Assessment, prioritisation and place management
Most respondents did not address the issues surrounding assessment, prioritisation and place management directly. Those that did stressed that the system needs to be streamlined, open and transparent, based on clear criteria and relative need, not other extraneous criteria (such as capacity to pay).
Models put forward include those used by Western Australia – a one step process to assess eligibility and needs, and assign priority for access to all disability programs funded by the Western Australian government; a modified Aged Care Assessment Team assessment and prioritisation process; or a model like the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) in New South Wales, which involves local level client selection committees comprising the HASI partner providers (accommodation support, mental health and housing providers).
All who commented on an assessment approach stated that it needed to be holistic, looking at all a person’s needs, wants, goals and circumstances. Assessments should be dynamic and forward looking, including plans developed with a person for their future. Parent carers were concerned that the views and experience of the parent carer should be respected and taken into account in any assessment – they know the person best.
Some commented that the family unit should be the focus – assessing the whole context and the health and capacity of the family unit as an entity, not focusing just on one person or element. This approach may sometimes lead to a person with disability getting greater or earlier access to programs and supports due to the needs of their primary carer(s), rather than an assessment of their needs in isolation.
Some respondents suggested that assessments should be conducted over a period of up to three months. Others suggested that initial assessment should occur around six months prior to planned access to supported accommodation and regular reviews in the lead up to entry. Reassessments should also occur on request when circumstances and/or needs have changed.
People considered that it was important that while people with disability and their families were waiting for accommodation and/or support services, they receive regular information updates, additional access to respite and in home support services, continued (or new) access to day programs that focus on skills development to equip people with disability to live in the community.
In addition to commenting on assessing needs and priorities for individuals, some respondents made the point that places should be planned for on a population benchmarking basis, similar to that used for estimating the demand for aged care services (projected aged care demand is estimated on the basis of 108 beds/packages per1000 people aged 70 years and over).