Early Intervention and Engagement Pilot - Service Providers
Questions and Responses - Briefings April 4 – 8 2005
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For the purposes of the pilot a short-term intervention has been defined as 12 weeks or less in duration.
The pilot is relatively small, affecting approximately 1000 job seekers. The only non-metropolitan areas that will be included in the pilot are Bunbury and Mandurah . We anticipate issues comparable to those likely to be raised in rural will be identified by inclusion of these regional sites.
No, the eligibility criteria will remain the same as they are currently. However, DEEWR has agreed that where a DEA provider has a waiting list, the provider can give pilot referrals priority of access.
No, there is no change to service provider funding or service expectations. However, where there is a waiting list DEA providers may give pilot referrals priority. As a result of the pilot we do anticipate more timely referral of the job seeker to the appropriate service provider and earlier engagement of the job seeker by the service provider.
Service providers should engage the job seeker as soon as possible, but job seekers are not required to attend sooner.
Star ratings apply to job seekers in this pilot in the same way as they apply to any other job seeker in Job Network. The status of the job seeker for the purposes of the star ratings is established once Centrelink has made a payment determination.
The Department will ensure that the JNM is paid the appropriate outcome payment. The Outcome conditions and rates payments are based on job seeker's characteristics at the time of the job placement, such as allowance type, duration of unemployment, restricted work capacity, etc. Therefore if Centrelink backdates the start date of DSP to the date that the job seeker applied for DSP/exemption, DEEWR would allow for the outcome rate applied to DSP job seekers to be paid. So if the DSP start date is backdated to the date prior to job seekers start of employment, DSP (3 years+) outcome payment rate will apply. OF course all other IS Outcome or Intermediate Payment conditions will have to be satisfied.
Yes. However, the comprehensive nature of consolidated assessment process and resultant service provider report should result in appropriate referrals. Therefore, it is anticipated that those job seekers referred to CRS for vocational rehabilitation will be accepted unless additional evidence established post assessment clearly indicates otherwise.
Manifest grants of DSP are only made in very clear-cut cases, and in a limited number of clearly defined circumstances. These decisions must be well documented so that decision-making can be substantiated. Manifest grants may only be made to a person with: • A terminal illness (life expectancy of less than two years with significantly reduced work capacity during this period) • Permanent blindness (meets the test for permanent blindness for social security purposes) • An Intellectual Disability (where supporting documentation clearly indicates an impairment rating of 20 points or more under the Tables for the Assessment of Work Related Impairment) • An assessment indicating that they require nursing home level care, or • Category 4 HIV/AIDS. If medical evidence clearly indicates that the customer falls within one of the above manifest categories, it is also accepted that they have a manifest inability to work. This means that an assessment of CITW is not required. Customers who are clearly permanently blind based on the information provided in the Request for Ophthalmologist/Optometrist Report - Age/Disability Support Pension on the Basis of Blindness (SA013) form are manifestly eligible for DSP.
No. The specialist assessors will make a decision on the most appropriate service type for the job seeker following the consolidated assessment. This service may be the Job Network or another service available in the local area, including DEA, vocational rehabilitation or PSP.
No, PSP will not be used as short-term intervention. The eligibility criteria for job seekers referred to PSP during the pilot will be the same as they are now.
Yes. Assessors will forward a ‘Service Provider Report’ to the service providers job seekers are referred to during the pilot. This report will provide details of the job seekers barriers to employment and will recommend any short-term interventions that may be of benefit to the job seeker.
The aim of the Service Provider Report is give providers information about the job seekers work capacity, the types of barriers to employment they may face and other relevant information about interventions that may help the job seeker move toward employment. Service providers can follow the recommendations made in the report at their discretion.
Assessors have been provided with a list of service providers in their local area. These services include Job Network Members, Disability Employment Assistance Providers (open and supported), CRS Australia and Personal Support Programme providers, including information on any specialisation by services. The eligibility requirements for these service types have also been provided. It is anticipated that the assessors will contact the provider they would intend to refer the job seeker to by phone prior to the referral being made.
The assessment and referral processes which will take place during the pilot will be closely monitored and evaluated. It is expected that CRS Australia will use their professional judgment, as will other assessors, to identify the most appropriate service to meet the needs of the job seeker undergoing an assessment.
Nationally, it is anticipated that 1,000 job seekers will have a consolidated assessment completed as part of the pilot. This means that each of the four assessor organisations will complete 250 assessments in total, across all of their sites.
The pilot commenced on the 11th April 2005 and will run for up to 12 weeks from this date (the time allowed for the quota of 1,000 completed assessments to be reached).
Each assessor will conduct the consolidated assessment slightly differently, so there is no single model of assessment. However, the aim of the assessment is to provide a comprehensive examination of the job seeker’s work capacity and the types of assistance they may need to move toward employment. The assessment will also be used by Centrelink to make determinations on whether to grant claims for the Disability Support Pension and Exemptions from the activity test (due to illness, injury or disability).
The assessors will consult with the job seeker’s treating doctor as part of the assessment process if required.
Job seekers will be given two opportunities to attend an assessment interview during the pilot. If the job seeker fails to attend a second scheduled appointment, the assessor will let Centrelink know and they will following the existing processes for job seekers who fail to attend a Better Assessment interview.
Participation by DSP claimants/reviewees and exemption from the activity test applicants/reviewees in referral at the time of assessment is voluntary. However, should DSP not be granted or a NSA/YA activity test exemption rejected by Centrelink, then these job seekers will be required to meet their activity test obligations.
Service providers will be provided with a report as part of the referral process.
It is expected, as part of the pilot process, that assessors will discuss the referral with the service provider prior to the referral being made. Where the service has an extensive waiting list, the job seeker may be referred to an alternative service. In the case of Disability Employment Service providers the Department has agreed to pilot referrals being given priority where there is a waiting list.
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