Consumer Directed Respite Care

Operational Manual2012-2013

Table of Contents1 Overview of CDRC Program................................................................................................................2

1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................2

1.2 Background.................................................................................................................................2

1.3 Model..........................................................................................................................................3

1.4 Funding.......................................................................................................................................4

1.5 CDRC Funding Agreement...........................................................................................................4

1.6 CDRC Payments...........................................................................................................................4

2 Participating CRCC (Centre) Requirements.........................................................................................5

2.1 Responsibilities...........................................................................................................................5

2.2 Legislation...................................................................................................................................5

2.3 The Community Care Common Standards (Common.................................................................6

Standards)...............................................................................................................................................6

2.4 Accountability and Reporting.....................................................................................................8

2.5 Maintenance of Quality..............................................................................................................9

3 CDRC Delivery Guidelines.................................................................................................................10

3.1 Role of the CRCC.......................................................................................................................10

3.2 Role of the Carer.......................................................................................................................10

3.3 Eligibility Criteria.......................................................................................................................10

3.4 Acceptance by CRCC.................................................................................................................11

3.5 Individual Respite Plans............................................................................................................11

3.6 Development of Individual Respite Budgets.............................................................................11

3.7 Administration..........................................................................................................................12

3.8 Service Types Supported...........................................................................................................12

3.9 Service Delivery.........................................................................................................................12

3.10 Maintaining Links and Partnerships..........................................................................................14

3.11 Case Study 1 – how the model might work...............................................................................15

3.12 Case Study 2 – how the model might work...............................................................................16

4 Glossary............................................................................................................................................17

1 Overview of CDRC Program

As the Consumer Directed Respite Care (CDRC) packages are funded under the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP), please read this Operational Manual in conjunction with the National Respite for Carers Program Guidelines (NRCP Guidelines) and the Program Manual for Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres.

1.1 Introduction

In July 2010 the Australian Government commenced CDRC as part of its continuing commitment to providing frail, older Australians with responsive, carer-centered community care services.

Consumer (or self) directed respite care allows carers to take a break from their caring role and will give carers a greater say and more control over the design and delivery of respite services provided to them and the person/s they care for. This will allow carers to make choices about the types of respite services they access and the delivery of those services, including who will deliver the services and when. Expected outcomes of consumer directed care for both carers and the person/s they care for include a better quality of life due to increased independence and empowerment over the services they are receiving.

The CDRC program will be funded until 30 June 2013 under the National Respite for CarersProgram and focuses on respite services provided under the NRCP.

Further information about Consumer Directed Respite Care and CDRC Centre’s with CDRCpackages is available at the Department of Health website.

1.2 Background

The Australian Government has provided funding to selected Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (Centres) across Australia to deliver CDRC packages under the NRCP. The NRCP is one of several initiatives designed to support and assist relatives and friends caringat home for people who are unable to care for themselves because of disability or frailty.

There are 54 Centres across Australia that are auspiced by a wide variety of community organisations in metropolitan, rural and remote regions across Australia. Centres can help when carers need to take a break from their caring role by arranging respite. They do this by acting as a single contact for information needed by carers and by organising, purchasing, or managing respite services for carers.

Examples of respite services include: in-home respite care; support workers to assist you when you are taking a break away from home; emergency respite services; and residential respite care.

Respite care is defined as an alternative or supplemental care arrangement with the primary purpose of giving the carer: a short-term break from their usual caring role; and/or assistance with the performance of their caring role on a short term basis.

Respite care is divided into 2 service types: direct respite services – provide the carer with quality alternative care for the person for

whom they are the primary carer, for a short term (for example, in an emergency such as carer illness, or for planned/ regular respite breaks, including short holidays). The alternative care may be provided in the home or other suitable accommodation; and

indirect respite services – provide the carer with short term assistance with the performance of some of their caring duties (for example, provision of equipment to assist in the performance of the caring role, assistance with performance of some of the carer’s caring tasks to facilitate continuation of the caring role, assistance with costs incurred by the carer that are directly related to the performance of the caring role, etc); and with help by relieving the carer from some of the other tasks of daily living (i.e. tasks other than the caring role), which are not directly related to their caring responsibility – for example, the provision of assistance with shopping, cleaning, etc.

1.3 Model

Under the CDRC model, the Centre remains the funds’ holder, but expends each client’sbudget as directed by the client.

The objectives of CDRC are to: showcase a consumer directed approach to respite care; explore more effective ways of empowering carers by allowing them – to the extent they

are capable and wish to do so – to actively choose the respite services they receive, including with respect to who delivers the respite care and when; and

provide an opportunity to conduct research into consumer directed care in Australian Government funded community care programs.

The CDRC target groups are carers of:frail older Australians 65 years or over, or 50 and over if Indigenous (including people

with dementia and/or challenging behaviour).

However, under NRCP Guidelines, there are other target groups, such as:younger people (under 65, under 50 if indigenous) with moderate, severe or profound

disabilities who are living at home; andpeople with a terminal illness in need of palliative care.

For these target groups, the Department would, in the first instance, encourage Centres to source alternate services for those carers. CDRC packages may be used for these groups where carers of frail older Australians 65 years or over, or 50 years and over if Indigenous, have not been identified.

CDRC aligns with the NRCP objectives and standards to contribute to the support and maintenance of caring relationships between carers and their dependent family members or friends by facilitating access to information, respite care and other support appropriate to their individual needs and circumstances and those of the people for whom they are caring.

1.4 Funding

Participating Centres will each receive a TOTAL of $6,200 per allocated CDRC place for the financial year, to be expended as follows:

$4,200 individual budget per CDRC place to be expended by the Centre, as agreed on the CDRC Respite Care Plan between the carer and the Centre and then as directed by the carer for the agreed respite care; and

$2,000 per CDRC place to be used by the Centre for administration costs associated with the administration of each respite package’s budget, client management and participation in evaluation where required.

This funding will be paid to the Centres on a monthly basis.

The amount of $4,200 (over a 12 month period) is the total budget to which each CDRC participant is entitled. It would be expected that each CDRC participant would plan to expend the full amount of $4,200. However, the Centre may pool the funds and the amount for each CDRC participant can be more or less depending on carers’ assessed needs. Each individual carer’s budget must be documented.

1.5 CDRC Funding Agreement

Successful Centres are required to enter into a CDRC Funding Agreement with the Australian Government, which is legally binding on both parties signing. The agreement outlines how the participating Centre will deliver consumer directed respite care and include commitmentto areas such as maintenance of quality of care and provisions for clients leaving a CDRCpackage.

1.6 CDRC Payments

The Department will issue a Recipient Created Tax Invoice (RCTI) each month to participating Centres and funds will be paid to the participating Centres’ nominated bank account on a monthly basis, following acceptance by the Commonwealth of the services.

2 Participating CRCC (Centre) Requirements

The participating Centre is responsible for undertaking the activities of assessment, planning, linkages and support for carers, short term and emergency respite brokerage, residential respite booking, promotion, respite service development and support.

2.1 Responsibilities

To meet the CDRC outcomes, the Centre is responsible for:Selection of carers – Carers from the Centres region are to be selected by the CRCC and

offered a CDRC package on the basis of carers’ respite needs and their suitability and willingness to participate in CDRC.

Care assessment and planning – The Centre will be required to undertake an assessment of each participating carer’s particular needs and work with the carer to develop an agreed individual respite plan. The Centre will need to provide information about the services available in their local region which is extensive, easy to access and understand. The Centre is responsible for ensuring that carers are fully aware of the potential uses of their individual budgets.

Administration of individual CDRC budgets – The Centre will administer the budget for each CDRC package, including arranging and coordinating the provision of respite services as agreed to by the carer. This will include:

o subcontracting services as directed by the carer (and within the limits of the respite package budget and NRCP program);

o making payments from the respite package budget as confirmed and authorised by the carer within the limits of the respite package budget and the NRCP Program;

o providing the carer with a monthly account balance, listing yearly expenditure to date and funds remaining; and

o where necessary, liaising with brokered service providers in partnership with the carer (for example, to assist the carer negotiate the provision of in-home respite at a time that suits them).

Ensuring services are delivered in a manner consistent with program Guidelines – CDRC operates under the NRCP. Centres need to ensure that respite services are carried out in accordance with the terms, conditions and requirements of the Funding Agreement. Centres are also required to comply with the Administrative and Program Guidelines for Respite Services funded under the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) and the Program Manual for Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres.

Flexible service delivery – Centres will need to be flexible in their approach to assisting CDRC package recipients, including assisting carers to access services from respite providers with which the Centre does not have an existing relationship.

Participation in evaluation activities – Centres must participate in evaluation activities as requested/directed by the Department.

2.2 Legislation

There are legal responsibilities in regard to operating a NRCP Respite Service.

Becoming the operator of a NRCP funded respite service means accepting the legalresponsibilities associated with setting up and administering the service. Service providers

must be incorporated under relevant State or Territory legislation and comply with all Australian Government, State/Territory and local government statutes, by laws and other prescribed requirements. This includes the requirement for the service to meet all their obligations in respect of all taxes, duties and government charges and appropriate insurances/s and to comply with legislation, standards and codes in relation to Risk Management and Work, Health and Safety.

For full details regarding these legal responsibilities, please refer to the National Respite for Carers Guidelines (NRCP Guidelines) and the Program Manual for Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres as replaced or updated from time to time.

2.3 The Community Care Common Standards (Common

Standards)

The participating Centre must undertake the Project in support of the aims of the CDRC, NRCP and CRCC programs and in accordance with the NRCP Guidelines and the Operational Manual, as replaced or updated from time to time.

In respect of respite funded through the National Respite for Carers Program, ‘the consumer’ of a respite service is the carer and the care recipient. The needs of both must be met in the provision of a service.

Service providers have the responsibility to provide services in accordance with the followingCommon Standards objectives:

Standard 1 Effective Management – The service provider demonstrates effective management processes based on a continuous improvement to service management, planning and delivery. As part of this there are eight expected outcomes:1.1 Corporate Governance1.2 Regulatory Compliance1.3 Information Management Systems1.4 Community Understanding and Engagement1.5 Continuous Improvement1.6 Risk Management1.7 Human Resource Manage1.8 Physical Resource

Standard 2 Appropriate Access and Service Delivery – Each service user (and prospective service user) has access to services and service users receive appropriate services that are planned, delivered and evaluated in partnership with themselves and/or their representative.

2.1 Service Access2.2 Assessment2.3 Care Plan Development and Delivery2.4 Service User Reassessment2.5 Service User Referral

Standard 3 Service User Rights and Responsibilities – Each service user (and/or their representative) is provided with information to assist them to make service choices and has the right (and responsibility to be consulted and respected. Services users (and/or their representative) have access to complaints and advocacy information and processes and their privacy and confidentiality and right to independence is respected.

3.1 Information Provision3.2 Privacy and Confidentiality3.3 Complaints and Service User Feedback3.4 Advocacy3.5 Independence

The Common Standards provide a common reference point for service agencies for internal quality control, monitoring and evaluation. They also provide the basis for evaluating the quality of services provided.

The Common Standards are based on a range of principles of good practice. They provide a common set of standards for Centres involved in service delivery to work towards. Some Centres will already have in place many of the policies and procedures required to meet the standards.

2.4 Accountability and Reporting

The reports required are specified in the Funding Agreement; and the participant Centre must provide the following reports and statements to the Department:

A Progressive Financial Accountability Report (PFAR), to be submitted within 30 days of the completion of the initial six month period of the Agreement, in the format provided by the Department;

An end of financial year Financial Accountability Report (FAR), as an End of Financial Year, to be submitted by 30 September at the end of each financial year of the period of the Agreement, in the format provided by the Department;

An end of financial year Service Activity Report (SAR), as an End of Financial Year Report, to be submitted by 30 July at the end of the financial year of the period of the Agreement, in the format provided by the Department;

A transition out plan, to be submitted within six months of the commencement of this project; and

Report in the Minimum Data Set (MDS), as outlined in the CRCC Operational Manual.

Centres with CDRC places will be required to participate in the Quality Reporting program. As specified in section 6.4 of the Centre Program Manual. The Quality Reporting process required providers to report on their systems for delivering services in accordance with the Community Care Common Standards. Information about Quality Reporting is available from the Department’s website.

The Quality Reporting Program also reports on police check requirements for all staff and unsupervised volunteers who have or are reasonably likely to have access to carers and care recipients through the Centres. Centres are required to ensure that staff and volunteers are assessed as suitable to work in the aged care service by obtaining a national criminal history record check (police check).

For further information about the requirement for police checks in aged care please contact the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 or follow the links at the Department of Health website.

2.5 Maintenance of Quality

Participating Centres will need to be vigilant in maintaining quality of care under consumer direction as more informal services (unfamiliar to the provider) may be selected by care recipients. To help monitor quality, the provider will be required to undertake quarterly care quality checks at the carer’s home.

3 CDRC Delivery Guidelines

3.1 Role of the CRCC

The role of the CRCC is to: undertake a needs assessment to identify services needed (and undertake

regular reassessment); develop a respite plan in consultation with the carer; administer the budget (pay invoices, provide monthly budget statements); provide advice on the formal and informal services available; and broker services – contact services and arrange visits etc.

3.2 Role of the Carer

The role of the carer is to: develop a respite plan and budget for the year, in consultation with the Centre; direct the Centre as to whom they wish to deliver their services; have input into any specific training to the workers employed (eg. specific to needs); follow up issues with Centres; and nominate a representative if required.

3.3 Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility for participation in CDRC is limited to carers who: care for frail older Australians 65 years or over, or 50 and over if Aboriginal or Torres

Strait Islander (including people with dementia and/or challenging behaviour); are assessed as being likely to benefit from increased choice over their carer

respite services; have a variety of service needs that maximise the choice that CDRC offers; willingly choose to participate; are assessed for their capacity to make informed decisions; are assessed as having the capacity and an ability to manage a CDRC approach

by an approved provider; and are willing to participate in the initiative’s evaluation.

NB: Under the NRCP Guidelines, there are other eligible target groups, such as: younger people (under 65, under 50 if Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander)

with moderate, severe or profound disabilities who are living at home; and people with a terminal illness in need of palliative care.

For these target groups, the Department would, in the first instance, encourage Centres to source alternate services for those carers. CDRC packages may be used for these groups where carers of frail older Australians 65 years or over, or 50 years and over if Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have not been identified.

3.4 Acceptance by CRCC

It is at the discretion of the Centre as to which carers they choose to receive a CDRCpackage, taking into consideration the eligibility criteria outlined above.

Once a person is assessed as eligible for a CDRC package, the prospective carer may be offered a package. The final decision to accept a person for a CDRC package remains with the participating Centre.

The result of an assessment, and the decision to approve or not approve the carer to receive aCDRC package, must be provided in writing.

3.5 Individual Respite Plans

The participating Centre and carer should develop a respite plan, which details the services needed and who will provide them. Carers should not be limited to choosing services from the Centre – alternative options could include informal services and other commercial organisations.

The model allows each carer that receives a CDRC package to receive an annual respite budget of $4,200. Carers will be provided with information regarding all appropriate respite services available so they can direct the Centre to spend their CDRC budget on the respite services of their choice.

Carers should be provided with options to withdraw from a CDRC package at any time, if they decide a consumer directed approach is not for them. These options should be discussed and clearly explained to the CDRC participant.

3.6 Development of Individual Respite Budgets

The participating Centre should assess the needs of the carer and help develop a budget for the carer based on those needs. Carers with the same or similar needs should receive comparable allocations of budgets and services by each Centre. Development of budgets should operate within the legislative constraints of the NRCP Guidelines and the CRCC Operational Manual.

Funds for an individual’s allocated budget will be drawn from the Centres income, which isobtained from government funding.

Centres must provide the carer with a monthly account balance, listing yearly expenditure to date and funds remaining.

Pooling of funds is allowed in CDRC to allow organisations to provide more services to a carer with greater needs only if another carer on a CDRC package has indicated that they will not require the whole CDRC budget. Pooling of funds should not occur to the detriment of any carer, whereby your organisation is unable to adequately support any one carer for eachof the allocated CDRC places.

Where a carer in receipt of a CDRC package decides to exit a package or no longer requires that package and the CDRC funds may not be expended, a Centre is able to use any remaining amount for another potential client. The Centre should devise a respite care plan that utilises the remaining funding amount only. However, Centres should not pool all ‘left over’ funding from an exited CDRC place to provide care to another carer at the expense of the other CDRC packages.

3.7 Administration

The participating Centre should administer the budget on behalf of the carer. Administration includes duties such as paying invoices, scheduling respite appointments with providers, and sending the career a monthly balance statement. Participating Centres will be provided an amount of funding for this service.

3.8 Service Types Supported

Under CDRC, the same respite service types that are currently available under the Centres and the NRCP program will be available.

Carers participating in the CDRC initiative are able to elect to utilise services from any of the Centres respite services. For example, a CDRC participant may elect to use a care worker from the organisations NRCP service.

Participating carers are also able to elect to utilise respite services from other organisations if they wish. It is the role of the Centre to organise subcontracting arrangements with these organisations. The Centre is responsible for organising the subcontracted respite services on the carers’ behalf.

The Centre will need to develop a Service Agreement with the organisations, outlining which services are to be provided. Further information on subcontracting arrangements are outlined in the Funding Agreement.

3.9 Service Delivery

While the nature of the respite services will vary depending on the carer’s individualsituation, Centres should be able to: explore more effective ways of empowering carers by allowing them – to the extent

they are capable and wish to do so – to actively choose the respite services they receive; and

decide who delivers the respite care and when.

Each package of services should be designed to meet the individual’s specific needs and take into account the particular circumstances of each carer.

NB: CDRC is primarily designed to provide planned respite episodes for the carer with a focus on direct respite services, while some indirect respite services can also be accessed.

CDRC funding is directed at the provision of respite care, rather than the provision of general domestic or household goods.

While aids and equipment can be included in a CDRC care plan as an indirect respite service, the aid or equipment must be directly related to the performance of the caring role. Aids or equipment being included as part of a CDRC care plan need to be assessed by an Occupational Therapist, Doctor, Physiotherapist or related health professional as contributing to the carer being able to maintain their part of the caring role and will need to be justified in the care plan.

Centres need to make their own decision concerning the appropriate split of direct and indirect respite services to be included in a CDRC package care plan. This must be made clear to the carer, keeping in mind the above mentioned advice.

Range of formal and informal services available through a CDRC package

Formal Services

A CDRC package may include any of the following: in home respite; day centre respite; host families; residential overnight cottages; support workers to assist you when you are taking a break away from home; and residential respite care.

While it is not stated that a carer in receipt of a CDRC package cannot access other services, it would be expected that a client would be receiving services through a CDRC package and not through another service, to avoid double dipping.

However, emergency respite may still be required in addition to this respite plan/package and should be provided in emergency situations regardless of whether the individual budget has financial capacity. There is no additional CDRC funding available to cover additional respite services. This must be accessed through the CRCC as per normal arrangements.

Informal Services

Informal services are those that may be provided by services already known to the carer and/or not currently employed by the approved provider. Informal services may include:

paying a taxi for transport to medical appointments or shopping; deliveries from the local store; and other private services suitable to meeting the carer’s assessed need.

For informal services, the same existing arrangements will apply in regard to worker’s compensation, police checks, insurances, superannuation, etc. Where applicable, Centres will need to seek their own advice from their own advisers (e.g. worker’s compensationauthorities, insurers, legal advisers, accountants) as to how those requirements apply to their particular circumstances.

The Department does not encourage carers to pay family and friends for services as part of this model. The CDC informal and formal support services should be designed to complement and supplement the assistance and support provided by family/carers, friends, social and community networks.

3.10 Maintaining Links and Partnerships

The provision of quality care and support to carers in receipt of a CDRC package will require partnership with a range of services and individuals such as:

respite services; informal support networks; other Centres and NRCP services; and residential respite providers.

These groups need to work effectively together by: case conferencing and case management; ongoing review, monitoring and adaptation of strategies according to changing

needs, conditions and circumstances; and up-skilling of care workers and case managers by liaising and engaging the

support of other health services, allied health and specialists.

3.11 Case Study 1 – how the model might work

Mrs Brown is a 74 year old carer of her 80 year old husband, who has dementia. She does her best to ensure that her husband’s needs are taken care of, which includes care and services through an EACHD package. Although the EACHD package provides care andservices to her husband, Mrs Brown finds it difficult to manage and at times finds it very hard to cope as a carer. At times Mrs Brown needs to rely on some emergency respite to help her manage the role of a full time carer.

Mrs Brown is also a very social and independent women, who likes to manage her own affairs, and would like to be able to continue to do so with some support. At times Mrs Brown is in needs of respite to attend a social event, deal with business matters or travel for family reasons and this is not always possible when she is caring for her husband.

The local CRCC has an allocation of CDRC packages, which would suit Mrs Brown’s needs, as she is capable of designing a respite plan that would suit those needs. This would ensure Mrs Brown is able to continue to care for her husband. The local CRCC conducts an assessment of Mrs Brown and deemed her suitable for a CDRC package, offers Mrs Brown a package and together devise a respite care plan. It is decided that Mrs Brown would benefit from planned respite episodes, whereby on set dates and times a care worker will come into the home to care for her husband while Mrs Brown is out, or planned residential respite overnight stays, so that she can attend social events and travel to visit family.

Mrs Brown has decided to use some of her CDRC packages for taxi vouchers to get her to and from her social events as required.

Mrs Brown has also elected to withhold some of the funds for emergency respite, for times when she feels she is not coping at home.

Mrs Brown’s respite budget is outlined below.

Service Type Level of Service (per year) Estimated Cost

Planned residential respite (high level care) 12 days $1,245.72

In-home respite care Once a fortnight for 3 hours $2,340

Taxi vouchers 10 trips at $25 per trip) $250

Emergency respite As needed $364.28

Total per year $4,200

3.12 Case Study 2 – how the model might work

Mr Green is a 70 year old carer of his 72 year old partner, who has had a stroke. Whilst Mr Green’s partner is able to complete many of his daily tasks, he has trouble with fine motor skills and needs to have his meals prepared for him, help to shower and get dressed. Mr Green is able to manage these tasks without any support most of the time, but will sometimes rely on neighbours and family to help when Mr Green himself is unable to be there for his partner. Mr Green has utilised respite services in the past, when they are affordable.

Mr Green likes to attend the Bowling Club on the weekends to remain social in his community. The Bowling Club travels on a quarterly basis to compete in the country. Mr Green would like to attend these trips. He would also like some time off from his caring role to visit family interstate for a few weeks. However, Mr Green does not have the funds to be able to both attend the Bowling Club trips and also to afford respite services for his partner while he is away.

The allocation of a CDRC package would enable Mr Green to attend his social club, visit his family and have peace of mind that his partner will be safe and cared for. Mr Green was assessed as eligible for a CDRC package, and has been accepted onto a package. Mr Green has designed a respite budget which suits his needs and utilises the respite services which he has grown to trust, and whose staff are associated with the Bowling Club and know Mr Green and his partner personally.

Mr Green would like to utilise planned Residential Respite, where his partner can stay when he is on a Bowling trip or visiting family. Mr Green would also like to use his package for in-home respite at planned intervals to attend events, to go shopping and to meet friends for extended periods, without needing to worry about his partner. Mr Green would also like toutilise his CDRC package to provide excursions and day trips for his partner, so that he is not stuck in the house all the time, and can also enjoy his friends and be engaged with the community. This would also give Mr Green an opportunity to have some time at home alone.

Mr Green has decided to use the remaining funds for emergency respite for both himself and his partner, for those times when they are not coping at home, and would benefit from a break. Mr Green’s respite budget is outlined below.

Service Type Level of Service (per year) Estimated Cost

Planned residential respite (high level care) 16 days $1,660.96

In-home respite care Once a fortnight for 2 hours $1,560.00

Out of home respite for partner Once a month for 2 hours $720.00

Emergency respite As needed $259.04

Total per year $4,200

4 Glossary

Term Interpretation

Care recipient

A person assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team as having significant care needs which can be appropriately met through the provision of community care and/or flexible care.

Carer

A family member, friend or neighbour, who provides regular and sustained care and assistance to a dependent family member or friend without payment for their caring role (a pension or benefit is not considered to be payment for the caring role). The assistance has to be ongoing, or likely to be ongoing, for at least six months and be provided for ‘everyday types of activities’. A care service provided by paid workers, or care provided by volunteers arranged by a formal service is not a ‘carer’ for the purpose of the NRCP.

Case management

Refers to assistance received by a carer with complex needs from a specific worker who is formally responsible for managing the assessment, planning, coordination, monitoring and reviewing of the delivery of community care services and supports across a range of agencies. Centres are not expected to undertake case management; however they may use their brokerage funds to fund a case manager where appropriate.

CDC Consumer Directed Care.

CDRC Consumer Directed Respite Care.

Centre Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre.

Cottage respite Refers to community based cottage-style respite for overnight or short stays.

CRCC Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre.

Department Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Direct respite services Agencies which are paid to provide respite care (defined below).

Emergency respite Immediate, time-limited break for carers who are unable to provide care due to an unforeseen crisis.

GP General Practitioner.

GST Goods and Services Tax.

Term Interpretation

Indirect respite care services

Services that provide the carer with assistance which relieves the carer of tasks other than the caring role, eg. provision of shopping or cleaning services, home modification, counselling, education and training. Indirect respite has a ‘respite effect’ by relieving the carer of some daily tasks; by meeting some of these needs , indirect respite assists the carer to continue in the caring role.

NRCP National Respite for Carers Program.

OH&S Occupational Health and Safety.

Planned respite Refers to scheduling respite in advance to allow the carer to arrange their breaks on predetermined dates. This planned respite could be one-off or regular.

Primary carer The person who provides the most informal assistance to a person who needs care. While it is recognised that family and/ or friends may share the care of a person who is aged or has a disability, one person must be identified as the primary carer for the purpose of data collection.

Respite care Care given as an alternate care arrangement with the primary purpose of giving the carer or care recipient a short term break from their usual care arrangement.

Respite plan A plan that identifies the needs of and proposed support for the carer including:

the carer’s respite needs support needs and options for the person who is

cared for proposed respite and carer support services family and community support available

emergency arrangements including where care could be provided and contact details of family and others.

Secretary Secretary of the Australian Government Department ofHealth and Ageing.