Recommendation

That Residential Services explore the option of introducing relevant tertiary qualifications as a minimum requirement for all Technical Officer positions. This option could be introduced in stages so that existing staff were not disadvantaged.

The first step in this process was the introduction of the traineeship program that will increase entry level skills.

Dell 7.7

A thorough audit needs to be carried out on all group homes and hostels to determine the appropriateness of current staffing ratios and the effectiveness of staff support. This is a major undertaking and would require two skilled staff, working full time for a minimum of three months.

There is a need to ensure that the support provided matches the needs of individuals and the group of individuals who share a home. The process to achieve this will involve the assessment of individual needs and review of staff ratios against the needs of the people living in a house.

This process has commenced with the move of John Knight Hostel residents out into the community.

The review process will match individual support needs with staffing support levels within group homes.

Refer to comments against Recommendations 1.0 and 3.4.

This issue forms part of current workplace reform being negotiated in an Enterprise Bargaining context.

Use information from 10.7 to identify people currently in a group home who do not require the level of support provided. As outlined a gradual process to move these people to less restrictive support needs to occur. While IDS may provide this support in the medium term it is desirable that this function would devolve to the community in the long term.

It is proposed that in future accommodation support services will be able to provide services to people who own or rent their own home, either privately or through the Housing Trust, or live with family or friends or in other ordinary community arrangements.

Assessments have been completed for people living in a group house and Choices houses and some ISP applicants. An evaluation of the assessment has been conducted and implementation of agreed recommendations is now underway. Assessments of other Residential Services clients will occur and the coordinated needs assessment process will be used in future in both government and non-government sectors.