Practice advice #1
Offer of supported accommodation and declining an offer of supported accommodation
Link to guidelines / Section 17.3 – Declining an offerFor attention of / Disability Support Register Vacancy Management teams and Departmental Disability Intake workers
Date of issue / September 2014
Issue number: / 1
Number of pages: / 2
Introduction
People with a disability are part of our community, our workforce and our families. They share the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities as all other citizens of Victoria.
There are two types of ongoing disability support that can be requested:
•Individual Support Package
•Supported Accommodation
Supported accommodation is for people with a disability who have high and complexsupport needs and who require rostered staff support that is linked to their accommodation.
Supported accommodationprovides staff-supported housing in the community.The support provided by staff is identified through a person-centred planning process.
When a person is offered supported accommodation the case manager/advocate/support worker will assist the person and their representative to consider the offer of supported accommodation.
There may be instances where the offer of supported accommodation is declined.
Requirements
Ongoing disability supports are allocated as they arise based on a matching process that considers a person’s current needs and circumstances.
People have the right to choose where they live and with whom they live.
Allocating disability supports is a transparent process and is outlined in the Disability Support Register guidelines.
Any decisions made by the divisions as a consequence of a person declining an offer of accommodation will align with Disability Act 2006and the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006.
A person selected for a supported accommodation place has the right to decline the offer.
Divisions should not alter the Letter of offer for supported accommodation template whereby it would limit the person’s option to decline the offer.
Considerations for good practice
Factors to be considered when making an offer of supported accommodation
•The demand for supported accommodation exceeds what is available, and an effective and transparent system for allocating these supports is required.
•Offers of supported accommodation should maximise the person’s access to informal and formal supports and take into account the person’s opportunities for self-determination.
•A person in receipt of an Individual Support Package (ISP) should have their ISP reviewed if they accept an offer of supported accommodation.
Factors to consider should a person decline an offer of supported accommodation
•The case manager or relevant department staff should work with the person to identify whether any further action is required either to support the person making a decision or to review their circumstances and support requirements.
•People residing in respite or temporary accommodation should not have their right to decline an offer of supported accommodation restricted, key workers should seek to understand why the offer has been declined.
•If an offer of supported accommodation is declined the Disability Support Register Vacancy Management Team will seek to understand the reason for this, and whether the application on which the offer was based accurately reflects the person’s need for support.
•If the person still has a current need for supported accommodation, immediate registration of this need should occur and the person should be advised of the updated registration.
•Case managers or department staff should inform people who decline an offer of supported accommodation of the options available to them including opportunities toseek other suitable accommodation.
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© State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services, October, 2015
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Practice advice #1 – Offer of supported accommodation and declining an offer of supported accommodation
Disability support register guidelines1