Accessing Services

Accessing Services

For people under 65 years of age

Contact the Pyrenees Shire Council Community Care Department to speak with us and find out more about what we do and how we might be able to help you. We will ask you some questions to see if you are eligible for services.

If you are eligible for any of our services, we will visit you at home to discuss your needs in more detail. We will also look at your home and make sure it is safe for you and our staff.

A support plan may be developed with you depending on the services you receive and the level of support you need. The support plan will identify your support needs and goals, and how these can be met to maintain your independence and wellbeing.

 

For people over 65 years of age

Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, or visit the My Aged Care Website as www.myagedcare.gov.au

 The My Aged Care contact centre operates during the following hours:

  • Monday - Friday 8am - 8pm
  • Saturday 10am - 2pm

 If you need an interpreter, call 131 450 and ask for 1800 200 422.

My Aged Care will discuss your eligibility and requirements and may arrange a home visit with an assessor to discuss your needs in more detail, including your support needs and goals and how these can be met to maintain your independence and wellbeing.

The PCC team aims to provide services for the following special needs groups: People from a non-English speaking background.

  • Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
  • Persons suffering from dementia or other relation disorders.
  • People who experience or are at risk of homelessness.
  • Frail, aged and other people with disabilities living in remote and isolated situations.
  • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.
  • Care Leavers.
  • Forced Adoption.
  • Financially disadvantaged.

Individuals who fall within the special needs groups do not receive preference for service provision, however a range of strategies may be provided to improve their access to services and information including interpreters or other considerations.

Support and Service Delivery Plans

Client requirements along with their Support and Service Plans are monitored regularly and reviews conducted periodically.

Support Staff rostered for in-home services may access the individual client support or service plans. These are kept in the client’s home to ensure services are provided according to the client’s assessed needs.

Whilst the PCC team aim to provide continuity of Support Staff in the home, clients can expect to receive a range of Support Staff delivering their in-home services over the duration of provision.

Reviews

After you commence services, regular reviews will be conducted with you to ensure that the service is still relevant to your circumstances. If your circumstances alter and you feel you may need a review prior to any already arranged, please contact the PCC Coordinator to discuss.

Support Staff will also perform brief Occupational Health and Safety checks annually as part of our requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

As part of our continual quality review we do undertake service specific surveys to ascertain if there are any areas for improvement.

Government audits are also carried out every three years as part of the quality review process.

Domestic Support Services

Domestic Support provides essential services to ensure that regularly used areas of your house are free from safety and hygiene concerns.  It is not a cleaning service.

Personal Care

Personal Care describes assistance with self-care tasks such as showering, dressing, mobility and assistance with medication, as well as supporting your independence with other activities of daily living. These may include shopping, escorting to medical appointments and community activities, and meal preparation.

Medication Support

Clients must be assessed by an appropriately qualified health professional to determine suitability for Pyrenees Shire Council PCC Support Staff to provide medication support, and appropriate documentation received, prior to commencement of service.

Respite Support 

Supporting you and your carer

Respite is designed to support care relationships and strengthen the capacity of the person’s Carer to maintain their care role.

Respite support provides a relief for the Carer from their usual care role to enable them to participate in community, social and other activities. Full-time Carers are considered a priority for respite support.

Delivered Meals

The PCC Delivered Meals and centre-based meals (Social Support Group and Community Meals) service provides a nutritious, appetising and culturally appropriate main meal. These are delivered to the person’s home or to a community centre where meals are eaten in a social setting. 

Delivered meals are pre-prepared and can be delivered fresh on a daily basis during weekdays. 

Frozen meals can be provided on a Friday for clients whom require meals for weekends or for several days in advance. Please note that all remote clients are delivered frozen meals. Delivered meals may be provided on a short-term, episodic, intermittent or ongoing basis.

Community Meals

The PCC service provides a monthly “Community Meal” for clients based in and around Beaufort, Snake Valley and Avoca.

A three course meal is provided on a monthly basis commencing February and concluding in November each year, including an early Christmas luncheon.

Home Modification Assistance

The aim of the Home Modification Assistance is to provide eligible residents with assistance for minor home modification tasks as identified by the Pyrenees Community Care and/or Regional Assessment Service Officer and recommended by an Occupational Therapist. These modifications promote safety, security and/or wellbeing of residents. 

Client Feedback

Please do not hesitate to contact the Pyrenees Community Care Department on 5349 1100 if you wish to discuss any comments, concerns or complaints you may have.

Your comments, concerns and complaints will be taken seriously and will not affect your eligibility for the service. All comments and concerns are confidential. To address any issues we will seek your consent to talk to the relevant parties.

You have the right to nominate an advocate who will assist you with your comments, concerns, compliments or complaints.

All feedback is welcomed and encouraged.