4.5.20.5 Determines liability
Within 10 days of receiving the ADL Activities of daily living (OT Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to or are expected to do or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement .) assessment, the Agent must make the decision to approve or reject the request for household help services and send a standard letter to the worker and the worker’s treating health practitioner advising them of the decision.
Decision
Where services have been approved, a copy of the letter should be sent to the service provider advising them of the approval period and enclosing the relevant authorisation list/s:
- housework tasks authorisation lists and cost/service guidelines
- gardening tasks authorisation lists and cost/service guidelines.
4.5.20.6 Reviews household help services
A review of services is required when:
- the service review/end date is approaching
- household circumstances have changed
- information indicates that a worker’s capacity has changed, eg a change in the worker’s:
- medical status
- ability to manage tasks independently
- entitlements to weekly payments or particular medical services or treatment.
Where short-term household help has been approved the Agent should review the services two weeks prior to the expiry of the approval.
Approval period
This table provides a guide to when household help services should be reviewed in all other circumstances.
| Type of condition | Review Services | Maximum Approval Period |
|---|---|---|
| Recent injuries where progressive recovery is anticipated or OT services are expected to improve independence | Every 3 months (12 weeks) | 12 weeks |
| Stable injuries where independence has been maximised and an Occupational Therapist has confirmed that services are required long-term |
4 weeks prior to the approval end date or where there are changes to a worker’s injury, entitlement or household circumstances |
12 months |
| Severe or complex injuries where further functional restoration is unlikely and worker has gained maximum independence, eg quadriplegia or severe ABI | 12 monthly | 12 months |