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Consumer Directed Care

Consumer Directed Care (CDC) Application Feedback Documentation

ITA 244/1011 –Invitation to Apply (ITA) 244/1011 closed on 21 April 2011.

The Department received a considerable number of applications of a high standard. It was a highly competitive process and all applicants are to be congratulated on their efforts to apply for CDC in the 2011-12 round (the Round).

The Department is providing a feedback summary document (PDF 373 KB), which provides advice to CDC applicants relevant to areas in which applications could have been strengthened.

The 2011-12 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) is currently underway. Many of the questions in the ACAR application are similar to the CDC application form. Therefore, the Department’s ability to provide individual feedback to organisations that may also be applying for allocation through the ACAR is limited as this could result in an inequitable process.

Additionally, the CDC program is currently a two year initiative and the future of CDC is unknown. Future policy decisions in relation to CDC are dependent on the CDC evaluation which is currently underway and the report is expected from KPMG in early 2012. The future of CDC is also dependent on the Government’s response to the Productivity Commission Report “Caring for Older Australians”, and future policy decisions that will be made by the Minister and the Department.

As the future direction of CDC is undecided any future funding rounds and subsequent applications are likely to be different to those conducted for the current rounds. Therefore, feedback that is provided will probably not be beneficial in terms of assisting providers to apply for funding in any potential future CDC rounds.

The Department would encourage CDC applicants to review this document (PDF 373 KB) in conjunction with their 2011-12 CDC application to develop an understanding of how their application could have been strengthened.

If you have any additional question in relation to the CDC program or your CDC application, please email the cdcpackagedcare@health.gov.au inbox and a member of our section will get back to you.



Kind regards
Packaged Care Section
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Part B – Organisational Philosophy of Care

B1- Overview – overall business strategy/plan

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• Their current allocation of community, flexible or CDC places allocated to the organisation;A business strategy/plan which incorporates new CDC places into the current service;
• The number, type and mix of CDC places the organisation was applying for; and
• Whether the organisation has any past or current compliance action regarding the provision of community or flexible care.

This question allowed organisations to provide an overall picture of their organisation. Overall this question was responded to very well.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response by:
Further detail as to how their business strategy/plan aligns with the CDC approach and how CDC would be incorporated into their current services.

Part B – Organisational Philosophy of Care

B2.1.2.2- Management

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• Organisational/Coordination and care staff qualifications, skills and responsibilities;
• Organisational/Coordination and care staff experience and understanding of CDC; and
• Organisational/Coordination and care staff strategies.

The questions were designed to enable applicants to demonstrate that their staff have the ability to deliver CDC. Applicants who scored well in these questions were able to demonstrate they had appropriately qualified and skilled staff and how the skills could be utilised in the delivery of CDC. Applicants generally answered these questions well.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response by:

• Providing further detail about the specific qualifications and skills of staff to be involved in CDC as well as their responsibilities in regards to the delivery of CDC; and
• Not limiting the response to the examples provided in the application form (training, development, strategic direction).

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Part B – Organisational Philosophy of Care

B3 – Provision of appropriate care and care recipients’ rights

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• How the organisation will provide quality care in accordance with the appropriate care standards; and
• How the organisation will ensure that care recipients’ rights and responsibilities are protected.

The question required applicants to demonstrate that they have the ability to deliver quality care and how the rights of care recipients will be protected with particular focus on the CDC approach. This question was answered well by applicants.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response by demonstrating:

• a stronger understanding of the relevant community care standards including the use of practical examples to outline how these will be communicated to the care recipients;
• a commitment to quality of care when using informal care services;
• a commitment to conducting quarterly quality care checks under the CDC initiative;
• how CDC recipients will be provided with a copy and explanation of the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities; and
• how these approaches may differ from regular packages under a CDC approach.

Part B – Organisational Philosophy of Care

B4 – Provision of care for people with dementia

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• The organisations policies and philosophies in the provision of care for people with dementia in a home based environment; and
• A practical example as to how CDC would be delivered to people with dementia in the home based environment by the organisation.

The question required applicants to demonstrate how care recipients would be supported in the home based environment, and the policies and procedures that providers have in place in order to provide high quality care for people with dementia. In general good detail was provided in response to this question.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response through:

• More detail regarding the process when care recipient’s needs exceed the CDC package;
• Further detail on safety and security procedures for both care recipients and care workers; and
• Providing a practical example which clearly articulates the difference between the care and support services which may be provided to care recipients receiving a CDC package who do not have dementia compared with care recipients with dementia.

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Part B – Organisational Philosophy of Care

B5 – CDC related Research and Experience

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• Related research the organisation has undertaken;
• Consultation or partnership in which the organisation has participated; and
• Any service delivery and/or experience the organisation has undertaken which demonstrates the organisations understanding and experience of CDC.

Many applicants did not demonstrate they had undertaken relevant research and consultations, also had experience/understanding of the CDC approach, and how these activities would assist the organisation to deliver CDC packages. This question was answered very well by some applicants.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response by outlining:

• any research undertaken that directly relates to the CDC approach and how this research could assist the organisation to deliver CDC packages;
• any consultations with other providers or industry groups the organisation has participated in;
• any relevant linkages or partnerships with other organisations; and
• any experience in the delivery of CDC type approaches.

Part C – Service Information and CDC Delivery

C1-C2 –Details of the places being sought

Section C1 and C2 required the applicant to complete the details of the places being sought in the 2011-12 CDC Round. No feedback comments are provided in relation to this section of the application.
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Part C – Service Information and CDC Delivery

C3 –Your Proposal – Operational timeframes

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• The proposed timeframes and the steps that the applicant would take to ensure the operational timeframes are met;
• How the applicant intends to inform care recipients about the availability of packages; and
• How the applicant will ensure the places are filled as quickly as possible in light of one year of CDC funding.

Applicant’s generally outlined the steps they would take to meet their stated operational timeframes; also how they would inform care recipients of CDC packages being available.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response by demonstrating:

• a history of making places operational in a timely manner; andhow the organisation will ensure places will be filled quickly through ensuring that the internal process, systems and procedures are in place.

Part C – Service Information and CDC Delivery

C4.1 – Your CDC Proposal

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• How the applicants innovative approach to CDC differs from ‘regular’ delivery of community care packages;
• Provide an example as to how your CDC service would operate;
• An exit strategy for care recipients who decide to leave a CDC package; and
• What the applicant considers the important aspects of a successful CDC service.

This question was designed to give applicants the opportunity to demonstrate the innovative features of their approach to CDC and how this would differ from their regular delivery of community care packages. There were some innovative responses provided for this question, but generally applicants did not provide sufficient detail to demonstrate or did not effectively demonstrate innovative approaches to delivery of a CDC model of care.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response by:

• Defining how their CDC approach would differ from regular package delivery this may include new approaches to assessment, budget development, service mix etc;
• Providing a practical example to demonstrate how this approach would operate at the service level;
• Providing further detail regarding the organisation’s exit strategy and a how the transition would be managed; and
• Defining some of the internal systems, resources and processes that would be required to ensure a successful CDC service.

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Part C – Service Information and CDC Delivery

C4.2 – Assessing Care Recipients Suitability

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• The methods in which the applicant will assess a prospective CDC client and how the applicant will determine the clients’ or their representatives’ capacity and ability to manage a CDC approach;
• The important aspects in considering whether a client would benefit from CDC approaches and whether these approaches would maximise the choice that CDC offers; and
• A practical example as to how this CDC specific assessment would take place.

This question was designed to allow the applicant to detail a CDC specific assessment process that would assess the capacity and ability of the care recipient in managing their own consumer directed care and services.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response by providing:

• Further detail as to how a CDC assessment would take place, including the use of assessment tools to cater for the CDC approach;
• Further detail as to how the assessment tools will assess capacity and ability to manage a CDC package; and
• A practical example at the service delivery level as to how the assessment would take place, and outline the process undertaken to use the specific CDC tool which has been proposed.

Part C – Service Information and CDC Delivery

C4.3– Management of a CDC Budget

The Department required applicants to provide detail as to:

• The systems the applicant has in place, or will have in place, to assist CDC care recipients to manage their own care budget;
• How a CDC budget may differs from a care recipient on a ‘regular’ package; and
• A practical example as to how a CDC budget may operate and how the care recipient will be involved in the management of their budget.

Some applications required additional information to demonstrate a clear negotiation of the budget, including the administration and contingency component and care recipient involvement. In general, this question was responded to well.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response through:

• Demonstrating innovative approaches as to how the CDC budget would be developed and maintained, and how it differs from regular packaged care budgets;
• Demonstrating how informal care services can be included as part of the CDC budget; and
• Providing a practical example at the service level which clearly outlines how the care recipient would be involved and assisted in the development and ongoing management of their budget.

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Part C – Service Information and CDC Delivery

C4.4– Informal Care Workers

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• An understanding of informal care services under the CDC model, if requested by the care recipient, and how this would work at the service provision level.

The Department was seeking for applicants to demonstrate their understanding of informal care services through the use of practical examples. Overall, this question was not answered well by applicants.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response through:

• Stronger practical examples to demonstrate the organisation’s understanding and approach to informal care services; and
• Demonstrating the organisation’s understanding of what constitutes an informal care worker.

Part C – Service Information and CDC Delivery

C5 – Service Location, Infrastructure and Stakeholders

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• The service location and the extent and availability of other allied services operating in the area of delivering CDC;
• The infrastructure the organisation has in place which will accommodate the CDC places; and
• How the organisation will coordinate and develop relationships with approved providers and stakeholders in the community to deliver CDC places.

Applicants outlined the actual location of their service and some of the allied services available in the region, however, the geographical coverage and existing infrastructure in place often lacked detail. Generally, applicants responded well to this question.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response through:

• Further detail regarding the proposed geographical coverage of their service;
• Further details of existing infrastructure, including physical aids and equipment;
• Detailing how value for money could be achieved through shared infrastructure; and
• Further details of existing relationships/linkages and how these will benefit care recipients and a willingness to develop new relationships/linkages when required.

Part C – Service Information and CDC Delivery

C6 – Special Needs Groups

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• The particular health issues, the particular care needs and how the applicant would meet the particular care needs of the special needs groups.

To receive a high score applicants needed to be able to demonstrate an understanding of particular care needs of each special needs group and how needs would be met through a CDC package. Responses to this question varied greatly.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applications could have strengthened their response through:

• Demonstrating that the applicant has an understanding of the common health issues of the particular special needs groups and how the health issues will be addressed through the care and services supplied through a CDC package;
• Providing details of relationships/linkages with key organisations; and
• Practical examples of how they have/will care for people from special needs groups.

Part C – Service Information and CDC Delivery

C7 – Outcomes for current and future care recipients

The Department required applicants to provide detail relevant to:

• The benefits to the care recipients/carers if the organisation receives an allocation of CDC places;How an allocation of CDC places impact the region; andHow CDC will increase care recipients’ choice in the future.

Generally, applicants responded well to this question and were able to demonstrate how current and future care recipients of the region would benefit from an allocation of CDC packages.

Suggested areas for improvement

Applicants could have strengthened their response through:

• Providing further detail regarding current services available in the region and an awareness of gaps (if any) in service provision; and
• Demonstrating some of the ways in which care recipients’ choice would be increased with a CDC approach in the future.

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