What is CISS?

The Client Independence Skills Service (CISS) isa time limited and goal directed skill development service.

The aim of the service is to increasea clients independence and reduce their reliance on formal supports, by providing targeted input to learn or relearn a skill.

Support is holistic and based on the needs and circumstances of the client.

Who is it for?

CISS is suitable for clients who have:

  • Clients who have active life area goals and want to develop their skills and gain independence
  • Clients who have attendant care related to assistance with Life Areas

What does it provide?

  • CISS uses a goal and skill directed, client-centered approach
  • Develop independence with activities of daily living (ADL), personal well-being, budgeting and finance, and community integration
  • CISS workers are experienced in the type of support required to help clients develop skills
  • Targeted, skill-specific, and time-limited (up to 12 weeks)
  • Repetitive practice maximises skill retention

Background- How will CISS assist?

  • Clients may experience difficulties achieving their independence goals, and benefit from a period of practice and repetition provided by qualified CISS workers to develop specific skills
  • CISS providers work with clients to deliver a goal-directed approach, with plenty of opportunity for practice, to help clients realise their independence goals
  • CISS helps reduce the reliance on attendant care and encourages clients to achieve their goals by becoming more independent with their ADL, personal well-being, and community integration

How do I know if CISSis suitable?

CISS could be a suitable service for your patient if they have:

  • Identified goals relating to Personal Activities of Daily Living (PADL), Domestic Activities of Daily Living (DADL), Community Access, or finance and budgeting
  • The ability to achieve goals, but would benefit from one-on-one or group-based skill development

How will CISS benefit the person?

Support provided via CISS may assist a client to:

  • Achieve Independence goals
  • Reduce reliance on attendant care or gratuitous care for community participation and ADL’s
  • Increase community participation
  • Foster a positive environment of support, and empower the client to be more independent

What does the Service Model look like?

  • Services will bedelivered over a 12 week period
  • In consultation with the treating team the provider will develop a training program that includes SMART client goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) that are consistent with the client's Independence Plan focus on empowering the client to achieve pre-defined independence outcomes
  • The program must use a model of supported repetitive functional task practice

How do I refer?

Any member of the client's treating team can request a referral to the service.

Contact your client's TAC Support Coordinator to discuss the service and referral further.

How will it change the way I work?

  • CISS will not necessarily change the way you work. It is an additional service option for you to consider as part of working with the client to achieve independence
  • When working with your client’s it is important to consider if the CISS program would be the most appropriate service option to facilitate goal achievement. As a clinical team it is important to consider referring to the right service at the right time
  • The service provider will maintain regular contact with you as the treater and the TAC to ensure the program can be effectively implemented, and that the client is making progress towards the desired goal
  • You may need to evaluate the outcome of the service at the end of the intervention (end of the 12 week period) and provide advice in relation to any changes to the client’s service needs as a result of the service. Any requested extension needs to be clinically justified and approved by the TAC

For further information please refer to the Client Independence Skills Service Policyat