Bruce Kemp
Department of Health and Human Services
GPO BOX 125
HobartTasmania 7001
28 January 2011
Dear Mr Kemp
Disability Services Act: consultation on draft Bill
Baptcare would like to acknowledge the magnitude and scope of the work required to undertake a review of the Disability Services Act. We believe this document makes considerable progress toward clearly defining the parameters of the disability service environment.
There are a number of minor elements within the paper that may benefit from strengthening or revising, these are:
Section 4. Interpretation (Page 7)
Heading ‘Intermediary Services’ we feel that the ‘Community Based Intake (Gateway intake and assessment) and Local Area Coordinators active monitoring role should be labelled here as an example and for purposes of clarity later in the document, especially regarding information sharing.
The Child and Family Services Act provides a description of the Community Based Intake and the role they play in service provision. We recommend that the Disability Services Act also includes a similar descriptions as this provides a great level of clarity for other services providers to ensure there is an understanding across the sector and amongst people with a disability and their families that the Community Based Intake has delegated authority to assess the needs of people with a disability as to their eligibility for service, make referrals to Specialist Disability Services and provide brokerage.
Section 5. Principles (Page 16)
Baptcare believes that an area of the document that could be strengthened is a clearer articulation of the Acts’ support for implementation of:
(1) person centred planning / Consumer Directed Care/ Self Directed Approaches, and
(2) support for family and or primary carer involvement in decision making.
Section 37. Information sharing (page 58)
It would be beneficial to provide an articulation that information sharing between service providers only occurs under strict conditions; which isfor the purposes of undertaking assessment of eligibility for services and to develop a client support plan.
Baptcare has actively participated and worked closely with DHHS in its endeavours to bring about major reform in the disability, child, youth and family services sector. This document is evidence of the learning’s within the sector and provides a clear approach and ensures a shared understanding for the way forward.
We recognise the challenges of implementing change and see the implementation of the Disability Services Act as providing solid foundations.
Yours sincerely,
Marita Scott
General Manager Family Services