2008 State Conference : Respite and Social Support.

The dates have been set for Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday  November 18, 19, & 20.  The First Call For Papers is now available  seeking ideas and expressions of interest to present topics and papers at the conference.  The broad range on areas of interest we are canvassing cover:

• Industry policy                               - Technology
• Service operations                         - Indigenous Issues
• Population groups                         - CALD issues
• Workforce Development                 - Service Delivery
• Models of service                           - Research.

National HACC Forum.
‘Promoting Independence’.

This was convened by the Victorian Department of Human Services and attracted over 340 delegates (invitation only), to Melbourne for the 2 day Conference on Thursday / Friday February 21 & 22.
The focus of the National Forum was to examine the Well-Being and Re-enablement models of service support to frail older clients within the HACC program which have been developed and currently being utilized in Western Australia and Victoria.  Similar models in existence in the UK and New Zealand were also showcased.
The thrust of the Key-note sessions was to highlight the growing demand for HACC services amongst the frail older demographic group, particularly for the service type needs of  Personal Care   and   Domestic Assistance, and the need to engage and empower clients to develop or retain skills that will enable them to maintain a level of independence, and hence be less reliant on these two types of support. 

It is clear that the relevant State government departments responsible for the HACC program in those states take a more flexible approach to the interpretation of the HACC Guidelines and negotiated Outcomes for local providers.  These innovative approaches are driven not only by cost demands and levels of unmet need,  but also by a shift to a more client-centred service approach.
Although promoting an innovative and new approach to service delivery, the National Forum was narrow in focusing on 1 part of the target group and the impact on 2/3 service types (Personal Care / Domestic Assistance / Social Support).

The following is the website address to the pre-conference information, along with the Speaker Presentations. http://www.haccforum08.com.au

Research Projects.

1. The Capacities of the Respite and Social Support sector to support people with a Mental Illness and their Carers.

 Stage 1:  We have collected data from Centrelink and now collated that into HACC planning regions, on population figures of who is in receipt of the Carers pension, Carers Allowance and Disability Support Pension.  We sourced this data from Centrelink as information for members to gauge an estimation of the potential population group in their region, and perhaps a rough measurement on levels of unmet need. 

We have undertaken research on the eligibility definition of population target groups across relevant funding programs.  This has also encompassed disability eligibility definitions from Centrelink and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.  Across HACC, CSTDA, and the NRCP programs, people with a psychiatric disability are part of our target group.

We are now looking at the core competencies required to support people with a mental illness and comparing these across the required core competencies in Disability and Aged care Certificate IV courses.  In comparison to the Certificate IV in Mental Health (non clinical), there are at least 5 common competencies with a few others having similarities. 

We have developed a Workforce Skills and Knowledge Needs survey which we are initially distributing and trialling at the Regional Briefing Sessions.     

                

2. How to Build and Develop Capacity within the Respite and Social Support Sector.

There is quite a bit of research and testing on Capacity Building across a number of sectors. Defining this and describing what this may look like for our sector is our first stage of this research project.  Edward has undertaken research covering a service provision process utilising the Health Promotion Model.  This is not a treatment model but how to enhance the health of the population.  In respite we provide services to two clients: the Carer ; and the Care Recipient. 

Over the next two months as we roll out the Project 1 research,  other issues will arise that are of a generic capacity building requirement.  Any services interested in this part of the research please contact Edward on 044 834 2033 or his email Edward.thomas@interchangensw.com.au.  There are very clear tools for assessment of where a service needs to develop capacity but also how to vary the model to work towards a continuous improvement model. 

The Capacity Building Framework of the Health Promotion Model includes community development principles along with empowerment of individuals and the principles of advocacy and demonstrates a level of scientific, best practice to follow that is promoted by the United Nations.  Capacity assessment Items and the self audit tools will assist you to develop a plan over time. 

Studenst and Interested Researchers.

We are seeking a list of interested staff, managers, and management committee that are interested in the research above as outlined. 

Some of your staff will as part of their employment been granted study leave and might do assignments on their respite workplaces.   If staff are doing this type of work we would appreciate if they could email their assignments to us for collection and collating into a body of work.  They might also send the assignment explanation worksheet as well. 

Should staff wish to participate in specific research in respite we have a number of interrelated research topics that they could do some of their assignments on to assist us in this development phase.  Please give them  my email and telephone number above. 

If you have connections to the various student placement supervisors or lecturers interested in this field could you also forward our contact details to them such that we might make contact and enhance our sector wide capability. 

Working with Children Check - Criminal Record Check. The Queensland Blue Card System.

The Working with Children Check has been an issue for a number of members here in NSW for some time.  Our problem is of course that the NSW Commission for Children & Young People will only undertake this for paid employees.  Additionally, organizations have to undertake separate checks, and processes, for Criminal Record Checks on prospective staff or volunteers.

We have now undertaken some research on the Queensland system and will be endeavouring to have this adopted nationally.

Service Description Schedules.

December 2007. Kevin Marron.

Very shortly we will be releasing a position paper for memebrs to use in their current negotiations over their Service Dwescription Schedules. DADHC is considering block bulking a variety of program monies services currently receive under sigle program service types, rather than itemising this by program funding models as has been done historically. This maybe advantageous so long as there is more fredom to deliver the type of support your clients need and the agreed outputs are acceptable.

More information shortly.

New Website

December 2007

We have upgraded our website to achieve a better consistency, organization and accessibility on its content to our visitors and members.
The main changes include a new and improved layout, the ability for members to submit queries from the website, easier to navigate, optimized for 800X600 screens and better compatibility with different web-browsers among others.
The new website was designed and coded by Juan Carlos Bustamante (freelance web designer). If you have any suggestions, enquiries or want help with your organization's website, please email our webmaster.

HACC Respite Guidelines

September 2007 by Kevin Marron

The HACC Respite service type Guidelines have recently been released by DADHC following the protracted review which commenced in 2004. This is just an 11 page document which has been greatly contracted from the 64 page drafts circulating this time last year.
Read more »

HACC Social Support Guidelines

September 2007 by Kevin Marron

The HACC Social Support service type Guidelines have recently been released by DADHC following the protracted review which commenced in 2004. This is just an 11 page document which has been greatly contracted from the 64 page drafts circulating this time last year. Read more »

Carers & Stakeholders Respite Forums

September 2007 by Kevin Marron

Throughout 2006 Interchange Respite Care NSW held 13 Carers & Stakeholders Respite forums throughout NSW, five in metropolitan Sydney (Chatswood, Carlingford, Guildford, Fairfield and Sutherland) and eight in regional NSW (Lismore, Port Macquarie, Armidale, Forbes, Maitland, Merewether, Bathurst and Bega). Read more »

Carers and Stakeholders Forum
Consolidated Summary Paper

February 19 / 2007 (members only)

Throughout 2006 Interchange Respite Care NSW held 13 Carers & Stakeholders Respite forums throughout NSW, five in metropolitan Sydney (Chatswood, Carlingford, Guildford, Fairfield and Sutherland) and eight in regional NSW (Lismore, Port Macquarie, Armidale, Forbes, Maitland, Merewether, Bathurst and Bega). Read more »

(Go up)