A nationally consistent screening and assessment process The national screening and assessment process has three components: Screening conducted by My Aged Care contact centre staff. By asking a broad and shallow set of questions, contact centre staff will be able to facilitate the appropriate client pathway to home support – assessment, comprehensive assessment and/or direct to Home Support Programme services. Home support assessment conducted face-to-face by the RAS. This holistic assessment will determine eligibility for Commonwealth Home Support Programme services and will result in the development of a support plan. This will include the consideration of both formal and informal services that are most appropriate to provide the client with support. Comprehensive assessment conducted face-to-face by Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs). This holistic assessment will include the development of a goal-oriented support plan and will determine eligibility for services under the Aged Care Act 1997. This will include the consideration of both formal and informal services that are most appropriate to provide the client with support. Screening and assessment principles The following overarching principles form the basis of conducting screening and assessment using the NSAF. Holistic assessment of client need The screening and assessment process provides the opportunity for contact centre staff and assessors to understand a client’s needs holistically. The NSAF facilitates the collection of information on: The client’s current level of support (formal and informal) and engagement availability and sustainability Health concerns and priorities Functional status Psychosocial and psychological concerns Home and personal safety considerations Decision making capabilities. It also identifies any complexities a client may have that indicate a level of vulnerability. It is important that clients receive an assessment that is relevant to needs and that a client is not under-assessed or over-assessed. While the NSAF provides the ability to collect information on a range of considerations (such as alcohol
A nationally consistent screening and assessment process The national screening and assessment process has three components: Screening conducted by My Aged Care contact centre staff. By asking a broad and shallow set of questions, contact centre staff will be able to facilitate the appropriate client pathway – to home support assessment, comprehensive assessment and/or direct to Home Support Programme services. Home support assessment conducted face-to-face by the RAS. This holistic assessment will determine eligibility for Commonwealth Home Support Programme services and will result in the development of a support plan. This will include the consideration of both formal and informal services that are most appropriate to provide the client with support. Comprehensive assessment conducted face-to-face by Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs). This holistic assessment will include the development of a goal-oriented support plan and will determine eligibility for services under the Aged Care Act 1997. This will include the consideration of both formal and informal services that are most appropriate to provide the client with support. Screening and assessment principles The following overarching principles form the basis of conducting screening and assessment using the NSAF. Holistic assessment of client need The screening and assessment process provides the opportunity for contact centre staff and assessors to understand a client’s needs holistically. The NSAF facilitates the collection of information on: The client’s current level of support (formal and informal) and engagement availability and sustainability Health concerns and priorities Functional status Psychosocial and psychological concerns Home and personal safety considerations Decision making capabilities. It also identifies any complexities a client may have that indicate a level of vulnerability. It is important that clients receive an assessment that is relevant to needs and that a client is not under-assessed or over-assessed. While the NSAF provides the ability to collect information on a range of considerations (such as alcohol
national_screening_and_assessment_form_user_guide_-_june_2015.docx