Self-assessment tool

Welcome to the self-assessment tool

The self-assessment is a quick checklist to identify your strengths and weaknesses and help you decide where your efforts will make the most difference to the care you provide. It will also give you ideas!

STEP 1 - Answering yes or no/unsure

Each statement seeks a response from the LHD about recommended actions to build capability in health services for people with ID. The areas for action are categorised into nine domains. Don't be deterred by the number of actions. The self-assessment will enable choices about where to focus for a change at any point in time.

STEP 2 - Deciding where to make change

Analyse the types of responses under each domain. Decide whether you are going to focus on areas of strength or weakness and how these align with your disability inclusion action plan, and other identified areas, resources, priorities and strategic planning.

You might decide at this point in time to work on the key (high priority) action under each domain or you might decide to begin by concentrating on just one area for action (for example mental health) and identify three actions to implement in that area.

The actions have been prioritised using colour to assist with decision-making:

Key (high priority)
Second level of importance
Third level of importance

STEP 3 - Using the listed resources to support implementation

Once you have decided where to focus your effort for change, whether it is to build on identified strength or weakness, the recommended supports and resources will be useful.

Some have been developed by the ID Health Network and others by our partners. Some are templates, pathways or tools and some are more general guidance. They are updated on a regular basis as new tools become available, and as the NDIS is rolled out across NSW.

In the process of building capability, you may develop your own tools, supports and resources or adapt those already available to meet local need.

What does my result from the self assessment look like and who can see it?

You can complete as many of the nine areas for action as you choose. You are emailed a result for each one and for each time you complete it. The score is for your benefit. ACI does not keep a record of results. You might use your score to help decide on where to concentrate your efforts. You might also use your results to track improvement and report against results in your Disability Action Plan or Standard 2 in ACHS accreditation.

The self assessment tool

To begin, please click an action area below you would like to focus on.

Workforce actions are concerned with building the capacity of the health workforce to understand and respond to the health needs of people with intellectual disability. This includes the sharing of expertise and resources between specialist and mainstream services, including primary care. Such sharing is particularly important where multiple and complex conditions are involved. This section seeks to understand the level of responsiveness and skills of your current workforce with respect to people with ID.

Communication actions are concerned with ensuring that those involved in support of the person can facilitate the provision of the most appropriate supports to meet the individual's health care needs.

Data actions allow information to be shared, with consent, with all parts of the system as needed to deliver integrated care to people with ID. It also supports research, evaluation and data collection to underpin evidence-based service improvements and identification of gaps in health care supports.

Systems actions are concerned with system-wide elements which can support health care planning and implementation. Key principles include Person Centred care, Integrated care; access to care delivered close to the person's home, and maximising existing service networks and systems for the benefit of people with ID.

Mental health Health supports for people with ID who also have mental illness are more complex. This impacts both the services and supports required to directly manage the person's mental illness and extends to the management of their physical health issues. These actions address this complexity.

Hospitalisation NSW Health Policy Directive "Responding to Needs of People with Disability during Hospitalisation" includes guidelines on discharge planning, the role of carers, the use of local protocols between hospitals and disability service providers, patient consent and the use of various communication tools. These actions address LHD responses to each of these issues.

Integrated within NSW Health NSW Health Policy Directive
"Responding to Needs of People with Disability during Hospitalisation" includes guidelines on discharge planning, the role of carers, the use of local protocols between hospitals and disability service providers, patient consent and the use of various communication tools.

Integration with external services An important Health Service Principle (see The ESSENTIALS) speaks to the value of partnership with other government and non-government agencies in supporting the health outcomes of people with ID. Such partnerships can enhance access to care, establish pathways of care and follow-up and are addressed in these actions.

Specialised health services Specialised multidisciplinary ID health teams currently exist in different areas of NSW with different models of service delivery.
Specialised multidisciplinary ID health teams are a backbone strategy in provision of quality health services for people with an ID. They do this both through direct services provision and consultancy and education to mainstream health providers.