The Great Divide

1. The Great Divide Addressing some of the Boundary Issues between Service Systems Sue Brown The Northcott Society

2. Background to the Establishment of the Project • Disability = health problem • 1980’s amalgamation of Disability Services in The Health Department with The Department of Community Services • Boundary problems within the service systems • 1996 research findings on the need for a whole of family approach • May 1998 ADD led an across government approach to Support Coordination

3. The Northcott Society Individual & Family Support CATS - Computer Assistive Technology Services Respite Care Early Intervention Support Coordination Recreation Out of School Hours (OOSH) Vacation Care Case Management Community Living Service-Outreach Post School Options & ATLAS Options NES - Northcott Equipment Service Rural Services

4. Referral Criteria • Family at risk of breakdown • Social and/or geographical isolation • Lack of appropriate housing/ risk of homelessness • Health of primary carer • Cultural disadvantage • Child/young person either excluded from or at risk of exclusion from age appropriate activities (school, respite, therapy services)

5. Case Illustration Problems prior to project's involvement Alternate care arrangements breakdown • Family history • Mother’s disability • History of DoC’s involvement No school transfer or behavioural management plan Jonathon Aged 14 Department of Housing threat of eviction Disability issues need sorting out Threat of Juvenile Justice System No transition or Case Plan by DoC’s

6. Case Illustration Range of Support Coordinator Tasks • New assessments arranged - medication revised • New school placement organised • Behavioural management plan coordinated between school and home • Referral to family support service for parenting support • Respite arranged with extended family • Housing transfer • Referral to Disability Recreation Service

7. The Service Model What Works? • Independence • Dual focus on family dynamics and disability • Short term • Intensity • Whole of family orientation • Discretionary funding

8. Consumers ‘’ Having Lisa as our caseworker was like a weight lifted off our shoulders’’ ‘’ I found it comforting that there was someone else asking questions, demanding answers and things I was afraid to ask or do’’

9. Other Service Providers ‘’ The project coordinator has been a strong and professional advocate for the interests of the family and has ensured that government and non-government agencies have met their responsibilities. I do not think we could have maintained our service without the project’s intervention’’. ‘’ I believe that the project provided good coordination of services and helped maintain families that would otherwise have fallen apart resulting in the children being taken into care’’

10. University Research Study • ‘’Keeping children with disabilities safely within the family’’ • University of New South Wales 3 year research study • Northcott join in the last year in it’s efforts to secure objective evaluation

11. University Study Variables • Empowerment • Emotional Support • Parent - Child involvement • Child abuse potential • Family functioning • Outcomes • Hope and happiness

12. Local Support Coordination 0-65 years Focus on disability Informal family & community supports Prevention/early intervention Run by DADHC Northcott’s Project 0-18 years Focus on family Coordination across departments & services Complex family problems Independent stand alone service A Comparison