Fact Sheet: Catchment-Basedintake Assessment Function

Fact Sheet: Catchment-basedIntake Assessment Function

This fact sheet provides an overview of the new catchment-based intake assessment function which will operate in all 15 Mental Health Community Support Service (MHCSS) catchments from 1August 2014.

This new function will provide an initial (screening) assessment for allprospective (new and re-entering) clients to determine eligibility for MHCSS, as well as priority of need. The function will be largely telephone based.

The intake assessment function will make it easier for people with a psychiatric disability, their carers/family and referring agencies to find and access MHCSS. It will ensure people who are most disabled by their mental health condition are prioritised for access and that a consistent and transparent approach is taken to the way eligibility is assessed and need prioritised across all catchments.

What MHCSS programs are covered by the intake assessment function?

The new catchment-based intake assessmentfunction replaces agency level intake activity from August 2014 for the following MHCSS programs:

• Individualised Client Support Packages
• Youth Residential Rehabilitation Services
• Adult Residential Rehabilitation Services
• Supported Accommodation Services.

Organisations funded to deliver these MHCSS programs will be required to accept allnew referrals via the catchment-based intake assessment function (subject to service availability).

The client’s intake assessment does not replace the comprehensive needs assessment which will be undertaken by the MHCSS providerresponsible for delivering ongoing support to the client.

Who is eligible to receive MHCSS?

From1 August 2014, to be eligible to receive MHCSS, people will need to:

• be 16-64 years of age
• have a disability that is attributable to a psychiatric condition
• have an impairment or impairments that are permanent, or are likely to be permanent
• have an impairment or impairments that results in substantially reduced psychosocialfunctioning in undertaking one or more of the following activities:

• communication
• social interaction
• learning
• self-care
• self-management; and

• have an impairment or impairments that affect the person’s capacity for social and economic participation.

A psychiatric impairment that varies in intensity is also considered permanent if it is likelythe person requires ongoing specialist mental health support.

Priority will be given to people who are most disabled by theirpsychiatric condition – regardless of diagnosis, capacity for rehabilitation/recovery andliving circumstances. Only where there is more than one eligible person with a similar levelof disability and need will priority of access be determined by taking into account a range of factors, including length of time waiting for a MHCSS service, other supports currently available to the person, and issues such as housing and the impacts on family, carers and children.

In circumstances where the intake assessment cannot fully determine if the person has a disability that is attributable to a psychiatric condition, the person may be referred to a provider of Individualised Client Support Packages in the catchment who will undertake a more comprehensive assessment (in consultation with the intake assessment provider) for the purposes of making this determination. The MHCSS provider’s allocated Client Support Units (CSU) may be used for this purpose.

Who can make a referral to the intake assessment agency?

A prospective client(new or returning) and their carers or family member/s can make a referral to their local intake assessment agency. Any agency or individual that provides support to a person who may be eligible for MHCSS, can (with their consent) also make a referral on their behalf.

MHCSS providers are expected to actively work with local health and community services and communities in their local areato identify people who would benefit from MHCSS, particularly hard to reachgroups (such as people with a mental illness who are experiencing long-term homelessness, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islandersorthose from non-English speaking or culturally diverse backgrounds).

If a MHCSS provider, aswell as other health and community services,identifies a person who may benefit from MHCSS, they should make a supported referral to their local intake assessment agency to facilitate the individual’s formal intake assessment and subsequent potential access to MHCSS.

This also applies to potential clients who ‘walk into’ a MHCSS provider’s delivery site and where a MHCSS provider is supporting people at key transition points (e.g. as they exit an acute inpatient service).

What will the client pathway look like?

The following diagram provides an overview of the pathways to and from the catchment-based intake assessment function.

Which organisations are delivering the intake assessment function?

Three organisations have been funded to deliver the intake assessment function across the state (see table below). Service providers of MHCSS programs that are required to take referrals via this new function will be contacted by the provider of the intake assessment function in their service catchment/sto discuss how the function will operate.

Agency / Catchments and Local Government Areas covered / Contact person
Australian Community Support Organisation / All local government authorities in regional and rural areas across Victoria. / Lee-Arna Howle, Senior Manager, Organisational Development
T: 03 9413 7000
M: 0457536264
E:
EACH / Inner East and Eastern Melbourne catchment: Cities of Boroondara, Manningham, Monash, Whitehorse, Knox, Maroondah and Shire of Yarra Ranges.
South Eastern catchment: City of Greater Dandenong and Shires of Cardinia and Casey.
North Melbourne catchment: Cities of Banyule, Darebin and Whittlesea and Shire of Nillumbik. / Sharon Bourke, Clinical Manager, EACH MHCSS Intake Service
T: 1300 785 358
E:
Neami / Bayside and Frankston-Mornington Peninsula catchments: Cities of Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Frankston and Shire of Mornington Peninsula.
Inner North Melbourne, North Western Melbourne and South Western catchments: Cities of Melbourne, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Yarra, Brimbank, Hume, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Shire of Melton. / Joe Cassar, Regional Manager
M: 0416 248 633
E:

Further Information

If you have any queries regarding this function, please contact the relevant contact person listed above.

Updates on the catchment-based intake assessment function will be provided on

To receive this publication in an accessible format phone contact the Mental Health Wellbeing and Ageing Division.
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne. Printed by the Department of Health.Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this publication show models and illustrative settings only, and do not necessarily depict actual services, facilities or recipients of services.

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