Accessing Community Services
Access to HACC Community Care Services
The North Metro Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre (CRCC) is now the one access and entry point to refer new patients requiring assistance in the home. The centre determines eligibility for funded services and provides information, linkages and availability to the full range of community services that support people living with a disability, the frail aged and their carers.
How to Make a Referral
In the North metro region the Independent Living Centre of WA administers the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink service. The centre is has trained health professionals who will determine eligibility to the HACC program through a phone screen completing an electronic Client Needs Identification tool (fondly called a CNI).
3 Ways to Make a Referral
CALL: 1800 052 222 between 8.30am – 4.30pm weekdays
EMAIL: comcarelink@ilc.com.au
FAX: 9381 0688 WA HACC Service Provider
Patients who have received HACC services in the past can be referred directly back to their service provider who will then trigger a HACC re-assessment if required. The process for referring patients for nursing care only remains the same. New referrals for HACC (personal care, domestic assistance, meals etc) are to be directed to your CRCC. CRCC have the capacity to link patients to services directly if the need is urgent.CRCC continue to provide information, support, referral and respite care to older people, younger people with a disability, people with a mental health condition and their carers on 1800 052 222.
One Single Assessment
Once HACC eligibility is confirmed, the CRCC will refer new clients to one of three recently established HACC Regional Assessment Services (RAS) that operate in the North metro region. These are the City of Stirling, the Independent Living Centre of WA and Silver Chain.
Assessments are holistic and focus on client individual needs and goals. A home visit is carried out with family members present if required. Assessors liaise with the referrer, family members and other health professional to determine the client’s needs and how best to meet them. In the case of a patient requiring HACC services they are provided with a choice of who they would like to have as their provider.
Why the Change?
The HACC Program embarked upon a Wellness Approach in 2006. The Wellness Approach is a shift away from a dependency model of care and support to one that enables an individual receiving a HACC service to build on their capacity by working with their abilities as opposed to their disabilities.
WA Assessment Framework Overview
The WA Assessment Framework (WAAF) was implemented at the end of January 2011 and represents a major shift in focus for entry, assessment and service delivery in the WA HACC program.
The focus of these reforms has been on improving the client/carer journey and streamlining access to appropriate assessment and service response. It is anticipated that there will be beneficial impacts on the broader community care system and other parts of the health system that interface with the HACC Program; as entry and assessment processes are made more consistent and the referral process is simplified. The WA Assessment Framework is being independently evaluated to ensure there are opportunities for improvement and fine-tuning.
Contact
| Person: | Enquiry Line 13 / 386 Wanneroo Road, WESTMINSTER, WA 6061 |
| Telephone: | 1800 052 222 |
| Freecall*: | 1800 052 222 |
| Fax: | (08) 9381 0688 |
| comcarelink@ilc.com.au | |
| Service Manager: | (08) 9381 0600 |
| Open: | Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm WST |