The guidelines will also form part of the compliance framework for the program. Feedback from providers on the current guidelines is that more information is needed in some areas. In addition, the majority of providers interviewed during the evaluation of the CDC pilot program wanted more guidance and direction from the Department on what was permitted and not permitted under the program. In practice, individual providers (and, in some cases, consumers and carers) are still likely to seek advice from the Department on an ad hoc basis if requirements are not clearly spelt out in the guidelines or other program documentation. Policy and implementation issues Phase 1 In phase 1 of the consultations, the Working Group (through NACA) provided advice to the Minister on a number of policy and implementation issues relating to the design of the program, which have been agreed. included: the development of a framework for CDC, including the requirement to provide an individualised budget to the consumer; the broadbanding of assessments by ACATs across Levels 1-2 and Levels 3-4; ACAT assessment approvals will not automatically lapse after 12 months across any of the four package levels unless there is a specific time limitation placed on the approval as part of the ACAT assessment; use of different terminology (Level 1-4 rather than Level A-D) to describe the package levels; the need for evaluation of the program and capacity building activities to support the future implementation of CDC. Phase 2
The guidelines will also form part of the compliance framework for the program. Feedback from providers on the current guidelines is that more information is needed in some areas. In addition, the majority of providers interviewed during the evaluation of the CDC pilot program wanted more guidance and direction from the Department on what was permitted and not permitted under the program. In practice, individual providers (and, in some cases, consumers and carers) are still likely to seek advice from the Department on an ad hoc basis if requirements are not clearly spelt out in the guidelines or other program documentation. Policy and implementation issues Phase 1 In phase 1 of the consultations, the Working Group (through NACA) provided advice to the Minister on a number of policy and implementation issues relating to the design of the program, which have been agreed. included: the development of a framework for CDC, including the requirement to provide an individualised budget to the consumer; the broadbanding of assessments by ACATs across Levels 1-2 and Levels 3-4; ACAT assessment approvals will not automatically lapse after 12 months across any of the four package levels unless there is a specific time limitation placed on the approval as part of the ACAT assessment; use of different terminology (Level 1-4 rather than Level A-D) to describe the package levels; the need for evaluation of the program and capacity building activities to support the future implementation of CDC. Phase 2
Paper%20for%20Working%20Group%20-%2015%20Jan%202013.docx