they will provide and how much CLBC will pay them, is called procurement and contracting.
Our goal is to ensure that contracted services are the best possible match for the disability-related needs of each individual and that we are responsive to each person’s unique goals, dreams, and choices.
To learn more about Individual Preference, please click the links below:
Individual and Family Wellness Policy
This policy explains CLBC’s wellness services for families (formerly called ‘respite’). Wellness services help families get a break from supporting their family member and help keep families strong and together.
The policy explains the two types of wellness funding:
- Self-directed Individual and Family Wellness goes directly to the family to manage their own wellness support.
- Agency-coordinated Individual and Family Wellness goes to a service provider that helps with wellness support for the family.
The policy gives information on how families can and cannot use their self-directed Individual and Family Wellness funding.
Individual Financial Contribution to Home Supports Policy
CLBC’s Individual Financial Contribution to Home Supports Policy provides information about the monthly payment individuals or family members will make to contribute to shelter and basic living costs when it is required, and how much it will be.
Individualized Funding Policies and Supporting Documents
Individualized Funding (IF) provides individuals and families with flexible, person-centred, self-directed payment options for arranging, managing, and paying for supports and services.
For more information, please see the following documents:
Individuals and families have two payment options through Individualized Funding: Direct Funding or Host Agency Funding.
Direct funding
Direct Funding is an IF payment option where funds allocated by CLBC are paid directly by CLBC to an individual or his/her agent (family member or representative) for the purchase of supports and services. For more information, please see the following documents:
For agents who have a Direct Funding Standard Agreement with CLBC, the Privacy Protection Schedule referred to in Section 7.7 of your agreement is available through this link:
If you have a Direct Funding Simplified Agreement and need a copy of the Compliance Report, please click on this link:
Host agency funding
With the Host Agency Funding payment option, the funds allocated by CLBC for the purchase of individualized supports and services are paid by CLBC to a Host Agency that has been approved by CLBC and selected by the individual and family. The Host Agency administers the funds and works with the individual and family to arrange and manage the supports required. This option provides the benefits of Individualized Funding, but with less responsibility for paperwork and record-keeping.
To learn more, please see the following policy:
Legal Requirements Policy
This policy provides information and guidance to staff in responding to subpoenas, search warrants, summons, lawful investigations and other legal processes that are directly related to CLBC operations. It applies to all CLBC staff.
L.I.F.E. Service Policy
This policy explains how the L.I.F.E. Service supports individuals in the areas of Learning, Inclusion, Friendship, and Employment. The purpose of the L.I.F.E. Service is to help individuals who use CLBC services to get jobs and direct their supports to have full lives. The policy establishes a framework for how the service is planned, implemented, and monitored for service quality. It supports collaboration between individuals, families and support networks, service providers, and CLBC staff who play key roles in the service.
More information:
Policy Framework
The Policy Authority Policy is a governance policy that delegates authority and accountability for select policies from CLBC’s Board of Directors to CLBC’s Chief Executive Officer and explains CLBC’s policy authority structure.
The Policy Framework Policy defines the purpose of CLBC’s policies and related documents and outlines the principles and processes that guide policy development, implementation, and evaluation.
Privacy of Personal Information
Organizational Privacy Policy
The CLBC Organizational Privacy Policy describes CLBC’s approach to privacy of personal information as required by the B.C. Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). It complements the CLBC Privacy Guidelines that provide an overview of privacy legislation and best practices. The policy is supported by a suite of more detailed policies which address specific aspects of privacy.
Interim Guidance on use of video conferencing services during COVID-19
Given the importance of physical distancing, there has been significant work in the sector to identify virtual methods for staying connected, including through platforms such as Skype, Zoom and Facetime.
This Interim Guidance document was created to address concerns around how to use virtual platforms while also complying with the government’s privacy requirements.
Right to Access Personal Information Policy
The Right to Access Personal Information Policy describes how CLBC supports individuals to exercise their right to access their own personal information held by CLBC.
Access to Personal Information for Research Purposes Policy
The Access to Personal Information for Research Purposes Policy explains under what conditions individuals’ personal information may be accessed for research and statistical purposes.
Confidentiality and Information Sharing Policy
The Confidentiality and Information Sharing Policy describes how CLBC staff maintain the rights of individuals to confidentiality and privacy of personal information and assists them to comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Request for Service Policy
This policy describes how requests for service are recorded and how decisions are made about their priority order for funding.
Resource Allocation Policy
Role of Formal and Informal Representatives
This policy clarifies the roles and responsibilities of legal decision makers in assisting individuals with developmental disabilities receiving CLBC supports and services.
Service Provision by Family Members Policy
This policy outlines the exceptional circumstances under which an immediate family member can be paid to provide service to a relative who is eligible for CLBC supports.
Standards for the Coordination of Home Sharing Policy
The policy supports the Standards for the Coordination of Home Sharing that provide requirements which guide service providers watching over the delivery of home sharing services and for CLBC staff responsible for watching over home sharing services that are delivered by service providers.
The standards can be found below, along with resources to support agencies with their learning and to support compliance:
Support and Planning Policy
Supports funded by CLBC
CLBC funds a variety of supports to strengthen individuals’ and their families’ ability to thrive, to facilitate participation in community, and to help people live in their homes.
Learn more:
Transfer Policy
This policy explains what happens to a person’s supports and services when they move to a new area in British Columbia. It also describes how CLBC staff will work with individuals, families and their support networks to meet their CLBC-funded support and service needs in the new area.
Visit the Moving – Transferring your CLBC Services webpage here to find more information and resources, including a Q&A document and plain language video.
Youth Transition Support Policy
CLBC works in collaboration with youth and their families and other government organizations and ministries to support youth transitioning to adulthood. Supporting a smooth transition for youth and their families is an important priority for CLBC.
This policy describes the role of CLBC facilitators for assisting youth and their families before a youth turns 19. The policy outlines processes that should be completed before a youth turns 19. It also includes a timeframe for completing required processes, based on a youth’s age.
Learn about the steps to prepare to access CLBC supports.