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Development of a Common Assessment Framework

The Common Assessment Framework

A draft common assessment framework and practice approaches for the community Gateway Service, Integrated Family Support Services (IFSS) and Disability Services has been developed and will be used by all state funded family support services from 3 August 2009.  KPMG in consultation with both the disability and the family support services sector have developed the framework.

Project Purpose

The purpose of the project has been to develop a common assessment framework for use by the community Gateway Service, IFSS and Disability Services. The framework’s objectives are:

  • place the child and their family or the person with a disability at the centre, as well as being strength and evidence based;
  • provide a clear and transparent approach to the assessment of needs and levels of risk for each family and child, and person with a disability referred to the community Gateway Service;
  • be standardised and universally applicable, but easily adaptable for use with all children and families and people with disabilities accessing the Gateway Service;
  • assess and identify the most appropriate intervention / support mechanism and means to address the needs and risks of children and families, as well as the goals and aspirations of people with disabilities;
  • provide a basis for case management and planning; and
  • be supported by protocols and guidelines for use.

Key Principles

Underpinning the assessment framework are key principles that should guide providers in using the Common Assessment Framework for assessment, planning and referral.

The key principles are:

  • focus on the child, young person or individual with a disability
  • enable a partnership approach to undertaking assessments that include coordination between agencies
  • facilitate information sharing between agencies as required
  • be fair and consistent and enable equitable access to services
  • match assessment resources to the required outcome of the assessment
  • Enable a focus on providing a crisis response through prioritisation
  • Be flexible and sensitive to individual needs, to enable tailored, individualised planning
  • Use tools that identify need and risk factors that have been empirically shown to predict risk factors
  • Be outcomes driven
  • Be culturally sensitive
  • Be simple and clear
  • Enable data collection and information management
  • Involve mechanisms for review of client pathways
  • Recognise the right for a child, young person or person with a disability to involve an advocate in the assessment process

The common assessment framework includes a Practice Manual and a number of shared, common tools to support intake, planning, referral, consent and case closure.

Practice Manual

The Practice Manual provides guidance for practitioners about using the Common Assessment Framework and conducting effective and consistent assessments. It describes each of the elements and structures that support the Common Assessment Framework and the specific processes and protocols that relate to these. At the end of the document there is a dictionary of common terms for use by all service providers and practitioners.

Practice Tools

There are four tools developed to assist family support and disability services to assess what children, young people and their families as well as individuals with a disability require to enhance their outcomes.

These tools are only to be used by state funded family support services.

The four tools are:

Evaluation of the Common Assessment Framework & Tools

The Common Assessment Framework and practice tools will be used for a trial period of three months where an evaluation of the framework will undertaken by the Reform Implementation Unit. The trial period will be from August to October 2009. The aim of the evaluation is to measure whether use of the common assessment framework and tools is enabling the objectives of DHHS to be met in terms of appropriateness, consistency and effectiveness.

Further Information

For more information about this project please contact:

Jeanette Banks

Project Officer, Disability and Community Services

disandcommservices@dhhs.tas.gov.au