Social worker assessment for VWPR Notice 103-01180020

This process is not relevant for customers who are automatically triggered for the VWPR Youth measure.

An assessment of vulnerability should be completed at a face to face interview. If this is not possible, the interview can be conducted by telephone.

If neither of these options are available, a determination can be made through a file assessment.

Where a reasonable effort has been made and the social worker is unable to contact a person, the social worker can make an assessment of the customer's circumstances using relevant documents and information on the customer's record.

Relevant documents and information could include:

• enhanced IM account history
• immediate payments
• payday changes
• prison incarceration
• carer information
• whether the person has, or is, a nominee
• previous social worker case notes
• participation compliance notes
• medical information

When determining whether a customer is a Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipient, consider whether the customer is experiencing one or more of the following indicators of vulnerability. The customer's circumstances and the information available from the assessment should be considered when making this determination.

• Financial exploitation
  • Financial exploitation occurs when a person is subject to undue pressure, harassment, family and domestic violence, deception or exploitation for financial resources by another person or people, including other family members and community members
• Financial hardship
  • A person is defined as experiencing financial hardship where they are unable to purchase goods, access services or engage in activities to meet their priority needs, due to a lack of financial resources. Regardless of the customer's source of income, amount received or if they are on income support, if they lack the financial resources to support their financial needs this could be an indicator of financial hardship
  • Note: the receipt of income support is not, by itself, sufficient evidence that a person is experiencing financial hardship
• Failure to undertake reasonable self-care
  • A failure to undertake reasonable self-care applies if a person is engaged in conduct that threatens their physical or mental wellbeing and the social worker is satisfied the person has not taken sufficient steps to address the conduct. This conduct may include for example, substance abuse issues or problem gambling
• Homelessness or risk of homelessness

Based on the customer's circumstances and the information available, can the social worker determine that the customer is experiencing one or more indicators of vulnerability?

• Yes, go to Step 3
• No, enhanced IM under the Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipient (VWPR) measure is not appropriate
  • Offer alternative assistance. See Recording Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipient (VWPR) assessments for Income Management or enhanced IM - social work

Consider whether the customer is meeting their essential needs and the essential needs of their partner, children and other dependants, and what supports or arrangements are currently helping them to do so.

Explore and document what supports are already in place for the customer and the services the customer is engaged with.

Third parties may be contacted if required, preferably with the customer's consent.

If the customer has a payment nominee who is not income managed, then the customer is excluded from being eligible for enhanced IM, however, consider if this arrangement is suitable and in the best interest of the customer.

Based on the customer's circumstances, are the customer's essential needs and the essential needs of their partner, children or other dependants being met, or do they have an excluded payment nominee?

• Yes, enhanced IM under the VWPR measure is not appropriate. Consider other interventions as appropriate:
  • Complete Social Work Information System (SWIS) case notes and DOC determination. See Recording Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipient (VWPR) assessments for Income Management or enhanced IM - social work
  • Note: the 'IM Vulnerability not applied' does not require completion
  • If a wellbeing review/follow up is required, go to Step 7 otherwise, procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 4

Having identified one or more indicators of vulnerability, consider whether enhanced IM is an appropriate support to assist the customer to meet their responsibilities, maintain self-care and manage their money.

When making this assessment, consider:

• the customer's personal circumstances
• any available services to support the customer
• whether the customer is currently using other available supports or arrangements to meet their priority needs. Examples include:
  • weekly payments
  • Rent Deduction Scheme
  • Centrepay
  • nominee arrangements
  • guardianship arrangements
  • financial counselling
• whether the customer has previously been subject to enhanced IM and:
  • any change in the customer's circumstances since that last time
  • any impacts on the customer or their dependants from previously being subject to enhanced IM

Can the social worker determine that enhanced IM is an appropriate support for the customer?

• Yes, go to Step 5
• No, enhanced IM under the VWPR measure is not appropriate. Consider other interventions as appropriate. Complete a SWIS IM 'Vulnerability not applied' report and DOC the record. See Recording Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipient (VWPR) assessments for Income Management or enhanced IM - social work. APS5/6 social workers seek delegation from EL1 social worker (via the QDM process)
  • If a wellbeing review/follow up is required, go to Step 8
  • If no follow up is required, procedure ends here

Based on the information gathered during the assessment and the matters considered in the previous steps, determine whether the customer meets the eligibility criteria for the VWPR Notice measure.

Note: if the customer is offering to go on Voluntary enhanced IM (VeIM), or is already on VeIM, this is not an alternative to a VWPR Notice determination where the customer meets the criteria for the VWPR measure.

Can the social worker determine that the customer meets the eligibility criteria for the VWPR Notice measure?

• Yes, go to Step 6
• No, enhanced IM under the VWPR measure is not appropriate. Consider other interventions as appropriate. Complete a SWIS IM 'Vulnerability not applied' report and DOC the record. See Recording Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipient (VWPR) assessments for Income Management or enhanced IM - social work. APS5/6 social workers seek delegation from EL1 social worker (via the QDM process)
  • If a wellbeing review/follow up is required, go to Step 8
  • If no follow up is required, procedure ends here

Set a ‘Switch on’ MFU to start the customer on the VWPR Notice measure.

In Customer First, create a manual review on the Review Registration (RVR) screen and complete the fields as follows:

• Service Reason: JSP (regardless of which payment the customer is getting)
• Review Reason: INC (General Income Review Required)
• Due Date: next business day
• Source: INT
• Date of Receipt: today's date
• Notes: 'Customer meets the eligibility criteria for enhanced IM under the VWPR Notice measure for 3/6/12 months (deleted not applicable).'
• Keywords: PQNVWELG and EIMVLN
• Workgroup: leave blank
• Position: leave blank
• Transfer to Region: leave blank

The review will mature on the Due Date coded in the RVR activity. Workload Management will allocate the review for manual action.

The assessment outcome must be recorded as follows:

• Complete SWIS IM 'Vulnerability apply decision' report and DOC the record. See Recording Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipient (VWPR) assessments for Income Management or enhanced IM - social work. APS5/6 social workers seek delegation from EL1 social workers (via the QDM process)
• Tell the customer the outcome and discuss possible pathways out of enhanced IM, including offers of referral to Financial Information Service and other support services
• Tell the customer they have a right to apply for a formal review of the determination. If unable to contact the customer to advise of their review rights, ensure an outcome letter is sent or place a Display on Access (DOA) DOC on the customer’s record requesting the customer is referred to the assessing social worker at next contact

Delegated social workers can finalise the 'IM Vulnerability' SWIS report.

APS5/6 social workers - Is a wellbeing review/follow up required?

• Yes, go to Step 8
• No, procedure ends here

Consider whether the customer may benefit from further follow up following the assessment. This may be particularly useful for those who are to be income managed for the first time.

A Manual Follow Up review can be scheduled within the 'IM Vulnerability Applied' and 'IM Vulnerability Not Applied' SWIS reports.

Entering a date in the 'wellbeing review' field will schedule an activity that will appear on the Activity List (AL) on the date requested, to follow up with the customer.

The keyword for this activity is SWSVWPR and it will go to the Region Office of the social worker who finalised the report.