Some parents who have a disability have a public guardian appointed who is from the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). The OPG is an independent statutory office established to protect the rights, interests and wellbeing of adults with impaired decision-making capacity, and children and young people in the child protection system.
The charter of the OPG when working with adults who have impaired decision making is to:
- make personal, health and legal decisions (not related to property or finance) if the Public Guardian is their guardian or attorney
- investigate allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation of adults with impaired decision-making capacity
- advocate and mediate on behalf of adults with impaired decision-making capacity
- educate the public on the guardianship and attorney systems (Office of the Public Guardian).
The following video developed by the OPG provides an overview of the OPG’s work with adults.
Office of the Public Guardian: Protecting the rights and interests of vulnerable adults
Attention
When working with a parent who has a guardian appointed, it is likely that the OPG will participate in significant decisions or meetings with the parent. Ensure that the parent’s guardian is aware of important dates and information pertaining to the parent, for example the details of Family Group Meetings and contact decisions.
For further information on the Office of the Public Guardian and their functions, visit their website here.
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