Louisiana Self-Direction Louisiana Self-Direction OrientationOrientation

Office for Citizens with Developmental Office for Citizens with Developmental DisabilitiesDisabilities

What is Self-Direction?What is Self-Direction? A service delivery option in the New Opportunities A service delivery option in the New Opportunities

Waiver (NOW) that gives you control of your supports Waiver (NOW) that gives you control of your supports and services.and services.

It means that you are the employer and you are in It means that you are the employer and you are in charge of the staff who work for you. You decide what charge of the staff who work for you. You decide what you want your staff to do, what kind of person you are you want your staff to do, what kind of person you are looking for, and what their job description will be. looking for, and what their job description will be.

It also means that you have the responsibilities of an It also means that you have the responsibilities of an employer. You need to create a good work environment employer. You need to create a good work environment for your staff; set your staff’s schedule; authorize your for your staff; set your staff’s schedule; authorize your staff’s time card so that they can get paid; let your staff staff’s time card so that they can get paid; let your staff know what you expect and what their job duties are; know what you expect and what their job duties are; communicate effectively with your staff; and terminate communicate effectively with your staff; and terminate your staff if necessary.your staff if necessary.

The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities is The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities is committed to making this option available to the people committed to making this option available to the people it serves.it serves.

What services in the New What services in the New Opportunities Waiver (NOW) Opportunities Waiver (NOW) can be self-directed?can be self-directed?

Individual and Family Support (Day)Individual and Family Support (Day) Individual and Family Support Individual and Family Support

(Night)(Night)

Key Components of Self-Key Components of Self-DirectionDirection

Purchasing PlanPurchasing Plan

Fiscal AgentFiscal Agent

Support CoordinationSupport Coordination

What is a Purchasing What is a Purchasing Plan?Plan? The purchasing plan is a tool which The purchasing plan is a tool which

will help you set your staff’s hourly will help you set your staff’s hourly wage and benefits.wage and benefits.

It will also help you purchase allowable It will also help you purchase allowable employment-related expenditures, employment-related expenditures, which are optional expenses that may which are optional expenses that may include the cost of employee include the cost of employee recruitment, employee training, recruitment, employee training, copying, faxing, insurance, etc.copying, faxing, insurance, etc.

Fiscal AgentFiscal Agent

The fiscal agent (FA) will take care The fiscal agent (FA) will take care of all the necessary functions to get of all the necessary functions to get your staff paid, such as payroll, your staff paid, such as payroll, bookkeeping, and processing taxes.bookkeeping, and processing taxes.

The fiscal agent (FA) will send The fiscal agent (FA) will send reports of your spending to you.reports of your spending to you.

The fiscal agent will pay only those The fiscal agent will pay only those expenses and services that are expenses and services that are incorporated into your plan.incorporated into your plan.

Your Support Your Support Coordinator…Coordinator… Works with you to develop your plan of care and to Works with you to develop your plan of care and to

connect you to the supports and services to connect you to the supports and services to implement your plan.implement your plan.

Support Coordination is an empowerment and Support Coordination is an empowerment and facilitative process that assists people and their facilitative process that assists people and their families through the planning process and families through the planning process and supports them to remain in control of their plan. supports them to remain in control of their plan.

Support Coordinators use dynamic person-Support Coordinators use dynamic person-centered planning processes to explore your vision centered planning processes to explore your vision and facilitate development of your plan of care.and facilitate development of your plan of care.

Your support coordinator also maintains regular Your support coordinator also maintains regular contact with OCDD and serves as your primary contact with OCDD and serves as your primary contact person with OCDD.contact person with OCDD.

How does your plan fit into How does your plan fit into all this?all this?

Your person-centered plan provides the Your person-centered plan provides the framework for your supports and services.framework for your supports and services.

Your plan will let people know who are; what Your plan will let people know who are; what your vision for the future is; what gifts and your vision for the future is; what gifts and talents you can share with the world; and talents you can share with the world; and what outcomes you want to focus on for next what outcomes you want to focus on for next year.year.

Your support coordinator will facilitate your Your support coordinator will facilitate your planning. You, and the people you care, planning. You, and the people you care, about will direct the content of what is about will direct the content of what is included in your plan.included in your plan.

What are your What are your responsibilities in Self-responsibilities in Self-

Direction?Direction? To participate in your planning.To participate in your planning. To find, manage, train, and supervise your staff.To find, manage, train, and supervise your staff. To set wages and benefits for your employees To set wages and benefits for your employees

within funds allocated for services.within funds allocated for services. To verify and submit your employees’ time To verify and submit your employees’ time

cards.cards. To develop and implement backup service To develop and implement backup service

plans.plans. To participate in required trainingTo participate in required training To maintain your waiver eligibility.To maintain your waiver eligibility.

With choice and control With choice and control comes risk…comes risk…

The main issues you should be aware of are:The main issues you should be aware of are: Workers compensation insurance will not Workers compensation insurance will not

be available.be available. Since you will be the boss you may have Since you will be the boss you may have

personnel issues to deal with from time to personnel issues to deal with from time to time.time.

You will be responsible for managing and You will be responsible for managing and organizing your own backup plans in the organizing your own backup plans in the event an employee does not show up for event an employee does not show up for work or when you need to replace an work or when you need to replace an employee.employee.

Congratulations….You’re an Congratulations….You’re an employer!employer!

There is work and follow through involved, but in There is work and follow through involved, but in return you get to choose who will work for you, return you get to choose who will work for you, when they work, and what you want them to do.when they work, and what you want them to do.

In general, it will be important to ensure your staff In general, it will be important to ensure your staff complete all employment paperwork and for you to complete all employment paperwork and for you to stay in touch with your Support Coordinator.stay in touch with your Support Coordinator.

The following are some things you will want to be The following are some things you will want to be aware of as you start hiring your own staff:aware of as you start hiring your own staff:

Decide what qualities and qualifications are important to you Decide what qualities and qualifications are important to you in a staff person.in a staff person.

Make sure you arrange for training for your staff.Make sure you arrange for training for your staff. Make sure your staff know what is expected of them.Make sure your staff know what is expected of them. Make sure your staff know their work schedule.Make sure your staff know their work schedule. Make sure your staff are aware of any “house rules,” such as Make sure your staff are aware of any “house rules,” such as

no smoking etc.no smoking etc. Develop a job description for your staff.Develop a job description for your staff.

What kind of person are What kind of person are you looking for? you looking for?

---someone with a nursing background

---someone who can lift and transfer---someone with a knowledge of wheelchairs---someone who is punctual and

reliable---someone who is dependable---someone with a driver’s license---someone who has a car---someone who shares your interests---someone with a good sense of

humor---someone who is positive and

upbeat---someone who is quiet---someone with good listening skills---someone with good communication skills

---someone who lives in your neighborhood---someone well connected to your community---a mature person---someone with experience ---someone new to this field---a good cook ---someone with a knowledge of person- centered-planning---someone who has weekday availability---someone with evening availability---someone with overnight availability---someone with weekend availability---other

What do you need your staff What do you need your staff to do?to do?

---to assist you to locate activities of interest in your community ---to help you get connected to various activities---to help you get together with your friends---to help you to meet new people---to assist you when you entertain friends at your home---to help you with personal hygiene activities (please list)---to lift and transfer you---to assist you with your medications---to help you maintain your home---to accompany you on appointments---to assist you with managing your budget---to help you with cooking---to assist you with shopping---to assist you with transportation---to assist you with other activities of daily living (please list)---to travel with you

Developing a job Developing a job description…description…

Take those characteristics you are Take those characteristics you are looking for in a staff person and put looking for in a staff person and put them under a section titled them under a section titled qualifications.qualifications.

Then list out all the tasks you need Then list out all the tasks you need your staff person to do and put them your staff person to do and put them in a section titled responsibilities.in a section titled responsibilities.

This will provide you with a basic job This will provide you with a basic job description.description.

Sample Job DescriptionSample Job DescriptionTitle: Personal AssistantReports to: Jasmin Doe

Qualifications: This person must be well connected in their local community. They

must be punctual and reliable and have a valid driver’s license. Available during

morning hours.

Responsibilities:*to support Jasmin in meeting new people*to help Jasmin to get out to her favorite activities*to assist Jasmin to locate new social and recreational activities of interest

in her community*to transfer Jasmin out of bed in the morning*to assist with showering, dressing, and other activities as per morning

routine*to assist with breakfast preparation*to accompany Jasmin on morning medical appointments

More on backup plans…More on backup plans… You need to have a backup plan in place in the You need to have a backup plan in place in the

event that your employee is sick, needs time event that your employee is sick, needs time off, or can’t make it to work.off, or can’t make it to work.

When thinking about backup plans it is helpful When thinking about backup plans it is helpful to try to locate potential people in your to try to locate potential people in your neighborhood who will be able to get to you neighborhood who will be able to get to you on short notice. Perhaps a neighbor who will on short notice. Perhaps a neighbor who will be available strictly on an emergency basis or be available strictly on an emergency basis or a family member who is readily available. a family member who is readily available. Provider agencies may also be useful for Provider agencies may also be useful for backup staffing.backup staffing.

It is important to have these plans worked out It is important to have these plans worked out before a situation arises in which you will before a situation arises in which you will need to use them.need to use them.

Circle of SupportCircle of Support

A circle of support is one way of pulling other A circle of support is one way of pulling other resources into your life. It can help you to resources into your life. It can help you to connect to natural supports in your community.connect to natural supports in your community.

A circle of support is a group of people who A circle of support is a group of people who care about you and have a personal (and care about you and have a personal (and sometimes professional) commitment to you. sometimes professional) commitment to you. They will come together regularly and provide They will come together regularly and provide advice, guidance, and connections. Usually, a advice, guidance, and connections. Usually, a circle has a facilitator who helps to get it going circle has a facilitator who helps to get it going and keep it running smoothly.and keep it running smoothly.

Live-in House MatesLive-in House Mates

Another option you may want to Another option you may want to explore is a live-in house mate. In explore is a live-in house mate. In this scenario, a support person will this scenario, a support person will live with you rent free or for reduced live with you rent free or for reduced rent . In exchange, they will rent . In exchange, they will typically be available overnight and typically be available overnight and provide you with support at various provide you with support at various other times.other times.

If you are interested in Self-If you are interested in Self-Direction…Direction…

You should let your You should let your

Support Coordinator know.Support Coordinator know.

Your support coordinator will inform Your support coordinator will inform OCDD of your decision.OCDD of your decision.