1. 1 2011 Coordinated Veterans Care (CVC) Program Social Assistance and its delivery through the Veterans Home Care Program 1

2. 2 Purpose of this presentation is to provide: an overview of the CVC Program and social assistance service type; and what will be required of VHC assessment agencies and VHC service providers. 2

3. 3 About the CVC Program The CVC Program is an enhanced community care initiative which will provide additional support to eligible war-widow/widowers and veterans. 3

4. 4 About the CVC program The CVC program aims to reduce avoidable hospitalisation and improve the veteran or war widow/widowers health and well being. LMO/GPs will determine who is eligible to be a participant on the CVC program. Participation in the program is not mandatory. 4

5. 5 CVC social assistance is: a way to provide resources and encourage a person to become more active and cope with loneliness; and interact in communities of interest, participating in activities or reconnecting with family and friends which can offer a person structure, routine and something to look forward to and enjoy. 5

6. 6 CVC social assistance – a small part of the CVC program Around 17,000 veterans and war widow/widowers are expected to participate in the CVC program over four years. Only a small number of veterans and war widow/widowers are expected to receive CVC social assistance. CVC social assistance is being introduced to engage/re-engage veterans and war widow/widowers to interact in the community. 6

7. 7 Referrals for CVC social assistance The LMO/GP will: admit a Gold Card holder to the CVC program and may identify that the participant could benefit from social assistance services; and refer the participant to their regional VHC assessment agency for an assessment for social assistance. 7

8. 8 CVC social assistance provided through the VHC program Access to social assistance is limited to Gold Card holders who are CVC participants and: have been determined to be socially isolated by their LMO/GP; whose condition/s may improve by becoming more socially active and would benefit from the provision of social assistance; and have been referred by an LMO/GP to a VHC assessment agency for an assessment. 8

9. 9 Aim of CVC social assistance By providing social assistance the CVC program aims to provide Gold Card holders with the opportunity to be more socially active by: assisting to identify and investigate areas of interest and activities that are available; and providing encouragement, accompaniment and support. 9

10. 10 How is CVC social assistance different to current VHC services? CVC social assistance is: a part of the greater CVC program; run on a national budget; and short term (services will generally be approved for up to 12 weeks). 10

11. 11 How is CVC social assistance different to current VHC services (continued): flexible in the type of social assistance provided (depending on the region the CVC participant lives in); VHC assessment agencies will approve service types with upper limits; and while VHC assessment agencies will be approving blocks of hours, VHC service providers will only claim for the actual hours delivered. 11

12. 12 How is CVC social assistance different to HACC services? CVC social assistance is: short term and intensive; in most cases a maximum of 12 weeks; and only available to a small subgroup of CVC program participants (identified as socially isolated by the LMO/GP). 12

13. 13 How will CVC social assistance be delivered through the VHC program? VHC assessment agencies will assess referred CVC participants and allocate an allotted time for a CVC social assistance service type to VHC service providers. VHC service providers will deliver the service to CVC participants (and in some cases may have to further clarify what specific activity will be undertaken). 13

14. 14 The role of VHC assessment agencies VHC assessment agencies should: undertake the appropriate assessment; identify the contributing factors which have led to social isolation; and identify the CVC participants interests and the type of activity to be undertaken. 14

15. 15 The role of VHC assessment agencies (continued) VHC assessment agencies should: allocate the CVC social assistance service type through an appropriate VHC service provider; provide as much information to the VHC service provider on what type of activities the CVC participant is interested in; consider the VHC service providers capacity if recommending a specific activity; and provide feedback to the LMO/GP. 15

16. 16 How will CVC social assistance be allocated and delivered? The VHC assessment agency will generally be determining the social assistance service type and activity to be undertaken. Individual activities under service plans may need to be determined by the VHC service provider on a case by case basis. 16

17. 17 Types of CVC social assistance service types: community based socialisation (group based); home based socialisation; accompanied outings (one-to- one); and other. 17

18. 18 Community based socialisation (group based): Consideration should be given to providing community-based socialisation wherever possible. Community based activities encouraged under CVC social assistance should include: engaging the CVC participant to interact within their local community; and participating in activities or reconnecting with family and friends. These activities can offer structure, routine and something to look forward to. 18

19. 19 Home based socialisation: Home based activities encouraged under CVC social assistance involves visiting the veteran or war widow/widower in their home and providing companionship and social assistance. This could involve: supporting and encouraging the veteran or war widow/widower to engage in a community activity; or assisting with communication, including using social media and letter writing to support/assist veterans or war widow/widowers to keep in touch with family and friends. 19

20. 20 Accompanied outings (one-to-one): Accompanied outings are only to be approved in very limited circumstances – the CVC social assistance is intended to increase independence not reliance. These limited circumstances would include instances such as there are no other community services such as HACC available in that region. 20

21. 21 Other: Other social assistance activities encouraged under CVC social assistance can involve: a combination of home and community based socialisation; or in rare cases, may be used for CVC participants living in very geographically isolated areas which have no community services close by. 21

22. 22 Indicative hours for CVC social assistance home based socialisation – up to 2hrs per week for 12 weeks; community based socialisation – up to 4hrs per week for 12 weeks; accompanied outings – up to 4hrs per week for 12 weeks; or other (combination of two of the above)– 6-8hrs per week for 12 weeks. VHC assessment agencies will allocate maximum hours based on the service type/s: 22

23. 23 The role of VHC service providers VHC service providers should note that the service plan will contain information on what type of social assistance is needed. Some VHC service providers will: determine the finer details of the activity with the CVC participant; deliver the service; and claim online for the actual hours of service provided within the prescribed block of time allocated by the VHC assessment agency. 23

24. 24 The role of VHC service providers (continued) VHC service providers should also keep in mind to: undertake the activities once identified in line with the approved block of hours in the service plan; and address any barriers that exist (e.g. ongoing transport) and establish long term solutions. 24

25. 25 The role of VHC service providers (continued) VHC service providers should: monitor the CVC participants progress while receiving CVC social assistance; provide feedback to the VHC assessment agency; collect co-payments (co-payment fee of $5 per hour with a cap of $5 per week); 25

26. 26 The role of VHC service providers (continued) VHC service providers should: claim for the total time spent with the CVC participant; be aware that total of hours do not need to be broken down when claiming; keep appropriate documentation to justify the hours they are claiming; if requested make documentation available to DVA (for example as part of a compliance audit); 26

27. 27 The role of VHC service providers (continued) VHC service providers should: note that travel is included in the blocks of hours allocated by the VHC Assessment Agency; ensure that the time spent on travel is less than the time spent on undertaking the actual activity; ensure the appropriate insurances are in place if travel is utilised; 27

28. 28 The role of VHC service providers (continued) VHC service providers should: be aware that per kilometre expenses will NOT be paid to VHC service providers to deliver CVC social assistance; and note that as with other VHC services the fee paid for CVC social assistance already includes an amount for travel expenses. 28

29. 29 Feedback VHC service providers should provide feedback to VHC assessment agencies. VHC assessment agencies will feedback to LMO/GP. CVC Program Care Coordinators (Practice or Community Nurses) will liaise with the CVC participant as well as the LMO/GP. 29

30. 30 Thank you Any questions? Please email: homecare@dva.gov.au 30