Canberrans will be able to access care and supports in their home to avoid lengthy hospital stays, the ACT Government announced today.
The new Community Assistance Temporary Supports program provides temporary services so people in the ACT can discharge safely from hospital or remain in their homes while they recover from an illness, injury or other health issue.
Services provided through the Community Assistance Temporary Supports program will include non-clinical supports for wellbeing, personal care including assistance with bathing or dressing, and help with other domestic tasks such as cooking and laundry.
The program connects people with community supports and longer-term services, such as the NDIS and the Commonwealth Home Support Program.
From 1 October, Community Assistance Temporary Supports will replace the Community Assistance Support Program (CASP) and the Flexible Family Support (FFS) and Transitional Care programs.
Health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the transition to a single program follows deep engagement with stakeholders, and would make it easier for Canberrans to access timely support.
“Enabling people to access care and supports in their own home means they can maintain crucial connections to family, carers, friends and the wider community which improves their health outcomes and recovery,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“We are also ensuring people do not fall through gaps in available services by extending eligibility to include all ages and increasing the length of care provided through the program from 12 weeks to six months for patients and 12 months for carers.
“Our aim is to prevent vulnerable members of the community from remaining in hospital longer than necessary and ensure they can get back to their lives as quickly as possible.”
Six providers were selected through a rigorous tender process to deliver the program’s core services:
· Carers ACT will provide services that support carers and nurture care relationships, as well as a Warm Hospital Discharge service that provides connected support for people discharged from hospital to home.
“Carers ACT is proud to work with the ACT Government to ensure carers are provided with a suite of programs that support their health and wellbeing and enable them to continue in their caring role,” CEO Lisa Kelly said. “We are excited about the impact we can make in the lives of carers through this funding.
“We are also proud to partner with Canberra Health Services and community services to deliver a range of in-home supports that enable people to leave hospital and recover their health and wellbeing in their own home. Through this funding, we will ensure at least 800 people a year are supported to recover from temporary health conditions in their homes.”
· Northside Community Service will deliver personal care, domestic assistance, and food services.
“The Community Assistance and Temporary Supports program is a great next step in providing short- and medium-term support to Canberrans,” CEO Anna Whitty said.
“It’s great to see the focus on outcomes for people in need of support, and we are really looking forward to working with our partners in the community services sector and the ACT Government on ensuring the program is a success.”
· Life Without Barriers will deliver personal care and domestic assistance.
· ACT Disability and Aged Care Advocacy Service (ADACAS) will provide an individual advocacy service.
“ADACAS is proud to be a partner with the ACT Government in delivering the Community Assistance and Temporary Supports program,” CEO Wendy Prowse said. “We look forward to supporting the program by providing individual advocacy services for vulnerable Canberrans, including those over the age of 65 years.”
· Anglicare NSW South, NSW West & ACT will deliver care coordination services.
· A consortium of Capital Region Community Services and Community Service #1 will deliver care coordination, medical transport and a service that enables participants to transition to more appropriate programs, such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
To ensure service continuity for the most vulnerable Canberrans, the Government will extend existing CASP providers’ contracts for two months from 1 October to 1 December.
“We are committed to a smooth transition for current CASP and FFS participants, and will be working closely with providers to enable continuity of care and support,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
For any inquiries related to the program changes, participants are encouraged to reach out to their current provider to receive further information about the transition.
For more information about Community Assistance and Temporary Supports, including information about the services and providers funded through the program, visit: www.health.act.gov.au/CATS.
