clientservices<strong>Novita</strong>’s name is derived fromthe Latin words – ‘nova’(new) and ‘vita’ (life). It isa name that represents hope,achievement and aspiration forour clients and their families.Government policy directions atfederal and state level, includingthe endorsement of a NationalDisability Insurance Scheme(NDIS) and personalised fundingpackages, are creating anexciting environment of hopeand aspiration for families withchildren with disabilities. Theseinitiatives will support families inhaving more control and choiceover how to support their childrenin achieving maximum potentialin their lives. This has providedrenewed stimulus and energywithin <strong>Novita</strong>’s Client Services inrelation to how the Division shouldbest evolve: how, where, when andwhat services should be provided,and in a manner that is valuedby current and future clients andtheir families. Concurrent withthese developments, evolutionand improvement discussionsand planning, service deliveryin children’s and communityprograms has continued to grow.Highlights and achievementsService delivery commenced forchildren eligible for early interventionfunding via the AustralianGovernment’s Better Start forChildren with a Disability initiative.Through this service, children agedsix with a diagnosis of cerebralpalsy, Down syndrome, sight orhearing impairment or Fragile Xsyndrome can access physiotherapy,occupational therapy and speechpathology up to a maximum of$6,000 per year. Currently 96children are registered with <strong>Novita</strong>’sBetter Start Program. Of these, 76are current <strong>Novita</strong> clients who alsoaccess services as part of <strong>Novita</strong>’sEarly Childhood Services.In December 2011, 33 childrenfrom the Home Interaction Programfor Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY)were presented with their graduatingcertificates from the Early ChildhoodEnrichment Program. <strong>Novita</strong> wasvery pleased to learn in early May<strong>2012</strong> that the Australian Governmentwill continue to fund all current sites,as well as extend this program to50 new sites in Australia.More than 200 new childrenwere welcomed into <strong>Novita</strong>’s EarlyChildhood Service, Child andAdolescent Service (CAS), andRegional Programs over the lastyear. Overall, <strong>Novita</strong> continued toprovide therapy, equipment andfamily support to more than 2,000children during 2011-12. Servicesaim to facilitate and equip eachfamily with the skills, knowledge,equipment and communityconnections necessary to supporttheir child achieve maximum-levelindependence and quality of life.Assessments, reviews and serviceplanning are conducted bymulti-disciplinary teams ofoccupational therapists, speechpathologists, psychologists, socialworkers, physiotherapists, andfamily support coordinators, inpartnership with clients and theirfamilies. Improving the timelinessand responsiveness of serviceprovision is a priority. One-on-oneservices are enhanced by adiverse range of group programs,which include:• Babies and Toddlers• Planning for Preschool• Mini-Movers• Getting Ready for School• PlayGroup• Handwriting/Pre-writing• Splashers• Transition to High School• Move ‘n’ Groove• Siblings• Toilet Time• Movie Club• Sleepwise• Transition to Adult Services• Hanen - It Takes Two to TalkListening to consumers is a key18novita children’s serivces annual report
highlight01commencement of servicesto children eligible for earlyintervention funding via thefederal government’s betterstart for children with adisability initiative.highlight02more than 200 new childrenwelcomed into the earlychildhood, child andadolescent, and regionalprograms over the past year.highlight0333 five-year-olds of the homeinteraction program forparents and youngsters(hippy) were presented withtheir graduating certificatesin december 2011.value of <strong>Novita</strong>. A review of CASwas undertaken in response to astrong message from parents inrelation to waiting times for services,quantity and frequency of servicesand a preference for <strong>Novita</strong> staff toinitiate regular contact and followup, rather than wait for a parent torequest a service.This review explored withparents, clients and otherconsumers in more detail theirneeds and wants for CAS into thefuture. It also analysed servicedelivery for efficiency improvements,and investigated models of servicedelivery used interstate and overseasfor children of school age. <strong>Novita</strong>looks forward to implementingimprovements in response tolearnings from this process.The CAS review is only oneexample of Client Services’commitment to listening to theconsumers’ voices. As a result offeedback conveyed by <strong>Novita</strong>’sConsumer Reference Group, theParent-to-Parent visitor programwill be reinvigorated. Parents in theConsumer Reference Group arekey drivers of this service innovation.In addition, improving thetimeliness and efficiency of clientservice provision is a key priority.Two examples include theimplementation of the innerregionalservice team, and theincreasing emphasis on <strong>Novita</strong>-sitetherapy provision. Inner-regionalteams covering the Adelaide Hills,Fleurieu Peninsula and inner-northareas have been formed to increaseaccessibility to <strong>Novita</strong> services forclients living in these areas and toreduce the number of therapistsinvolved in extended travel.Several consumer feedbackmechanisms have provided astrong message that the majorityof parents support more therapybeing provided in communitybasedservice sites, and less in thehome environment, if it results ingreater accessibility to a greaterquantum of therapy. As a result,Client Services is progressing to amodel which balances the elementsof service provision in a child’senvironment, namely home,kindergarten or school, with <strong>Novita</strong>site-based therapy services. Withthis goal in mind, a number of <strong>Novita</strong>site clinics and services have beenintroduced in the last year.A significant developmentwithin the South Australian disabilitysector over the past year has beenthe transfer of responsibility for allcomplex items of equipment forchildren and adults, which will nowbe funded, managed, stored,cleaned, maintained and issuedfrom the central base of the SouthAustralian Government’s DomiciliaryEquipment Service (DES) at Netley.Preparations for staged transferare advanced and will be completedin readiness for the <strong>2012</strong>-13financial year. <strong>Novita</strong>’s EquipmentService staff, as well as designatedtherapists from other serviceareas, will focus on assessmentand prescription of equipment,home modifications and mobilitysupports. The responsibility forpurchase and acquisition of theequipment will belong with DESfrom 1 July <strong>2012</strong>.Client Services has seencontinued growth in client numbersin the Early Intervention Programfor Children with Autism, theOutside School Hours Careprograms and numbers of childcare centres seeking support fromthe Inclusion Support Service inthe northern areas.Physical Rehabilitation andAcquired Brain Injury staff continueto experience increases in demandfor their services, as medical andsurgical interventions for childrenwith rehabilitation needs continueto advance and evolve. Striving toimprove continuity of care with theWomen’s and Children’s HealthNetwork Paediatric RehabilitationMedical staff and Allied Healthstaff is a priority.In March <strong>2012</strong>, Client Serviceswelcomed Community Choices toits suite of services. Since 1996,Community Choices has providedin-home personal care, respite,accommodation support, recreationactivities and day options programsfor teenagers and adults withdisabilities. Community Choiceshave facilities in metropolitanAdelaide and in the country. <strong>Novita</strong>staff look forward to working withCommunity Choices staff toprovide further supports for peoplewith disabilities, to enable them toparticipate in their communitiesand enjoy enriched quality of life.A Communication and AssistiveTechnology Service project todesign a service model for adultsand children was commenced latein 2011. <strong>Novita</strong> was identified asthe lead agency in this developmentprocess. Key recommendationsare being finalised with a view toimplementation upon receipt offunding during <strong>2012</strong>-13.novita children’s serivces annual report 19