 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
SERVICE
AND SUPPORT COMMITMENT
STRATEGIC DIRECTION:
Continuing to a leading support organisation in the disability sector in the
Inner West of Sydney is the strategic direction of FRANS for 2006-2010.
This will be made possible through the dedication of staff and Board Members
of FRANS who both develop and implement our mission.
OUR
PURPOSE:
Provide
To continue and extend the provision of family/carer and person-focused
inclusive respite and recreation that meets individual need both today
and in planning for the future.
Foster
To encourage and maintain community involvement in assisting people with
disabilities to live active, happy and independent lives.
Value
To treat all people with respect and dignity, focussing on one’s
abilities as well as disabilities and to celebrate how all individuals contribute
to the diversity of life.
Resource
To support people with disabilities and their families/carers in accessing
information, equipment and services through FRANS and its support network.
OUR
CORE VALUES:
Abilities
We acknowledge and actively support one’s
abilities as well as disabilities.
Diversity
We recognise, celebrate and support the diversity within our society.
Commitment
We are committed to supporting people with disabilities and their families/carers
by adhering to service standards and continuing to improve our support
programs.
Inclusion
We strive to broaden one’s access to their environment through community-based
programs and community involvement. We advocate involvement of people
with disabilities in enjoyable recreation activities and encourage social
connection.
INDIVIDUAL
RESPITE PROGRAM
The FRANS Individual Respite Program provides flexible respite options for families with a peson with a disability (participant) requiring one-to-one support. Care arrangements are tailored to meet the needs of the participant as well as their carer or family. Care can take place across a variety of setting including the family home or in the community, and it may take place at various times throughout the day, week or year.
Participants are aged from 0-65 years and must live in the Inner West of Sydney. The Program currently provides respite for 58 families, 61 participants.
The Program is designed to support families/carers where need has been identified. The program aims to maintain and strengthen the relationship between the person with a disability and their carer and family. It also aims to provide social,recreational and educational benefit to participants. Familes may even choose to undertake activities together.
The Individual Respite Program allows familes/carers to choose how to use their respite so that their individual family/carer needs are best met.
Assessments for Respite Packages
- Existing service users as well as those on the waiting ist are assessed.
- Annual assessments consist of a meeting that can take place in the family/carer home, at the FRANS office, or at a community venue of the carer’s choice and the aim is to identify need.
Allocations
On completion of assessments, respite packages are allocated based on a strict formula according to need.
Respite Packages
Respite service commences 1 st July each year and ends 30 th June the following year.
Respite Coordinators
Each family/carer has a respite Coordinator who works with them to coordinate and manage their respite package.
Referrals
Families can self refer, or they can be referred by another service provider.
Support Workers
Support Workers are employed based on their work experience and qualifications. The aim is always to make sure the Support Worker can provide quality respite so that primary carers can relax whilst FRANS workers are with the care recipient.
How Families Use Their Respite
In Home Respite – FRANS workers can take the participant to the local area or stay at home and play games, drawings, etc. We work closely with the family/carers to ensure we incorporate their needs.
Community Access
We take participants to a wide range of community venues, including parks, community groups, discos, social venues etc.
Aged Carer Support Program (New) June 2006
Purpose
To increase access to respite services for carers aged 65 years and over who care for a person with a disability.
To provide meaningful and positive activities and experiences for individuals with a disability in respite care.
Aims and Objectives
The Ageing Carers Respite Program is provided under the Individual Respite Program of FRANS for families who live in the Inner West area of Sydney.
This program provides flexible respite options for carers aged 65 years and over who care for a person with a disability. The Individual Respite Program allows families/carers to choose how to use their respite so that their individual family/carer needs are best met.
FRANS aims to provide a range of respite service types in order to ensure flexibility.
Care Packages
Each Respite Package is for a total of 168 hours (equivalent to 1 week of 24/7) which can be used in various combinations.
Respite can occur in a combination of settings including own home, host family and peer support respite.
Program Eligibility
Carers are required to be aged 65 years and over. (Those of ATSI descent 45 years & over).
Carers aged 70 years and over and those of ATSI descent are eligible for 4 care packages per year
Carers aged 65—69 years are eligible for 2 care packages per year
Assessments
All families/carers are assessed for service
A detailed respite plan will be developed. Topics identified include:
Need
Agreed respite options and time frames
Roles and responsibilities of those involved in the provision of respite care
Referrals
Families can self refer, or they can be referred by another service provider.
PROGRAM AIMS
•
To
provide Carers with regular breaks from their full-time caring roles.
•
To
enhance and strengthen relationships by providing support for families
to enjoy events together or for parents to spend time with siblings or
each other.
•
To
provide meaningful respite activities for Participants, with a focus on
building real relationships.
FAQS
•
What
is Individual Respite?
Individual Respite is respite provided to families/carers on an individual
basis. It provides one to one support for people with disabilities with
the purpose of giving Carers a break. It can be provided in-home, in the
community, to support family outings or to help attend appointments.
•
How
do obtain Individual Respite?
Most referrals come to FRANS through the Inner West Carer Respite Centre’s
central referral system, Tab 2. You can ring the FRANS office directly
to arrange a referral.
•
What
can Individual Respite Workers do?
FRANS Individual Respite Support Workers are able to undertake a variety
of activities. The activity chosen must focus on the needs and interests
of the person they are supporting. The workers may work in-home, assist
with family outings, or they may go out with the participant.
FRANS workers do not do house work, shopping or other domestic tasks which
are not focused on the Participant.
•
What
do I pay?
FRANS families are asked to pay Service User Fee of $240 for individuals or $300 for families (multiple Participants) per year. Families must provide meals for their participant, or money to purchase lunch
when out. Families/carers also pay for the cost of activity for the participant during outings, although
this can be negotiated. FRANS covers the the cost of Support Workers.
•
Can
I change plans or arrangements made for respite care?
FRANS recognises that life does not always happen as planned. Arrangements
can be made in advance or on a week to week basis. If changes need to
be made, Carers can call the office and discuss what is needed. FRANS
Coordinators will do their best to rearrange staff, but it can not guarantee
that workers will be available at short notice.
• Can FRANS Support Workers look after siblings too?
FRANS cannot care for siblings under 12, over 12 may be in the home during care but FRANS does not provide direct care or support for these children.
•
How
long is a respite shift?
Shifts are normally arranged between 3-5 hrs. If shifts requested go longer 5 hours, a break of 1/2 hour must be incorporated into the shift.
•
Can
I take Support Workers on holiday with me?
If Support Workers accompany holidays with families/carers it raises many OH&S
concerns as well it has employment condition implications. For these reasons
this practice is not encouraged by FRANS.
Back
to Top of this Section
Back
to Top
COMMUNITY
ACCESS PROGRAM
(Frequently Asked Questions?)
The FRANS Community Access Program provides respite to 130-150 families/primary
carers living in Sydney’s Inner West.
This program offers fun recreational and social activities for children,
teenagers and adults with disabilities.
The aim of the program is to provide families/primary carers with respite
from their full time caring roles at the same time facilitating peer and
social interaction for their dependants by providing various age appropriate
and culturally sensitive recreational programs in the community.
The PROGRAMS:
•
The
Acorns (0-9year olds who go out at weekends and during
the school vacations) Contact: Aisha
•
The
Oaks (10-13 year olds who go out at weekends and
during the school vacations) Contact: Aisha
•
The
Crew (13-15 year olds who go out at weekends and during
the school vacations) Contact: Aisha
•
The
Schoolies (16-18 year olds who go out at weekends and during
the school vacations) Contact: Mishel
•
The
Ragers (18-35 year olds who go out at weekends)
Contact: Mishel
•
The
New Adults on the Block (18-35 year olds who go out at
weekends) Contact: Mishel
•
The
Burwood Coffee Club (35-65 year olds who go out at weekends)
Contact: Aisha
•
The
Easy Travellers (35 – 65 year olds who go out on Tuesdays)
Contact: Mishel
•
The
Follies (18-65 year olds who go out on Thursdays)
Contact: Aisha
• Cats (Centre based Childrens weekend program) Contact: Aisha
• Stars (Centre based teenagers weekend program) Contact: Mishel
• FRANS Soccer Club (weekend casual outdoor soccer club) Contact: Rebecca
• FRANS Fitness Club (Thursday evening swimming group) Contact: Rebecca
PROGRAM AIMS:
•
To
provide age appropriate recreational activities for children, adolescents
and adults with a disability whilst providing respite for their families/carers.
•
To
give people with a disability an opportunity to experience new activities
in a safe and supported environment.
•
To
encourage and enhance peer interaction, peer support, independence and
social inclusion within the community.
•
To
encourage choice where appropriate and promote the importance of leisure.
•
Most
importantly, to have fun!
How the Program operates:
Most Community Access Programs are funded by both State Government (the
Department of Disability and Home Care) and Commonwealth Government (Department
of Family and Community Services). These bodies stipulate clearly the
guidelines we must follow when providing respite to families/primary carers
such as age of the participants accessing the program.
FRANS also raises funds through trusts, foundations
and corporations. These programs are slightly differently to the government
funded programs in that guidelines are stipulated internally and not
by the funding bodies.
All of our programs take place within the local community. The programs
are not ‘centre-based’, however some activities take place at
local hired venues should the nature of the activity planned require such
a venue.
The programs aim to assists participants in accessing all recreational
facilities in the local and wider community.
Participants meet at designated meeting place at the start of an activity. Depending
on the program participants are either met by their families/primary carers
at the same meeting spot at the end of the activity or are dropped home
by FRANS Support Workers. Participants and their families/carers provide
transport to and from an activity, but in cases where this is not possible,
FRANS Support Workers are able to assist with transportation.
FAQ’s:
•
Is
there a cost to join FRANS Community Access Programs?
YES, a service user fee is payable by all participants the fee is $240 for individuals or $300 for families (multiple participants) per year.
Alternatively,
Participants/Families can pay either a $50 or $60 initial payment respectively and be invoiced @ $1.50 per hour on a quarterly basis. The maximum payable in any year is as per annual fee.
Community Access Participants are asked for a contribution to cover the cost of each activity (this is separate from the Service User Fee).
Any unspent money gets banked and put back into service delivery in the
form of ‘one off’ outings, such as, camps and discos.
•
What
types of disabilities do your programs cater for?
The program is funded to provide respite to families/carers who care for
people with any type of disability. Most of our participants have an intellectual
disability.
•
How
many activities can I attend?
The amount of activities you can book into is outlined on your program
which you receive by mail.
•
Who
do families/primary carers contact in an emergency?
The team leader for the day always carries the program mobile on every
outing. This number is on your program.
•
Once
I am offered a place on your program am I there indefinitely?
No, you sign a service agreement on entry into the program which is reviewed
annually.
•
How
many Support Workers work on a program?
All programs are adequately staffed to meet the needs of the participants.
Adults usually have 3 support workers supporting 10 participants, but
this ratio is higher for the children and adolescent programs.
•
How
many participants go out on a particular activity?
There is a limit of 6 spaces on children's programs, 8 spaces for
teenagers’ programs and 10 spaces for adults’ programs.
•
How
do I book into my chosen activities?
You can ring us Monday to Friday during normal business hours and your
contact person at the office can book you into your program. You will
then be sent a letter of booking confirmation.
FRANS United Soccer
FRANS operates two casual outdoor soccer groups on Saturdays mornings from April-October. The kids soccer group focuses on building skills, learning the rules of the game and the concept of team play. The kids learn passing, defending and positioning through training practise and play. Parents and carers are encouraged to help their child on the field to learn the concepts of the game and sustain their attention on the play. Siblings are welcome to play as well.
The adult group plays a friendly match each week, dividing the teams equally and adjusting the length of the field according to how many are playing. There is often a chance to socialise afterward and frequently the both groups have a sausage sizzle as well. The emphasis is on fitness, friendship and fun.
Entry:
Attendance is casual. Players are encouraged to come whatever weeks they are able to make it. However, regular attendance is most welcome. Kids group is from 10:30-11:30 and the adults from 11:30-1:00pm.
Fees:
There are no fees to join FRANS United.
ABILITY PROGRAM
The FRANS Ability Program (formerly known as the Inclusion Program) delivers an innovative variety of services designed to enhance the participation of children and young adults with disabilities in childhood services, adult employment and the wider community generally. The philosophy that drives the Inclusion Program is that by building strengths and greater independence early, the child or young adult of today will become the more active citizen of tomorrow, one able both to participate in and to contribute to the wider community. The Ability Program consists of:
• Teenage Independence Group (TIG) (Ages14-18)
• FRANS Community Participation Program (School leavers)
• Carer Learning and Support Project (C.L.A.S.P.) (Carers of all ages)
• Teenage OOSH Program (TOP) (Ages 11-16)
While these programs are variously funded, they share the common goal of assisting the participant to be involved as much as possible in the wider community in age-appropriate, confidence building and skill developing activities. CLASP, while designed for Carers, also has an educational focus.
THE PROGRAMS
Community Participation (CP)
FRANS offers a Community Participation program designed to assist people with a disability who have recently left high-school make the transition to adult life. Through funding from the NSW Government, FRANS offers an innovative service that provides practical training on an individual or group basis. Participants learn to improve a range of daily living skills including using public transport and handling money as well as skills to lead a more satisfying recreational life.
Entry:
Existing Community Participation participants or participants in Transition to Work programs provided by other services may apply to transfer their funding to the FRANS program.. Contact the Ability Team Manager beforehand to arrange a meeting to discuss any possible transfer.
Teenage Independence Group (TIG)
The Teenage Independence Group is an educational recreation program designed to support teenagers with disabilities by enhancing their skills for leading a more active recreational life. It operates on weekend and school holidays and is for teenagers aged 14-18. The program teaches practical skills (money handling, use of public transport etc) directly in the community on outings. It is designed for teenagers eager to learn key social skills, expand their circle of friends and learn how to get out and about in Sydney.
Entry:
This is a pilot project, running with a group of interested teenagers. Application to join the group should be made directly to the Manager, FRANS Ability Program.
Fees:
Participants pay only the costs related to the activities on their outings.
Contact Person: Acting Manager: Stefanie Pillora - 9797 5310 or
Coordinators: Yvette Proud, Matthew Parsons – 9799 4333
Email at:stefanie.pillora@frans.com.au or yvette.proud@frans.com.au
Carer Learning Training and Support Project (C.L.A.S.P.)
The CLASP program is funded by NSW Health. It provides educational workshops and training programs for carers. Workshops are designed by the FRANS CLASP Coordinator in consultation with carers. The aim is to identify the specific needs of carers in the Inner-West of Sydney for learning and support. CLASP seminars and workshops address a wide range of topics that meet the identified interests and needs of the carer community. Examples of topics include Challenging behaviour, and Guardianships Wills and Trusts
Entry:
Carers should contact the CLASP Coordinator if interested in attending a specific CLASP workshop. The topics of upcoming CLASP seminars and workshops are advertised in the FRANS newsletter, within FRANS generally and promoted throughout the greater network of service providers and agencies in the Inner West of Sydney.
Teenage OOSH Program (TOP)
The Teenage OOSH Program (TOP) is an afternoon educational recreation program designed to assist teenagers with disabilities learn to do community based activities independently. It operates two afternoons per week during school terms and is for teenagers aged 11-15. The program teaches practical skills (money handling, use of public transit etc) directly in the community. It is designed for teenagers eager to learn to use public transport in their neighbourhoods, build key social skills, expand their circle friends and discover what there is available to do in the community in the afternoons (and how to get back home afterward). In 2007 the program will be offered at Marrickville High School.
Entry:
Participants in this program must be students at Marrickville High. FRANS hopes to be able to offer this program at other high schools in the Inner West of Sydney if funding becomes available. Application to join the group should be made directly to the Ability Program Manager.
Fees for FRANS’ Ability Programs
A service user fee is payable by participants in all the above programs except for the CLASP program. The fee is $240 for individuals or $300 for families (multiple participants) per year. Alternatively, Participants/Families can pay either a $50 or $60 initial payment respectively and be invoiced @ $1.50 per hour on a quarterly basis. The maximum payable in any year is as per annual fee.
Back
to Top of this Section
Back
to Top
FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FAP)
AIM
FRANS is seeking to address the combined impacts of poverty and the care of people with disabilities and aims to provide financial assistance to participants (in some cases) and/or their families and carers by facilitating quick access to much needed funds in the form of a direct contribution or a no interest loan. This would allow the participant and/or the family and or carer to maintain their independence and provide necessary equipment, treatments etc... This has been identified as a significant unmet need as the expenses of having a disability or caring for someone who has a disability can be quite significant. Through financial assistance, FRANS will support and promote the well being of participants and their families and carers.
RATIONALE
It has been consistently documented that there is a strong link between poverty and disability as a direct consequence of the often significant additional expenditure associated with caring for a person with a disability, expenditure which is only partially met through existing government or non-government services. This gap in availability of service could be met through direct purchase from a private fee-for-use service deliverers but this is entirely out of question for carers/families that are operating at or near the poverty level as defined in Australia. A community-based model of financial support such as Financial Assistance Program is therefore a critical link in the deficiencies in service delivery and is clearly an innovative support model.
As well as researching the correlation between disability and financial hardship, the FAP will incorporate reviewing current NILS programs operating within the community sector and adapting these models to FRANS participants needs/situation. Also, the program will establish guidelines, application forms, eligibility criteria, approval of grants processes etc for the FAP incorporating the NILS and “Trust” categories.
This will be a very important program to enable FRANS to assist these participants and families to maintain a quality of life that is equal to that of all people regardless of their financial situation.
STRUCTURE
FAP has two components which are:
FRANS NILS (No-interest loan scheme) is a non-interest loan given to either participants or their carers and families which allows them the opportunity to repay the loan over an agreed upon time period.
FRANS “TRUST” is a one off non repayable contribution given to participants or their carers or families to assist them in their daily tasks of caring for a person with a disability.
The program will:
Enable participants, families or carers to access the appropriate treatments, equipment, medications that are required by the person with the disability.
Provide assistance to those families/ carers who are declined a loan from the bank
Provide loans to families and carers of FRANS clients who need financial assistance and find it hard to cope with the expenses of having a disability or caring for someone who does.
Enhance the participant’s opportunities to engage with the community via equipment, medication, and treatment needs being met.
To enhance the individuals well being by providing the means of some form of independence.
Funds received for this purpose will be kept in a separate account which will be disbursed through the decision of a Committee made up of a Program Manager, the FRANS Finance Manager and an external representative. This Committee will meet on an as needs basis. Applications will be means tested and all information kept strictly confidential.
Contact Person: John Fell 97975302