Patient Handbook

Code of Conduct:
All residents of St. Matilda's are expected to conduct themselves in a mature and orderly fashion. All residents are expected to obey all staff requests without question or argument. Harassment of any nature, to staff or other residents, is a punishable offence. Types of harassment include, but are not limited to: Sexual Harassment, Racial Harassment and General Harassment that Causes Conflict or Unhappiness of Any Kind. Residents breeching this or any other rule at St. Matilda's maybe be reprimanded accordingly.

Intimate Relations:
Residents at St. Matilda's are not permitted to engage in intimate sexual acts with members of staff or other residents. We at St. Matilda's feel that residents will benefit far better from our program if other distractions are removed. Men and Women are allocated to separate rooms, and are not to be found in a room belonging to their opposite gender at any time. This is also for the safety and security of our residents at St. Matilda's.

Controlled Substances:
Residents at St. Matilda's are not permitted to purchase, sell, possess or imbibe controlled substances of any nature. Residents flagged as high risk for substance abuse will be tested for drugs randomly and without warning. Residents found taking controlled substances, including but not limited to: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, or prescription painkillers, will be relocated to an appropriate facility to detox before they may return to St. Matilda's.
Tobacco: Residents of eighteen years or older are permitted to smoke cigarettes only in allocated smoking areas. These areas are: The Courtyard, The Sideyard, and The East Wing Recreational Room.

Drug Screening:
All patients admitted to St. Matilda's are expected to undergo routine drug screening at specified or unspecified times. Patients suspected of infringement of controlled substances rules may be tested without prior warning or patient consent.

Dress Code:
Residents of St. Matilda's are permitted to wear their own clothing so long as the following rules are observed: Skirts and Shorts shall not show the underwear or the buttocks. Shirts must cover the midriff and must have at least short sleeves. Shirts must also cover the bust. No spaghetti straps.
Accessories that are metallic, sharp or potentially hazardous in any way are not permitted. These include but are not limited to: Thick Chains, Large Earrings, Studded Belts or Jewellery of Any Kind, Large and/or Heavy or Ostentatious Rings, Pendants or Bracelets, Hair Sticks or Otherwise Sharp or Metallic Hair Accessories.
Clothing must not be offensive or suggestive in nature.
Shoes must not be heavy or sharp. Stilettos are not permitted

Free Hours and Schedules:
Residents of St. Matilda's are permitted to move about as they wish so long as they are not scheduled for the requisite physical activity, classes, therapy, or recreational periods. Residents are to report to their assigned rooms before lights-out, and are not permitted to leave until morning roll-call is sounded. Residents found skipping scheduled activities or therapy, or found outside of their rooms after lights-out, will be reprimanded.

Personal and Group Therapy
All patients at St. Matilda's are expected to attend scheduled therapy sessions overseen by our competent staff and registered doctors of psychiatry. Upon admission, all patients will be assigned group and personal therapy sessions based on their specific needs. All information on these sessions is posted at the nurses' station of each ward. All questions on personal and group therapy are to be raised with the patient's primary therapist during scheduled individual therapy hours.

Communal Dining and Activity Areas:
All patients possessing communal activity privileges are expected to conduct themselves in a pleasant and friendly manner during communal hours and at all times. Patients found causing emotional distress to themselves or other patients may lose these privileges for a probational period. Repeat offenders may be posted to the isolation wards for a period of time to be determined by the patient's primary therapist or the hospital dean.

All of our state of the art psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities observe a strict guideline for acceptable and prohibited personal effects and substances. Below you will find a comprehensive list of the things that we do not allow on-site unless other specified by facility heads of staff. A search of all persons admitted to our facilities is mandatory, and items that violate guidelines will be confiscated.

Drugs and Alcohol: We do not allow any controlled substances, medications not prescribed to a resident or patient, aerosols, other substances that may be used in an inappropriate manner, or alcohol on-site at any of our facilities. These may include, but are not limited to such things as solvents and glues, aerosol products not for personal hygiene purposes, organic compounds of a mind-altering or psychedelic nature, narcotics and opiates not prescribed to the patient, or any other substances that may be abused. Prescription medications will be kept by facility staff and administered at the discretion of the nurses or doctors on duty.

Clothing or Items of a Suggestive Nature: Items of clothing, or personal effects comprised of images that are suggestive in nature are not permitted at our facilities. This includes drug paraphernalia or iconography, sexually suggestive or explicit imagery or sculpture, offensive images or language and violent imagery.

Weapons: Our facilities do not allow weaponry of any kind, or objects that may be considered as weapons or used against another person with the intention of causing physical harm. This includes but is not limited to: Knives and other blades, firearms, metallic objects with sharp points or edges, chains, heavy objects that may be used to bludgeon, such as paper weights and ashtrays, glass bottles, jars, flatware or ornaments, construction tools of any kind, sports paraphernalia such at bats and rackets, and ignition devices such as cigarette lighters and matches. Those wishing to smoke in designated areas may request a light from the nurse or orderly on duty.

Personal Electronics: Personal electronics must be earned by each resident or patient through outstanding behaviour, and may be revoked thereafter at any time should behaviour decline. This includes cell phones, MP3 players, laptops and personal gaming devices. St. Matilda Outpatients are permitted to have personal electronics without need for approval.

Miscellaneous: Items that could be used for harming self or others, such as scarves, belts, shoelaces, headphone cords, or other cords. Medicines of any kind. Prescription medications will be administered by the staff at the nurse's station along with daily medications, or upon request and staff approval. Musical instruments. Breakable objects, such as sheet plastic and plastic silverware that can be used to harm someone or self. All cafeteria silverware to be accounted for before patients may leave dining hall.