CD008 – Supporting Transient HCP Consumers

This week, Carrie and Kell look at transient consumers. Who they are, why they are transient and how can you support them so that they are not hit with exit fees every time they move to a new location.

Who are Transient Consumers?

• People who live in remote areas and move around
• People who move between families
• People who travel frequently for pleasure or health

Reasons for Transience

• Cultural festivals (e.g. Wave Hill Walk Off and Garma Festival)
• Mainstream festivals and shows such as the Alice Springs and Katherine agricultural shows or the Art shows and festivals such as the Beanie festival
• Football and sports carnivals held on various communities
• Sorry business (Aboriginal ritual during the time of mourning)
• Cultural ceremonies (e.g. Men’s and Women’s business)
• Church gatherings (Easter festivals)
• Royalty meetings and Land Council meetings
• Changes in family support or dynamics
• Medical visits for the consumer or those they support (grandmothers caring for young children or those with a disability)
• Move between cold and warm climates for health reasons – eg cold weather might set off asthma or joint pain
• Family dynamics / shared care arrangements

The problem with transience for the consumer

If a consumer moves from one provider to another there are exit fees, this can add up if they are continually changing providers, so how can you address this?

Brokerage arrangements

Think of the package as a suitcase and inside the case are the building blocks that make up their care plan – personal care, transport, laundry, social support etc.

The suitcase has a bungy cord attached to it along with a number of other coloured ribbons which are attached to the building blocks

The consumer holds the suitcase – it’s their package

They hand the suitcase to an approved provider and maintain hold on the bungy cord – it is now up to the Approved Provider to link the building block (service) ribbons to either their own internal staff or other stakeholders or service providers to provide support.

As the consumer moves around they continue to retain a connection back to their package although the service provider ribbons may need to be reallocated to other support providers in the new location.

As the consumer moves around it is the responsibility of the Approved Provider to arrange continuous support.

Brokerage Costs

Brokerage costs can be higher so this needs to be factored into the consumers budget, however by working this way the individual saves on exit fees.

You can read the accompanying blog post on this topic here. It contains a number of examples that may assist in understanding how to use brokerage arrangements.

This podcast is part of series designed to support organisations in getting ready for, and working within, the Home Care Package reforms which will be implemented on the 27th February 2017. Other topics in the series include:

CD005 Increasing Choice at Home – an introduction to the reforms

CD006 Increasing Choices in Home Care – Debunking the Myths

CD007 Bringing Your Team Along – HCP Reforms 2017