Policy Section: Supports and Services

Transcription

1 Policy Number: SE4.270 Title: Guide to Support Allocation Policy Policy Section: Supports and Services Effective: DRAFT Executive Sponsor: Directors, Regional Operations VP, Organizational Development 1. PURPOSE This policy provides guidance to staff on how to determine and document an individual s disability-related needs. It is designed to be used with the Catalogue of Services (COS), Catalogue of Services Policy, CLBC Resource Allocation Schedule, Funding Guide, Funding Guide Policy, Guide to Support Allocation, Individual Support Planning Policy, and Request for Service List. Together, these policies and tools form an integrated approach to support informed, fair, and consistent decision-making about the types and levels of service funded by CLBC for eligible individuals. The policy applies only to individuals who are eligible for CLBC services under the developmental disability criteria as outlined in the Eligibility for CLBC Supports and Services Policy. 2. DEFINITIONS Catalogue of Services (COS): The list of program services funded by CLBC as well as associated parameters that relate to GSA levels and length of time a service can be provided. CLBC Resource Allocation Schedule: A grid that outlines the maximum amount of service and / or funding for which an individual is eligible according to his / her disability-related needs. Disability-Related Need: An individual s requirements for support to live inclusively in the community. Exceptional Need: Unusual, complex, and/or extraordinary service requirements. Exceptional needs may be persistent/ongoing or acute/temporary. Flag: A notation in the Guide to Support Allocation indicating an exceptional need that requires special consideration. Flags may indicate a temporary or ongoing need. Guide to Support Allocation (GSA): A tool used by CLBC to determine an individual s current June 2010 Draft Guide to Support Allocation Policy Page 1 of 5

2 disability-related need. Individual: A person 19 years of age or older who is eligible for CLBC services, as described in the Eligibility for CLBC Supports and Services Policy. Individual Support Plan: A document that includes information about goals and support requirements and the funding and services identified to meet them, as outlined in the Individual Support Planning Policy. Support Network: Friends, family and/or community members who provide personal support, advocacy and/or help with monitoring services and who have reciprocal relationships with individuals. 3. POLICY To ensure equitable use of funding from government, CLBC allocates resources for individuals based on the relationship between identified goals and current disability-related needs. The Guide to Support Allocation (GSA) is a tool that is used to review an individual s current disability-related needs. The tool is typically applied after reviewing an individual support plan and supporting documentation. In exceptional situations, the GSA can be applied without an individual support plan if the staff member completing the tool has been provided with sufficient information about the person by a facilitator who has interviewed the individual in person and those who know the person well. The GSA allows staff to assign a numerical level to an individual s disability-related needs by examining ten areas of everyday life: 1 communication 2 meeting routine personal care needs * 3 creating and/or maintaining relationships * 4 making day-to-day decisions 5 making important life decisions 6 safety within community * 7 work and learning 8 community participation 9 complex health needs (including mental health) * 10 complex risks and actions * The GSA also allows for determination of exceptional needs in the areas marked with an asterisk (*) above. Flags are used to identify such areas. Where there is a flag, CLBC may engage natural supports, service partners, and other June 2010 Draft Guide to Support Allocation Policy Page 2 of 5

3 government ministries to ensure this exceptional need is met. CLBC may also provide additional funding on a temporary or ongoing basis to ensure the exceptional needs of the individual are met. Approval from a Quality Service Manager is required before additional funding for exceptional needs is provided. Temporary flags must be reviewed at least once per year to ensure the exceptional need continues to exist. The GSA level is cross-referenced with the Catalogue of Services and CLBC Resource Allocation Schedule to determine the maximum level of service and / or funding for which the individual is eligible. Quality Service Manager approval is required for funding allocation in excess of those outlined in the CLBC Resource Allocation Schedule. 4. PROCEDURES 4.1 Quality Services Managers ensure that regional staff consistently apply the GSA to review individual support plans and assess the disability-related needs of individuals requesting CLBC funded service assign a quality service analyst to act as GSA Lead for the region approve funding allocations in excess of those outlined in the CLBC Resource Allocation Schedule approve additional funding on a temporary or ongoing basis for exceptional needs as indicated by a flag 4.2 Quality Service Analysts GSA Leads use the GSA to review individual support plans and assess the disability-related needs of individuals requesting CLBC funded service in a manner that is consistent with provincial practice inform staff who will be involved with implementation (facilitators and quality service analysts) of the GSA result provide mentorship and support to regional staff on the application of the GSA 4.3 Quality Service Analysts ensure that the GSA has been applied prior to establishing a contract for services on behalf of the individual if responsible for completing the GSA, consult the regional GSA Lead so the tool is completed in a manner that is consistent with provincial practice inform staff who will be involved with implementation (facilitators and quality service analysts) of the GSA result upon request, review the results of the GSA with the service provider so that the resource allocation decision is understood. Explain to service providers that the GSA is used by CLBC staff as a tool to assess an individual s current disability-related need and to allocate resources fairly. review temporary flags at least once per year to ensure the individual s exceptional June 2010 Draft Guide to Support Allocation Policy Page 3 of 5

4 needs continue to exist 4.4 Community Planning and Development Managers ensure that facilitators are familiar with the GSA and are planning with individuals and families in a manner that provides quality service analysts with the information required to complete the tool 4.5 Facilitators explain to individuals and families that the GSA is used by CLBC staff as a tool to assess an individual s current disability-related need and to allocate resources fairly ensure that individual support plans include all necessary information, as outlined in the Individual Support Planning Policy, in order for the quality service analyst to complete the GSA upon request, provide quality service analysts with additional information about the individual that will assist with the completion of the GSA upon request, together with the quality service analyst, review the results of the GSA with the individual / family so that the resource allocation decision is understood 4.6 Application of the GSA without an individual support plan A facilitator meets with the individual, support network members and service provider, as needed, to review the individual s disability-related needs and the supports and services requested to address their disability-related needs. Sufficient information is collected by the facilitator in order to ensure that the GSA can be fully completed. The quality service analyst meets with the facilitator to review the collected information and complete the GSA. The facilitator, with support from the quality service analyst, reviews the results of the GSA with the individual / family so that the resource allocation decision is understood. The quality service analyst reviews the results of the GSA with the service provider so that the resource allocation decision is understood. If additional information is provided that would change the GSA result, the GSA should be revised to reflect the new information. 5. DOCUMENTATION Quality service analysts ensure the completed GSA is scanned into PARIS and that a notation has been made in PARIS confirming that this has been done. 6. PRACTICE 6.1 Quality service analysts are encouraged to exercise professional judgement when reviewing June 2010 Draft Guide to Support Allocation Policy Page 4 of 5

5 individual support plans and completing the GSA. Staff must refer to the instructions at the beginning of the GSA and are encouraged to seek assistance from their manager and GSA Lead. 6.2 Application of the GSA is meant to be a specialized function of the regional GSA Lead. If this is not possible, regions should minimally ensure that the analyst administering the GSA is not the same one making the funding allocation decision for that individual. This allows for funding decisions to be made more objectively and fairly, based on documentation. 7. REFERENCES Catalogue of Services Catalogue of Services Policy CLBC Resource Allocation Schedule Eligibility for CLBC Supports and Services Policy Funding Guide Funding Guide Policy Guide to Support Allocation Individual Support Planning Policy Request for Service List June 2010 Draft Guide to Support Allocation Policy Page 5 of 5