Ongoing Support: Whatever it Takes?

Rick KaneCEO, Disability Employment Australia

@Disabilityemplt

#DES2016

@TruckerSlim

Concurrent Session2:15pm - 3:00pm in Promenade 1 & 2

@Disabilityemplt

#DES2016

@TruckerSlimOverview

• Introduction and rationale

• Views from professionals delivering employment

supports

• Views on Ongoing Support in the DES model and

performance framework

• Future policy considerations

• Questions and answers

@Disabilityemplt

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@TruckerSlimRationale

• Ongoing Support differentiates DES from other

employment programmes

• Highly valued by all stakeholders, including

employers

• NDEF provides opportunity to re-shape OGS policy

@Disabilityemplt

#DES2016

@TruckerSlimWhat do employers think?

“Forum participants were enthusiastic about DES support continuing after

12 months of employment as they felt it was important to keep monitoring

the employee’s progress. They also commended the use of Ongoing

Support Assessments saying it was encouraging to see how an employee

had improved over time … all said they were extremely happy with their

DES provider regarding long term support.”

Employer perspectives on recruiting

people with disability and the role of

Disability Employment Services

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@TruckerSlimWho is it for?

Disability Services Act (1986)

The target group for the purposes of this Part consists of persons with a disability that:

1. is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of such impairments;

2. is permanent or likely to be permanent; and results in:i. a substantially reduced capacity of the person for communication,

learning or mobility; and

ii. the need for ongoing support services.

@Disabilityemplt

#DES2016

@TruckerSlimDES Model

• Provides access to time-unlimited support

• Limits to support in one job, rather than support to

stay attached to the labour market

• Independent assessment

• Paid retrospectively within pre-determined limits

rather than support needed

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@TruckerSlimHow does it work?

• Adjustments made from 2010 to 2013 performance framework

• Reduced risk of utilisation– Time in ongoing support variable

– Break in employment introduced

– Independent gateway via OSA

– MOS and HOS automatically trigger 52WSI

– No overlap with 52WSI• 6 months provision before being in scope

• ‘Countdown’ measure starting at 100%

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#DES2016

@TruckerSlim

@Disabilityemplt

#DES2016

@TruckerSlimWhat have we seen?

• Substantial increase of DES-ESS participants over time

• There has not been a comparable increase in

participants in employment with Ongoing Support

• Introduction of Ongoing Support Assessments in

2010 – 2011 contributed to this

• DES-ESS is servicing a broader client base

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@TruckerSlimReturns to services

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@TruckerSlimOur views…

• Sustained employment is based on developing confidence and capability to align with reasonable job match

• Ongoing support for worker improves job outcome; employer relationship

• Greater emphasis on long-term support builds relationships between Provider and person with disability, increasing stability, leading to real economic and social independence

@Disabilityemplt

#DES2016

@TruckerSlimOur views…

• Current contract (and performance framework)

settings focus is frequency of interventions rather

than testing success of the support strategy

developed

• Effort is constructed around contract evidence

collection points rather than direct employment

assistance decisions

@Disabilityemplt

#DES2016

@TruckerSlimOur views…

• Best practice OGS is the pathway to achieve long-

term engagement with labour market

• Skills development, employment confidence,

network development, career progression and

monitoring employment conditions all require

ongoing support

• Ongoing support is about co-production between

person with disability, employer and DES provider

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@TruckerSlimOur views…

• Ongoing Support is a feature

• Sustained employment is the objective

• Support (and research) OGS strategies that build

pathways to achieve independence

• Does the Performance Framework (Stars) enhance

or adversely impact on OGS?

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@TruckerSlimQuestions

“On-the-job support to assist to establish people in the job and

additional ongoing support to maintain that job in the longer

term – a key defining aspect of the program”

ACE response to Review of Disability Employment Services 2008

• How do we maintain OGS as a key defining aspect of disability

employment?