Integration of aged services
Mitchell Shire Council, Victoria
Background
In 2001, Mitchell Shire Council and Mitchell Community Health examined the delivery of aged services in the community. The research highlighted:
- that a large number of aged services clients were common to both agencies
- many clients received a similar assessment from both agencies
- clients have separate records collected and maintained by each agency
- clients received a dual system for aged services with multiple invoices and coordination agencies.
In July 2005, Council transferred the Home and Community Care program and funding to Mitchell Community Health.
Initiative
The Integration of Aged Services is an innovative partnership between Mitchell Shire Council and Mitchell Community Health that aims to provide Aged Services across the Mitchell Shire as a single service. The Integration focuses on a range of aged services including home care, personal care, respite care, home maintenance, delivered meals, community aged packages, veterans home care services, planned activity group, allied health services (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech pathology) and district nursing.
Planning for Integration of Aged Services included:
- visiting council's that had outsourced home care
- negotiating terms of the integration agreement with Mitchell Community Health
- meeting with staff to obtain feedback and keep them informed
- surveying staff to inform the integration process
- meeting with unions to negotiate "transmission of business" issues
- negotiating with Department of Human Services and other auspice agencies to re-auspice services to Mitchell Community Health
- visiting 500 clients to explain the integration in person
- reengineering administration and software systems
- working with corporate support staff such as finance and payroll to implement the transfer
- publicising the integration in the local community.
The integration process also involved transferring the operation, up to 80% of staffing and all funding for Council's aged services, to Mitchell Community Health Services.
Achievements
The Integration of Aged Services provides the following enhanced outcomes for aged services clients in the Mitchell Shire:
- A more efficient way of accessing services by providing a single point of contact and a common assessment.
- Reduced duplication of effort by developing a single client file and single invoicing system.
- Improved coordination of aged services, including individual care planning and coordination, by providing aged services through a sole Agency.
- Increased service delivery by achieving administrative efficiencies.
- A greater focus on health promotion.
Contact for further information
- Jenny Buckingham
- Project Officer
- 72 Ferguson Street
- Broadford VIC 3658
- Tel: 03 5784 5590
- Fax: 03 5784 3314
- Email: jennyb@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au
