Consumer Directed Care
Consumer Directed Care (CDC) and Consumer Directed Respite Care (CDRC) Questions and Answers 2010-12
Frequently asked questions regarding Consumer Directed Care and Consumer Directed Respite Care
In this document
CDC
Q: What can I charge as an administration fee for CDC packages?A: As outlined in the CDC Operational Manual, the administration component of a CDC package should be transparent and agreed between the service provider and the care recipient, dependent on the level of administration provided. The remainder of the allocated budget is available to the care recipient to direct to services of their choice.
Q: The case study in the CDC documentation includes a cost of $20 for Meals on Wheels for 4 days, the current cost is $8 per meal. Under CDC High care payment for food (except enteral feeds) is the responsibility of the care recipient (or his or her representative)
A: This is just an example, costs of services would need to be determined and included in the individuals’ budget. Arrangements around the purchasing of food where a service provider will do meal preparation, as per the specified care and services, is exactly the same arrangements as currently exist in packaged care programs which state - ‘The approved provider, the care recipient, the carer (where appropriate) and the care provider may agree that Meals on Wheels is the preferred meals option, instead of assistance with the preparation of meals and eating'. In this situation, the care recipient may be asked to contribute to the cost of the food, as outlined in Section 11 – Access to Services and Equipment. This may be in addition to the normal fees and should be negotiated in the same way as other fees. Under CDC, Meals on wheels is a service choice that could be purchased from the CDC budget.
Q: Under the support services listed for CDC High Care and High Care Dementia it states that maintenance therapy should be provided as part of the package, however, intensive long term therapy services should not be included as part of the package when a care recipient ins able to claim through their private health insurance (if held)”. This appears to be different to arrangements in other existing programs.
A: This is the same as existing arrangements; please refer to pages 118 and 132 of the Community Packaged Care Guidelines. The main consideration is maintenance therapies as opposed to intensive long term rehabilitation.
Q: Case managers “will typically have appropriate formal qualifications, generally nursing and allied health”, where is the funding for this employment coming from? Many other types of professionals are able to be effective case managers.
A: This is an existing requirement under the Community Packaged Care Guidelines - this requirement will also apply for CDC packages.
Q: If care recipients are choosing informal support, will these workers have police checks, ABNs, Insurance, Superannuation, etc? If so who is responsible for ensuring this?
A: This is the same as existing arrangements. Approved providers will maintain responsibilities relating to staff and volunteers as outlined in The Accountability Principles 1998, The Aged Care Act 1997 and any relevant State and Territory Governments OHS legislation.
Q: Will providing services that are not assessed as being required cause dependencies? Should we rather have an assessment system or case mix that determines the needs versus wants?
A: Assessed need is still the centre of negotiating and developing a care plan for a care recipient. As outlined in the information, CDC packages support the principle that Care Recipients and carers and providers should be provided with a range of support to make informed decisions and practice CDC, including education and advocacy.
Q: It is discussed in the CDC documentation that at least one responsible person or agency… reasonably near and continuously on call, is required to give emergency assistance when needed.
The ‘reasonably near’ could be an issue in a large city or outback Australia and the role the emergency person will play needs to be clear.
A: This is an existing requirement under the Draft Community Packaged Care Guidelines - this requirement will also apply for CDC packages.
Q: How will CDC packages be paid?
A: CDC in Packaged care will be funded by the Australian Government through allocation of non-ongoing flexible care places in the Innovative Pool Program. Unlike current packaged care programs, CDC packages will be paid directly by the Department. Approved providers will be required to complete a monthly claim form to the Department to receive monthly subsidy payments.
Providers will be paid a subsidy in respect of each allocated CDC place for which there is an approved care recipient receiving care.
Q: Can you confirm what the subsidy rates are going to be for the CDC packages?
A: CDC in packaged care will be funded through the allocation of non-ongoing flexible care places to approved providers at a funding rate that aligns with the subsidy levels of the current Packaged Care Programs.
Q: After an individual budget has been ascertained for a client at a particular care level is this related to the amount of subsidy we receive per year for that client? At the moment we receive a standard rate for each care level per client per year regardless of the number of hours entered on the Provider forms
A: CDC in packaged care is offered at three levels CDCL, CDCH and CDCHD, which broadly align with the existing CACP, EACH and EACHD programs.
The subsidy arrangements for the CDC program are the same as for the regular packaged care programs in that subsidy is calculated daily and paid monthly based on the occupancy of a package.
The individual budget for each CDC care recipient is an agreement between the approved provider and the care recipient and should reflect the care recipients individual care needs and the services they choose/agree to receive. The individual budget will not impact on the level of subsidy received by the approved provider for that care recipient.
Q: Is a copy of the CDC Payment Agreement, as referred to on page 52 of Operational Agreement, available for review?
A: The Consumer Directed Care (CDC) Payment Agreements are an agreement which takes place between the Department of Health and Ageing and successful CDC applicants. CDC Payment Agreements will be allocated once successful applicants have been notified.
The information in the CDC Operational Manual and associated information on the health website, which can be found at www.health.gov.au/cdc, should provide enough information to complete the application. If you have any questions in relation to the CDC application form, please send these through to the cdcpackagedcare@health.gov.au inbox for a prompt reply.
Q: If a provider is approved for 10 CDC's and during a month, 10 clients are not maintained due to exits, is the funding reduced accordingly for that month?
A: The provider will be paid the subsidy for each day that a care recipient is occupying a package.
Subsidy is paid monthly in advance for CDC places that are operational and filled (Eg: If a provider has 10 CDC places, and only 9 are filled, they will get paid for 9).
Approved providers will be required to send a completed claim form and a tax invoice to the Department monthly to ensure payment.
Q: Given the CDC packages involve clients to be more directive in their care and it is a 2 year pilot is there going to be a written consent developed by DoHA?
A: Written consent form will be the responsibility of the approved provider to develop as part of their written agreement and care plan with the care recipient.
The Department can't provide advice on what should be included in a written agreement between an approved provider and care recipient.
Q: Our organisation historically brokers the delivery of its services to its preferred subcontractors, we have identified that we will need to re-shape our model so that it reflects CDC philosophies, essentially ensuring clients have the choice as to who delivers their services. Could you please confirm our thoughts on historical brokerage services with preferred subcontractors, having to cease?
A: The Department can not direct your organisation on how to deliver care and services to care recipients. Please refer to the CDC Operational Manual for further information about CDC approaches.
The approved provider is expected to discuss and develop a care plan in consultation with the care recipient which takes into consideration the preferred care and services requested by the care recipient.
Q: If an approved provider with flexible care is allocated CDC packages and is unable to provide the service directly, can this approved provider broker out the service delivery using another appropriate service provider?
A: The Consumer Directed Care (CDC) model is designed so that people can have greater control over their own lives by allowing them, to the extent that they are capable and wish to do so, can make choices about the types of care services they access and the delivery of those services, including who will deliver the services and when.
Whilst brokering out services is an option under the delivery of services for CDC, as part of the assessment of CDC application the Department will take into account the provider’s ability to provide a wide range of service delivery options and arrangements.
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Q: Just noting in the information relating to CDC packages for the March 2011 funding application processes that these packages are again going to be “non-ongoing”.
Is there any indication at this stage of how long any of the packages allocated under this round will be funded for – will they be tied to the current distribution – that is due to terminate end of June 2012- or has there been another time line set?
A: At this stage the CDC packaged care places are funded until 30 June 2012. The future of CDC, beyond 30 June 2012 has yet to be determined by the Government and future directions will be guided by the outcomes of the evaluation.
As section 1.16 of the Operational Manual states: 'Arrangements must be outlined in the care plan on how the ongoing needs of the care recipient will be addressed, including arrangements to transfer to a ‘regular’ packaged care place'. The ability to provide an exit strategy will be assessed as part of the CDC application.
However, the Department will make provisions to ensure CDC care recipient will not be left without care after this date.
Q. Can you please advise me if a CDC package can be used to purchase residential respite and if so are the hours purchased claimable?
A: Access to Residential Respite for CDC care recipients is the same as under the existing packaged care programs. It is expected that an approved provider and their care recipient would negotiate their ongoing package fees and how the Residential Respite costs/fees would be covered.
Further information can be found in Section 11 of the Community Packaged Care Guidelines which are available for download.
Residential Respite should not be recorded on the claim form as 'hours of care'. The claim form should reflect a period of leave for the care recipient, showing leave code L1 - Respite.
Q: I have been informed of another person assessed for a CDC who has been attending a day centre 4 days a week and will stay overnight at the centre while there. If this client is on a CDC, should we treat this situation the same as residential respite and record it as leave or is this something the CDC package can pay for?
A: In this situation you describe, this needs to be something that is discussed and negotiated between the care recipient and the provider.
As CDC is covered by the same leave arrangements as 'regular packages', the residential respite is able to be recorded as leave, allowing CDC funding to be spent on other services the care recipient may require when returned, or the care recipient may choose to use CDC funding to cover the cost associated with residential respite as part of their package.
Q: A client who has been, up till now, hiring a private gardener on a weekly basis would like to continue with the same gardener, but have it included in the CDC. In this situation, the support continues as it has always, with the only change being the provider pays the gardener directly from the CDC package.
We are required to ensure a contract is signed (partnership contracts) and all people we “hire” have National Police Checks, but I am not clear on if this process is required for these type of arrangements under CDC.
A: If care recipients are choosing informal support it is the same as existing arrangements. Approved providers will maintain responsibilities relating to staff and volunteers as outlined in The Accountability Principles 1998, The Aged Care Act 1997 and any relevant State and Territory Governments OHS legislation.
Approved providers will need to seek their own advice from their own advisers (e.g. workers compensation authorities, insurers, legal advisers, accountants) on how those requirements apply to their particular circumstances. The approved providers must take responsibility for ensuring that they comply with relevant legislation such as workers compensation laws, insurance and superannuation laws. Moreover, it is up to the approved provider to decide whether or not they require the informal service to be registered with an ABN.
Informal services can be purchased (not family/friends), as long as subcontracting arrangements are in place and existing arrangements in terms of police checks, insurances and workers compensation will apply.
Q: We have an allocation for a special needs group (CALD). We have been approached by an individual who does not meet this target group but would like to explore CDC in with our organisation. Can we provide a CDC package to this client?
A: Your Payment Agreements states under Item A of the Schedule that "The Approved Provider must give priority of access to people from Non-English speaking backgrounds in respect of (x) amount of (CDCL/CDCH/CDCHD) places"
In respect to this, if you are attempting to provide priority of access to this special needs group (SNG) and you are not able to fill up your CDC packages with clients from that SNG then you are able to offer your CDC packages to any other persons who are in need.
Q: The client has developed their budget with the Co-ordinator, and after the costs of administration, contingency and the current level of required services are deducted the person still has a positive balance available. They would like to use this to pay their weekly service fee, which would allow them to maintain their full pension income. Our accounting system can handle this, and it would certainly help the person access the services they require, without incurring any new expenses. Is this Okay?
A: At this stage, the Department sees no reason why the care recipient can not direct their positive balance towards their weekly service fee.
However, you will need to make sure that this arrangement is clearly documented in the care recipient's agreement. If the care needs of the care recipient is to increase in the future, this arrangement would need to be reviewed and the extra funding to be directed towards additional service delivery. A negotiation would then need to take place in regards to the clients service fee.
Q: Can you please advise if there is a lower and upper percentage cap on the administration costs that a provider can negotiate with a CDC recipient.
A: The Department does not place a cap on the administration costs that a provider can charge. However, as you have mentioned, this should be a negotiated price between the provider, care recipient and/or their representative, and should represent a fair cost for the type and levels of administration required to manage each individual circumstance.
Q: Can a care recipient employ a family member to deliver their care?
A: The Consumer Directed Care (CDC) in Australian Packaged Care Programs 2010-2011 Operational Manual, Section 2.6, Service Delivery, page 24 states, ‘the Department does not support payment of family and friends for services as part of this model. The CDC informal and formal support services should complement and supplement the assistance and support provided by family/carers, friends and community networks.’
If care recipients are choosing informal support it is the same as existing arrangements. Approved providers will maintain responsibilities relating to staff and volunteers as outlined in The Accountability Principles 1998, The Aged Care Act 1997 and any relevant State and Territory Governments OHS legislation.
Approved providers will need to seek their own advice from their own advisers (e.g. workers compensation authorities, insurers, legal advisers, accountants) on how those requirements apply to their particular circumstances. The approved providers must take responsibility for ensuring that they comply with relevant legislation such as workers compensation laws, insurance and superannuation laws. Moreover, it is up to the approved provider to decide whether or not they require the informal service to be registered with an ABN.
Informal services can be purchased (not family/friends), as long as subcontracting arrangements are in place and existing arrangements in terms of police checks, insurances and workers compensation will apply.
Overall the Department does not support care recipients to pay family and friends for services as part of this model as CDC should be made available in addition to the support provided by them.
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Q: Who does ‘family’ incorporate?
A: The Department is not specifically defining family for the CDC initiative however as it does not support the payment of family members this would include all family whether distant members or otherwise.
Q: Could you please clarify if it is a compulsory part of the high level packages to do an initial nursing assessment and ongoing reviews of the client even if no nursing need has been identified? The fee for this is coming out of the administration section of the budget. If so, how often are the reviews expected to take place?
A: Unless specified differently in Section 2 of the CDC Operational Manual, program guidelines as outlined in the Community Packaged Care Guidelines (the Guidelines) for EACH packages, apply to CDC High Care Packages.
The Guidelines, section 16.1 notes that the EACH program was introduced as a community alternative to high level residential care to frail older people with complex care needs, who wish to remain living in their own homes, and are able to do so with the assistance of a care package.
Section 16.1 states that EACH packages are flexible in content, however the expectation is that a package would include qualified nursing input, particularly in the design and ongoing management of the package and also where there are high level complex care needs.
It is of the Departments opinion that if a client does not require any nursing input, it would seem that they may not necessarily need a high level package which is equivalent to high level residential care for frail older people with complex care needs.
However, Section 16.4 of the Guidelines further describes care planning and management as the initial and on-going assessment, planning and management of care services which should be carried out by appropriately qualified and trained staff, with the involvement of the care recipient, (or his or her representative), and their carer, where appropriate.
The ACAT target group for a CDCH package comprises of those frail older people you have significant and complex care needs, and have been assessed as eligible for an EACH package. Approved providers are expected to have a Registered Nurse available to assist in case management when a requirement for the expertise has been identified through an ACAT assessment or through ongoing case management.
The CDC Operational Manual outlines in Section 1.19 and 1.22 that approved providers will undertake quarterly checks at the care recipient's home. In addition to this, approved providers may undertake reviews as needed by the care recipient.
Q: Are CDC approved providers able to deduct a corporate or management fee from the CDC subsidy, as this isn't clear from any of the CDC Information, Agreement, or Operational Manual? I note that a small administration fee may be charged for associated administration duties, however there are other organisational overheads to be considered eg training, management, indirect care, rent, quality etc that would usually also be borne (at least in part) by the subsidy, and they don't appear to be mentioned anywhere.
A: The Department would expect that the administration fee would cover the costs of the additional items you have mentioned. This should be a set amount that has been negotiated with the care recipient and documented in the care recipient agreement.
Q: Can an existing CACP client with a delegated ACCR date of May 2008 be admitted to a CDCL with this ACCR (same level of package – no break to service)?
A: 1. Yes, this client can be admitted to a CDCL, as their assessment was after March 2008, the client has been assessed as eligible for a CACP (which makes this client eligible for a CDCL) and there has been no break in service.
Q: If a consumer has an ACCR with approval for an EACH – Dementia package can they be admitted as a CDC-H ( as per current ability to admit EACH D clients to EACH or CACP)?
A. Yes, CDC works in the same way that 'regular' packaged care programs work. Arrangements introduced on 1 January 2009 enable people to receive a lower level of community care than they are eligible to receive. Under these arrangements, a person approved to receive an CDCHD is also eligible to receive a CDCH or CDCL as an interim arrangement.
Q: What would occur with regard to fee collection should a care recipient enter Transition Care?
A: Care recipients on a CDC package are entitled to the same leave arrangements as those on a CACP, EACH or EACHD. Therefore, care recipient fees will not be charged by the approved provider where the care recipient is in Transition Care, as the Transition Care service provider may ask the care recipient to pay a care fee as a contribution to the cost of their care.
Q: Can you advise what happens to the accumulated funds if the package continues to operate across more than one financial year?
A: As the CDC initiative initially runs until 30 June 2012 it would expected that accumulated funds would be exhausted by this date. However, accumulated funds can operate over the 2010-11 financial year as CDC is funded for a two year period.
Q: The Specified Care and Services (Attachment 2) indicates “services or care they (informal carers) provide may also be included in a CDC package”. Does this mean in practice that:
a. The provider is required to pay for the types of items listed within the CDC package (dependent on available funds)
A: It is your obligation under 6.3 of the Aged Care Act 1997 to maintain and retain certain records. Each transaction of formal care and services with another provider/service/etc that is registered for GST will require a record of that transaction (likely to be a tax invoice/receipt).
b. That this would require a Tax Invoice / Receipt for this to occur?
c. How do Informal Care arrangements work?
Informal services are those that may be provided by people already known to the family and not employed by the approved providers. If this is the request of the care recipient, their details must be maintained on a register by the approved provider. In order to record the transaction that takes place between your organisation and the informal care worker, you may require a tax invoice/receipt to be provided as proof of the service taking place where the organisation/provider or individual is registered for GST purposes. The informal services listed in the Payment Agreement are examples only.
A: In regard to informal services, the same existing arrangements will apply for approved providers who maintain responsibilities relating to staff and volunteers as outlined in The Accountability Principles 1998, The Aged Care Act 1997 and any relevant State and Territory Governments OHS legislation.
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Q: Does Actual hours include hours provided under the activity of Case Management?
A: Actual hours does not include hours provided under the activity of case management. Actual hours refer to the direct care hours. Under CDC, the arrangements for the recording of monthly direct care hours will be similar to existing packaged care programs, in that you must record direct care hours on the CDC monthly subsidy claim form.
Q: The Payment Agreement mentions a CDC Operational Manual and I was wondering if there is somewhere that I could locate the manual to assist us in delivering our service?
A: The CDC Operational Manual is going to be an updated version of the 2010-11 Information on Consumer Directed Care Packages document that is currently available on the health website.
The CDC Operational Manual is being finalised, and will be sent out with the signed copy of the Payment Agreements. In the meantime, the 2010-11 Information on Consumer Directed Care Packages is the most current document.
Q: We are led to believe that we cannot take clients that are currently on the ACAT waiting lists and that these clients need to be specially selected by ACATs for CDC packages- can you tell me if this is the case please?
A: For care recipients to be eligible for a CDCL, CDCH or CDCHD package, they need to be assessed by an ACAT as eligible for a CACP, EACH or EACHD respectively.
An ACAT does not need to specifically assess a care recipient as eligible for a CDC package. It is the responsibility of your organisation to assess eligible care recipients’ suitability and willingness to participate in CDC initiative. A guide to the eligibility of care recipients can be found on page 11 of the 2010-11 Information on Consumer Directed Care Packages document, which can be found on the website at www.health.gov.au/cdc
Q: When will we receive our CDC subsidy and when are we supposed to begin delivering services?
A: Please note that the Payment Agreement is not binding on either your organisation or the Commonwealth, and no legal obligations shall arise until the Commonwealth signs the CDC Payment Agreements and returned it to your organisation. No CDC subsidy will be payable by the Department unless the Payment Agreements has been signed by the Commonwealth.
Services can begin once the Commonwealth has counter signed the Payment Agreements.
Q: Our organisation was not successful in receiving an allocation of CDC packages. Are we able to join in the CDC initiative with our current allocations?
A: Any organisation may choose to adopt a more flexible approach to the delivery of their existing packaged care programs, which includes providing care recipients with more choice and control over the services they receive. However, you will not be able to brand the packages as being part of the Governments Consumer Directed Care (CDC) places and will need to ensure they are meeting their obligations under The Aged Care Act 1997(the Act), as your existing places are different places under the Act compared to CDC places. You will receive support from the Department in regard to their standard allocation of CACPs and EACH packages, however they will be unable to participate in the CDC evaluation.
The Department fully supports organisations that choose to adopt flexible approaches to the delivery of community packaged care programs.
Q: Why do I need flexible care approved provider status?
A: CDC places are funded through the Innovative Pool Program; this funding is for flexible care places. As such, you will need flexible care approved provider status even if you are only applying for CDC Low Care places
Q: What if my application for flexible care status is not assessed by Application due date?
A: CDC applications are assessed based on the organisations merit. If your application for flexible care status has not been finalised and you are offered an allocation of CDC places, the Department may defer the allocation pending your flexible care status.
Q: For CDC packages, are there a set number of ‘places’ (out of the total 500) available per region/geographical location?
A: No. Organisations will be assessed on the merit of their application according to the assessment criteria outlined in the Information on Consumer Directed Care Packages. The CDC assessment will be looking at the organisations ability to deliver flexible care in the community.
Q: Is the allocation similar to the ACAR?
A: No, this is an invitation to apply for places under the Innovative Pool Program. These flexible care places are available in any state or territory, based on merit and are allocated outside of ACAR.
Q: How long will CDC places be allocated for?
A: CDC places will initially be allocated for a 2 year period. (Eg. 2010-11 and 2011-12). During this time an evaluation process will be undertaken to explore the potential for implementing the CDC model more broadly across Australian Government community care programs.
Q: Why would providers want to deliver CDC, what is the incentive other than to be involved in this initiative as there is no assistance with set up costs?
A: Following calls from industry and consumers, a CDC working group that was formed under the Minister's Ageing Consultative Committee (ACC) developed proposals for CDC in the Australian context following calls from industry and consumers. Drawing on the work of this group, the Commonwealth have developed proposals for Consumer Directed Care packages.
The implementation is targeted at existing providers as their existing capacity and infrastructure will support CDC approaches. Evaluation of the CDC initiative will explore the effectiveness of the packages in meeting care recipient/carers’ needs, their operation, and the potential for implementing the CDC model more broadly across Australian Government community care programs.
Q: Will the CDC initiative be evaluated?
A: The Department of Health and Ageing will be conducting an in-depth evaluation of CDC. This evaluation will explore the effectiveness of the packages in meeting care recipient/carers’ needs, their operation, and the potential for implementing the CDC model more broadly across Australian Government community care programs.
In order to assist the evaluation, providers will be expected to participate in evaluation activities, which could include a range of reporting activities, facilitating evaluator access to care recipients and carers, and participation in focus groups, interviews or telephone surveys.
Q: What happens to the care recipient’s care when the initial CDC allocation period is complete?
A: CDC places are being allocated under the Innovative Pool program for the first 2 years. Evaluation of CDC will inform future directions for CDC in Community Care. Clients will not be left without care, and provisions will be put in place to ensure care recipients will have continuity of services.
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CDRC
How will CDRC packages work?
Q: The Funding Agreement mentions a CDRC Operational Manual and I was wondering if there is somewhere that I could locate the manual to assist us in delivering our service?A: The CDRC Operational Manual has been finalised and can be obtained through the heath website at www.health.gov.au/cdc, or through an email to cdcrespite2010@health.gov.au
Q: Is the $4,200 the amount that is made available to every client or dependent upon needs can this amount be more or less?
A: The amount of $4,200 is the amount that each client is entitled too and because it is a small amount over a 12 month period it would be expected that each client would approximately need this amount. However, the funds can be pooled and the amount can be more or less depending on carers assessed needs. Each individual carers budget must be documented.
Q: Can the carer/care recipient access other services while in receipt of this package?
A: This does not affect the care recipient, as these packages are targeted towards the carer only. While it is not stated anywhere that clients in receipt of a CDRC package can not access other services, it would be expected that a client would be either receiving services through the CDRC program, or through another service, to avoid double dipping.
Q: What happens if they exhaust their funds and the contingency due to a medical emergency or changing needs, can they access more respite?
A: Emergency respite may still be required on top of this respite plan/package and should be provided for in emergency situations regardless of whether the individual budget has financial capacity. However, there is no additional CDRC funding available to cover additional respite services and will need to be accessed through the CRCC as per normal arrangements.
Q: Can services only be purchased from respite providers, or can the brokerage be used to pay for informal support. For example where the carer asks a neighbour to provide some transport for the care recipient and is happy to be paid for the fuel expenses. In this instance, what would be required re police checks?
A: Informal services can be purchased (not family/friends), as long as subcontracting arrangements are in place and existing arrangements in terms of police checks, insurances and workers compensation will apply.
While we do not encourage carers to pay family and friends for services as part of this model, in the example you have provided, if a reimbursement is given for the fuel only, then a police check may not be required, as the carer is only purchasing the fuel.
However, you will need to seek your own advice from your own advisers (e.g. workers compensation authorities, insurers, legal advisers, accountants) on how those requirements apply to your particular circumstances.
Q: We offer a range of respite services in addition to the CRCC in the region of XXXX. As such, a carer may request a Care Worker who is employed by our organisation (who works in our NRCP services, not the CRCC) to provide some of the respite in their package. Can we do this? A carer participant may know the Care Worker from previous services they have received from us through one of our other NRCP Respite Services.
A: If the Care Worker and NRCP Service is part of your organisation, that being the organisation the Department has the CDRC Funding Agreement with, there is no issues with you utilising Care Workers from your NRCP Service.
If the service is from a different organisation (eg has a different ABN) then you will need to ensure you have an agreement in place that outlines the care and services that are to be delivered.
If the Care Worker requested by the carer participating in CDRC is from another service (not part of the organisation), contractual arrangements are in place and care and services are to be delivered under those arrangements.
Q: Are you requiring us to identify carers participating in the trial separately in our database for MDS purposes?
A: As CDRC is NRCP funding, you are required to report as required under the NRCP Guidelines and will not need to be separately identified in your database.
Q: How do CDRC packages work?
A: An annual budget of $4,200, to be held and administered by the Centre, will be allocated for each participating carer. Carers will then be able to direct the Centre to spend their respite budget on the respite services of his or her choice.
Q: Will the CDRC initiative be evaluated?
A: The Department of Health and Ageing will be conducting an in-depth evaluation of CDRC. This evaluation will explore the effectiveness of the packages in meeting carers’ needs, their operation, and the potential for implementing the CDRC model more broadly.
In order to assist the evaluation, successful CRCCs will be expected to participate in evaluation activities, which could include a range of reporting activities, facilitating evaluator access to carers, and participation in focus groups, interviews or telephone surveys.
Q: What happens if a carer in receipt of a CDRC package has unspent funds at the end of the financial year?
A: It would be expected that all funding for CDC Respite package would be spent on providing respite for carers within the 12 month period. Any unspent funds will be returned to the Department.
Q: I have a Carer who has been very proactive with working out a respite care plan and part of that plan includes purchase of residential respite. The Carer has used a funded respite bed rate as to project costs.
Can you please clarify whether this is appropriate or does the Carer need to cost the respite at an unfunded rate?
A: Firstly, I assume that when you are referring to a funded residential respite rate you mean respite that is funded by the Australian Government, such as under the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) and an unfunded residential respite rate as one that may be provided from another source, such as a private respite provider?
As Consumer Directed Respite Care (CDRC) is funded under the NRCP, it is acceptable for the carer to use a government funded residential respite bed rate if they are going to access a government funded residential respite service, as would be the case under the NRCP Guidelines. However, CDRC is designed in such a way that the carer should not be limited to choosing services from the Centre, as alternative options could include informal services and other commercial organisations, as outlined on page 13 of the CDRC Operational Manual. This may be a private respite provider with an unfunded residential respite rate, if this is the choice of the carer.
Q: I am writing to seek confirmation regarding the pooling of funds for any unspent/unallocated Consumer Directed Respite Care packages.
On page 7 of the CDRC 2010 Operational Manual, the Manual states that the Centre may pool the funds and the amount for each CDRC participant can be more or less depending on carers assessed needs. We, unfortunately have already had one of the participants accessing one of the CDRC package pass away and therefore hasn’t spent all their allocated package. We wish to use this for another potential client.
Additionally, can I allocate more than the 16 packages that I have been appointed, if the participants choose to spend less their the $4,200
You are only able to have a maximum of 16 CDRC packages operating at any one time, as that is what was allocated to your Centre. You are not able to create further packages if a participant chooses not to spend their $4,200, and you should encourage each participant to utilises their CDRC package. It is in the above case where a participant passes away, for example, that another participant may access the remainder of that CDRC package, which would result in 16 CDRC packages still being operational.
Q: How long is CDRC being funded for?
A: The 200 CDRC packages allocated in 2010-11 were initially funded until 30 June 2011, however this funding has been extended until 30 June 2012.
Additionally, the Government has provided a further 200 CDRC packages to be funded from 30 June 2011 until 30 June 2012
Q: Are we able to continue CDRC funding to the same carer across financial years?
A: The decision to continue the CDRC funding to the same carer is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre (Centre), taking into account the carers capabilities, suitability and willingness for managing a CDRC package.
The Centre maintains the final decision to accept a person for a CDRC package. The Centre is expected to inform existing carers of their decision to continue or cease supporting the carer with a CDRC in the next financial year.
The Centre will have a transition plan for carers who are exiting a CDRC package and will assist the carer to access other appropriate support services.
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