Opening Doors – Framework - ACSO

10
Opening Doors – Framework
July 2008
Tools to support service coordination and practice
Data collection
The Victorian Homelessness Data Collection is the instrument for client data collection for homelessness
assistance programs in Victoria. The assessment and planning module of the data collection integrates the
initial assessment and referral process of Opening Doors with data collection.
Administrative and statistical data collection occurs after the initial assessment and referral stages.
The needs of the consumer, and service provision to meet these needs, are the first priorities. The
requirements of the data collection, while important, are secondary to this process. Each item in the data
collection is designed to reflect practice, rather than drive practice. Usually, the information required for
the data collection is information the worker would collect in the usual course of service delivery to the
consumer.
Initial assessment form
The Opening Doors initial assessment form is incorporated into the client management system software
provided to homelessness services by the Housing and Community Building Division. Apart from a
small number of standard fields, the initial assessment form is narrative in format and is integrated with
software’s case notes capability.
The Opening Doors initial assessment form is not a data collection tool. Entry point services collect client
data via a separate section of the client management system after the initial assessment is complete.
The form provided supports initial assessment only; that is, what information is required for an effective
referral. Case management services make their own deeper assessments once they accept a referral from
an entry point agency. Initial assessment should avoid unnecessary questions that will subsequently be
repeated by the case management service.
The initial assessment form recognises that each client is in a different situation and has different issues.
Its narrative format supports the initial assessment conversation better than a ‘tick and flick’ style of
form that attempts to cover every possible contingency. Such forms can be very long and imply that all
questions must be asked, even if that was not the design intention.
The initial assessment form enables, but does not direct, the worker. Many assessment forms are designed
to guide assessment practice. Opening Doors provides training and a Practice guide to support workers
to communicate effectively with people who are likely to experience physical or mental distress, and who
face a set of complex barriers to meeting their basic needs.
Referral form
Only the minimum necessary information should be exchanged at the point of referral. The Opening Doors
referral form is integrated with the client management system, and:
• can be created anew, or by selecting an existing referral
• is automatically populated from the service contact section with the names of the people being referred,
their ages and any available contact details
• automatically transfers the service contact notes to the summary section of the referral screen; notes
can be edited to customise the referral summary
• can be printed for faxing
• includes a standard consent form that can be signed by the client in the case of written consent, or by
the worker on the client’s behalf if the consent is verbal
• is stored in the client management system for future reference or use.