Leanda Read & Melissa Slavin, Assessments Australia - upport Planning in Transition - Preparing for the NDIS within Existing Programs

Dr Leannda Read Director, Professional Services

Dr Melissa Slavin Professional Services Manager

Case Study: Support Planning in Transi5on – Preparing for the NDIS within Exis5ng Programs

Suppor9ng Human Decisions. Understanding Human Needs.

Assessments Australia

© Assessments Australia 2014

• Independent allied health assessments – Suppor9ng human services decisions across government and non-‐government agencies

– Assessments conducted by highly qualified and experienced independent assessors

• Support planning – Underpinned by independence -‐ no service provision

NSW Disability Reforms


• Ready Together: reshaped Stronger Together 2 • prepares NSW for transi9on to NDIS • Living Life My Way Policy Framework – Building a self-‐directed disability system – Enabling choice and control – Strengthens and promotes individual planning

– Builds skills necessary to plan and nego9ate how supports are delivered

ADendant Care Program & High Needs Pool


• AUendant Care Program (ACP) – Individualised funding – Choice of service providers and funding model

– Approved alloca9on provided as hours of care

• High Needs Pool (HNP) – One provider – Home Care Service of NSW – Very liUle flexibility, no choice of providers, no access to direct payments

Community Support Program (CSP)


• Significant shi] towards Living Life My Way policy framework • Support for par9cipants to move from provider driven funding to individual self Directed funding • Administered through the FACS Districts • Eligibility: – 16-‐64 years old, NSW resident – Permanent physical disability – Significant personal care support needs

Individual Plan


• What par9cipant wants to achieve • How they will use informal, mainstream and formal supports • How allocated funding will be used to meet their support needs • Proposed schedule of funded supports and costs • Review period, agreed responsibili9es of par9cipant and provider

Funding Op5ons: Payment to a Service Provider


• Individual budget paid to service provider • Par9cipant can ask provider to manage all, some or none of their plan • Service provider accountable to FACS and par9cipant for expenditure and quality • Service provider conducts risk assessment for par9cipants implemen9ng any part of their plan

Funding Op5ons: Direct Payment Agreement


• Par9cipants manage own funds: maximum choice and control • Par9cipant is responsible for developing plan, choosing and coordina9ng their supports, checking quality, monitoring expenditure, paying invoices, and regular repor9ng to FACS • Can directly employ staff, with associated legal, financial and employment responsibili9es • Risk assessment conducted with Support Planner

Par5cipant Group Number

Direct Funded Model 21

High Needs Pool 268

AUendant Care Complex clients 27

CSP Transi5on Project


• Priori9sed par9cipants • Transi9oning with assistance of Support

Planner

Assessments Australia CSP Support Planners


• Assists with transi9on to CSP if par9cipant wishes • Planning with par9cipant, not for par9cipant • Building capacity • Help iden9fy funding op9on; conduct Risk Assessment if DPA chosen • Inclusive approach

Working with Service Providers


• Op9ons for the role of the Service Provider: – Budget holder – Manage sub-‐contrac9ng arrangements – Provide funded supports

• Changing parameters • No longer based upon specified unit cost or service types

Person-‐Centred Planning


• What is ! what could be • Truly listen • Enable confidence & independence • Support informed decisions & forward planning • Devise crea9ve solu9ons • Understand what is important to & what is important for the par9cipant

Allied Health Professionals


• Allied health background – e.g. OT, Physio • Understand pre-‐exis9ng rela9onships, networks, life goals • Experience and skills to manage risk • Understanding of service system • Knowledge of par9cipant popula9on and complex needs • Work closely with ADHC District staff

Engagement and Training


• Challenge of moving from being an ‘expert’ ! a ‘facilitator’ • Rigorous selec9on process – Interpersonal skills and communica9on the key

• Two day training program – Reform context – Program parameters – Individual and person-‐centred planning

Dignity of Risk


• Management of funds • Employment of staff • Manual handling risks • Environmental and safety risks • Staff safety • Changes in func9onal and cogni9ve capacity • Changes to informal and mainstream supports

Case Study: ‘Liz’


• ‘Liz’ is a 23 year old woman with Spinal Muscular Atrophy • Lives with brother who has the same condi9on • Can communicate independently • Requires full assistance with nearly all ac9vi9es of daily living

Case Study: Current Funding


• Currently receives ACP funding for 50 hrs/wk • Manages this under the ACP Direct Funding Model agreement since 2012 • Directly employs own staff • Some care shared with brother (e.g. morning rou9nes)

Case Study: Goals


• Study at university • Increase her capacity for independent travel in the community • Arrange her own care supports • Con9nue to live independently and make her own decisions

Case Study: Individual Plan & Budget


• Access informa9on for university enrolment, including liaising with disability support services • Look at sharing a private driver with her brother • Share other services to beUer u9lise support package • Amalgamate supports • Maintain control over her choices

SupporTrak


• Online database to capture and report on plans • Greater access to informa9on – Services & costs

• Repor9ng capacity – Budgetary implica9ons

• Assist with informa9on access across Directorates



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Key Learnings and Challenges


• Service Provider readiness – Implica9ons of the new system

• Transi9on 9me frames – Pressures on exis9ng programs and funding agreements vs. 9me needed for par9cipant-‐driven process

• Communica9on and educa9on – Equipping par9cipants for NDIS transi9on

© ASSES SMENTS AUSTRAL I A 2 014

Health & Medicine

Leanda Read & Melissa Slavin, Assessments Australia - upport Planning in Transition - Preparing for the NDIS within Existing Programs