Job Capacity Assessments (JCA) 008-06110000

Assessment format

Examples

Face to face assessment

Example 1:

Jack (26 years of age) lodged a paper claim for Disability Support Pension (DSP) with help from their nominee. Jack has also provided a cognitive assessment (WISC) completed at age 7. Because of the age of the cognitive assessment a new assessment is required.

Jack is contacted to discuss the assessment and to determine eligibility for a video conference. Jack does not have access to the required technology to reliably complete the assessment and would prefer to see the psychologist in person. An appointment is arranged in a local office for Jack to complete the assessment and interview face to face.

Example 2:

Eugene (60 years of age) lodged a claim for DSP and has noted that their primary language is AUSLAN. Eugene's local office is less than 60 minutes by public transport and an assessor is available in the geographic area to complete the appointment face to face.

A face to face appointment is arranged in the community room at the customer's local office to complete the assessment with the support of an AUSLAN interpreter.

Video conference (VC)

Example 1:

Xia (19 years of age) lodged a claim for DSP and provided a medical certificate with a diagnosis of intellectual impairment with future treatment noted as 'awaiting appointment for an IQ test.'

Xia is contacted to discuss the assessment and to determine eligibility for a video conference. Completion of a specialist assessment through video conference gives Xia the opportunity to access a nationwide network of psychologists in Assessment Services. This allows Xia:

• to receive an earlier appointment, and
• offers the ability to complete the assessment in the privacy of their home without attending an office

Xia has support at home to help with the assessment on their device and is therefore considered suitable for video conference.

Example 2:

Terry (42 years of age) lodged a claim for DSP and was assessed as requiring a JCA because of a hearing impairment. Terry has difficulty hearing conversations on the phone and would like to attend an office to be assessed in person.

There are no assessors located within 90 minutes of Terry's home, so Services Australia cannot help with this request. Assessment Services National Administration team (ASNAT) contacts Terry's nominee to discuss the possibility of a video conference appointment.

Following this conversation a JCA appointment through video conference is scheduled for Terry and their nominee. Notification of the appointment is issued.

Phone assessment

Example 1:

Rocco (46 years of age) lodged a claim for DSP. Although Rocco has provided some medical evidence, more details are needed to complete the assessment, including:

• the functional impacts of their condition, and
• current employment status

Rocco is in a rural and remote area and the closest local office is 4 hours away. Because of Rocco's isolation, a phone assessment is appropriate.

Example 2:

Darcy (33 years of age) lodged a claim for DSP. The Medical Assessment Team (MAT) assessor reviews Darcy's medical evidence and recommends an assessment by phone, based on:

• under 35 years of age and has previous employment
• medical evidence that Darcy may have participation requirements
• not currently linked with a Disability Employment Service Provider

File assessment

Example 1:

John (46 years of age) lodged a claim for DSP noting a diagnosis of schizophrenia. John's psychiatrist has documented that John finds discussing their condition distressing, experiences delusions and is often florid with irrational decision making.

The MAT assessor recommends JCA be conducted using file format. JCA is conducted based on the MAT recommendation.

Rationale: John has provided a current psychiatrist report confirming diagnosis of schizophrenia, history of current and previous treatment as well the current functional impacts experienced by John. John's psychiatrist also indicates that despite reasonable treatment John is unlikely to see a significant improvement of his condition.

John's JCA should be completed as a file assessment because of the:

• severity of John's mental health condition impacting John's ability to discuss their impairment
• psychiatrist's statement that John is distressed when talking about their condition which could be detrimental to their health

Because of The comprehensive nature of the medical evidence provided, removes the need to contact John's psychiatrist to complete the assessment.

After submitting the assessment, the assessor should consult with the government-contracted doctor (GCD) Contract Team for consideration of DMA with the treating health professional contact (THP).

Example 2:

Alice (52 years of age) lodged a claim for DSP noting diagnosis of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

The MAT assessor recommends JCA be conducted by phone format.

Following a review of the medical evidence, the JCA assessor contacts Alice's GP to confirm:

• Alice's condition remains unchanged
• impairments are severe and consistent with the details in the occupational therapy report

Once confirmed, the assessor decides enough medical evidence exists to confidently recommend medical eligibility and considers file format suitable if Alice agrees.

The assessor contacts Alice to discuss changing the format of the assessment. Alice is relieved not to have to try and explain their disability and its impacts and agrees to the change in format of assessment.

JCA is completed as a file assessment.

Rationale: Alice has provided medical evidence that they sustained a traumatic brain injury following a cerebrovascular infarct (stroke) 12 months ago. Alice has undergone both acute and rehabilitative treatment. Based on medical evidence provided by their neurosurgeon, no improvement beyond their current capacity is expected.

Alice has provided an occupational therapy assessment outlining their care needs following discharge from hospital as well as medical evidence from their GP. The assessor contacts Alice's GP to confirm that their condition remains unchanged, and their impairments are still consistent with the occupational therapy report.

Alice was contacted and agreed to their assessment being completed without their participation.

After completion of the report, Alice is told:

• the claim has progressed, and
• Sonic HealthPlus may call to arrange an appointment to complete a medical assessment by a GCD

The assessor may also consider if a DMA by their THP contact would also be appropriate to reduce Alice's distress.

Example 3:

Alfred lodges a claim for DSP

The MAT assessor recommends a JCA by phone format. A phone appointment is booked for a JCA in 10 days' time and Alfred is notified.

On the day of the appointment, Alfred does not answer the phone at the scheduled appointment time.

The assessor makes 2 genuine contact attempts, deploying a pre-call notification SMS and documents the contact attempts in the DSP Progress of Claim DOC in Process Direct.

The following day, the assessor reschedules the appointment to 5 working days in the future and issues notification of the appointment.

On the day of the second appointment, the assessor makes:

• 2 genuine contact attempts and deploys a pre-call notification SMS. Alfred does not answer the phone at their scheduled appointment time
• notes of the contact attempts in the DSP Progress of Claim DOC in Process Direct

Alfred's medical evidence does not clearly demonstrate the impact of their medical conditions.

The assessor attempts to contact Alfred's GP to discuss the medical evidence provided. The assessor leaves a return phone number and places the assessment on hold. Three working days pass and the assessor has not heard from the Doctor. The assessor attempts a follow up call with the THP but is unsuccessful.

The assessor:

• Completes the assessment with the available medical evidence, as an alteration in the assessment format to file is considered appropriate
• Recommends medical ineligibility
• Documents all contact attempts in the Assessment Summary of the report and details why THP contact was required

Table number

Title and assessor qualifications

1

Functions requiring physical exertion and stamina

Assessor qualifications: exercise physiologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, rehabilitation counsellor, registered nurse

2

Upper limb function

Assessor qualifications: physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, occupational therapist, rehabilitation counsellor

3

Lower limb function

Assessor qualifications: physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, occupational therapist, rehabilitation counsellor

4

Spinal function

Assessor qualifications: physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, occupational therapist, rehabilitation counsellor

5

Mental health function

Assessor qualifications: psychologist, occupational therapist with additional qualifications in mental health, registered nurse-mental health, rehabilitation counsellor-mental health, social worker-mental health

6

Functioning related to alcohol, drug, and other substance use

Assessor qualifications: psychologist, registered nurse-mental health, social worker, occupational therapist, rehabilitation counsellor

7

Brain function

Assessor qualifications: psychologist, occupational therapist, rehabilitation counsellor, speech pathologist

8

Communication function

Assessor qualifications: speech pathologist, psychologist, occupational therapist, rehabilitation counsellor, social worker

9

Intellectual function

Assessor qualifications: psychologist

10

Digestive and reproductive function

Assessor qualifications: registered nurse, exercise physiologist

11

Hearing and other functions of the ear

Assessor qualifications: contributing assessor is not required as all assessors can rate on this Impairment Table

12

Visual function

Assessor qualifications: contributing assessor is not required as all assessors can rate on this Impairment Table

13

Continence function

Assessor qualifications: registered nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, exercise physiologist

14

Functions of the skin

Assessor qualifications: registered nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, exercise physiologist

15

Functions of consciousness

Assessor qualifications: registered nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, exercise physiologist