Waitlist Management
Due to the large number of children requiring our therapy services, Therapy Focus have implemented a Waitlist Management strategy to ensure services are accessed based on priority guidelines.
Why have a Waitlist?
Therapy Focus is contracted to provide children’s therapy services by the Disability Services Commission, which is a WA State Government Department.
Services are funded on a ‘place’ basis, whereby a ‘place’ is an allocation of funding which buys a set amount of therapist time. Each one ‘place’ comes with the expectation that approximately 1.0 - 1.4 children receive therapy.
In response to increasingly high demand for our therapy services, in excess of our place funding, Therapy Focus commenced a waitlist for Early Childhood Intervention and School Aged therapy services in early 2010.
Initially, this waitlist was used in conversations with the Disability Services Commission (our funding body) to illustrate the gap between demand for services and funding for services, and to support our application for additional funding / places.
Therapy Focus was then very pleased to secure additional funding shortly thereafter, and again in early January 2011. Unfortunately however, the demand for services continues to exceed what the State Government (our taxes) is able to fund.
Therapy Focus advises that the status of our contracts as of January 2012 are as follows:
ECI Metro- offering places to waitlisted children
ECI Peel/Waroona- offering places to waitlisted children
SA Swan- offering places to waitlisted children
SA Sub-Swan- offering places to waitlisted children
Canning- Full
West Coast. - Full
Therapy Focus advises that regardless of availability of contract places; referrals will continue to be accepted, processed for eligibility, and added to the associated waitlist.
For more information please read the Public Information Update for 2012.
How is the Waitlist managed?
Commencing January 2011, Therapy Focus has introduced a Priority System to manage our waitlist.
The Priority Categories are as follows:
4 = Urgent and critical need. Life threatening or existing injury to client / carer
3 = High need. Significant injury risk to client / carer or deterioration in health status
2 = Moderate need. Issues identified, functional impact identified, quality of life impacted
1 = Low need. Issues identified, however minimal functional impact (not reported to be impacting on quality of life).
When a ‘place’ becomes available, services will be offered to children and families based on a) their Priority and b) the date they were confirmed onto the waitlist.
If a ‘place’ continues to be unavailable, we will endeavour to offer links to community supports and information via our website, and on occasion may be able to extend invitations to our own therapy-based inclusion and participation groups.
The Priorities are determined based on information received on the Therapy Focus Referral Form, accompanying documents, and information updates provided by parents, carers, schools etc..
Can I alter my child’s position on the waitlist?
It is important that you keep us informed of any changes to your situation, particularly any changes to your child’s residential address or school. Updates regarding functional abilities or difficulties may also help us to review your Priority.
How can I find out more?
If you would like to know about your child’s position on our waitlist, please contact your local Therapy Focus Area Manager. Simply visit the Contact Us page to locate contact details.