Proposed changes Presented by: Gabriella Ramsay Chief Human - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Psychological Assessments Proposed changes

Presented by: Gabriella Ramsay Chief Human Resources Officer

Purpose

• Feedback and implementation challenges from the NGO sector
• Proposed changes to address implementation issues
• Consultation approach and timeframe
• Implementation timeframes and process

Feedback and implementation challenges from the NGO sector

Feedback

NGO se sect ctor:

• No information is received by the employer from the

psychological assessment service provider in the case of a determination of ‘Unsuitable’

• Employment decisions are potentially being made with

insufficient information provide procedural fairness to employees

• Lack of approved psychological assessment service providers
• Lack of awareness of requirement to gain approval, or lack of

understanding of approvals process

Feedback

Psych chological ass ssessment t se service provi viders:

• The requirements set out for approved service providers of

psychological assessments under the Act do not require the psychological assessment service provider to provide additional information for a determination of ‘Unsuitable’

• Information pertaining to a determination of ‘Unsuitable’ should
• nly be delivered to an individual with appropriate support in place

to reduce the risk of psychological harm

• Psychologists should be individually approved, as well as the
• rganisation by which they are employed

Challenges

CE Determinati tion:

• Provisions relating to a determination of ‘Unsuitable’ is not able

to be included in the kind of assessment, and therefore DCP has sought advice on how best to address the issue of reporting provisions to employing organisations given the CE Determination requires a determination of Suitable

Proposed changes for consultation

Psychological assessment reports

Psych chological ass ssessment t se service provi viders:

• Required to provide a psychological assessment report to the

referring / employing organisation where an existing employee is assessed as ‘Currently Psychologically Unsuitable’ which includes an explanation of the reasons for the ‘Unsuitable’ determination

• Requirements to be stipulated in the provider’s approval rather

than the CE Determination, this will also be included in the application process for new applying psychological assessment service providers

• The psychological assessment report must be provided to the

referring organisation within 21 days of the date of assessment

• r less as agreed

Proposed changes to psychological assessment service provider approval application form Section 6: REPORTING These requirements will also be applied to existing approved providers, with a defined timeframe to become compliant to the requirements

Psychological assessment reports

Releasing in information to exis isti ting emplo loyees: s:

• Provision of the report in a supported context
• Supported context might include:
• Provision and debriefing by the assessing psychologist
• Provision and debriefing by the individual’s own psychologist
• Provision and debriefing by the individual’s GP
• Provision of reports and processes for debriefing to an

individual employee is subject to negotiation between the psychological assessment service provider and the referring organisation

Individual psychologist approvals

Organis isations: s:

• No change proposed to the approvals process
• Each organisation seeking to become an approved provider of psychological

assessments under the Act must complete and submit an application to DCP Psychological Assessments as per the existing process

In Individ idual l psychologists:

• Each psychologist within an approved organisation to be individually

approved based on qualifications and experience

• If an approved psychologist leaves the approved organisation and wishes to

set up their own organisation, they will need to have that organisation approved prior to commencement of services

Individual psychologist approvals

Approval of

• f an

an in indiv ivid idual l psychologist will ill be bas ased on

• n:
• A comprehensive resume detailing all relevant qualifications and

experience

• Evidence of at least 5 years clinical / forensic assessment experience
• Evidence of current AHPRA registration
• Evidence of current Professional Indemnity (PI) and Public Liability

(PL) Insurance

In Individ idual l ap approval to

• be revie

iewed an annuall lly foll llowing:

• Provision of annual AHPRA renewal certificate
• Provision of annual PI & PL renewal certificate

Consultation approach and timeline

Consultation process

• We will write to your organisations to invite you to provide feedback
• n the proposed changes
• This presentation will also be circulated to you after today’s forum
• We are seeking feedback in writing by COB Friday, 2 August 2019 to

DCPPsychologicalAssessments@sa.gov.au

Questions and feedback

• Please contact DCP Psychological Assessments on 8226 1972, or at

DCPPsychologicalAssessments@sa.gov.au

• Information on psychological assessments is also available at the

DCP website in the Service provider area (https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/service-providers/service- provision-requirements/psychological-assessment)

Feedback received to date

• Feedback received indicates general support for the proposed

changes

• Queries received regarding implementation dates of the proposed

changes

Implementation timeframe and process

Implementation timeframes

Per erso sons em emplo loyed in n DCP ope

• perated ch

chil ildren's 's resi esidentia ial facil ilitie ies:

• Section 110A of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 commenced on 26

February 2018

• Regulation 34 of the Children and Young People (Safety) Regulations 2017 provides

a lead-in period, subject to conditions

• This lead-in period will expire on 6 September 2019

Per erso sons em emplo loyed in n lic icensed chil children's 's resi esidentia ial l facil ilit itie ies:

• Section 107 of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 commenced on 22

October 2018

• Regulation 31 of the Children and Young People (Safety) Regulations 2017 provides

a lead-in period, subject to conditions

• This lead-in period will expire on 22 April 2020

Requirements

• All organisations providing contract staff to DCP facilities and
• perators of licensed children’s residential care facilities must apply

to DCP for approval to commence the psychological assessment process

• The CE Determination of the kind of assessment requires 5 years’

relevant experience, including experience in forensic interviewing and reporting

• Where organisations have psychologists on staff with the relevant

experience and wish to undertake assessments in-house, they must submit an application for approval to become an approved psychological assessment service provider

Process for approval

• Once you have selected an approved psychological assessment service

provider, an application for your psychological assessment approach will need to be completed and submitted to DCPPsychologicalAssessments@sa.gov.au

• You will receive a notification that DCP have received your application
• DCP Psychological Assessments will work with your organisation during the

application process if you require assistance, and will arrange for the Principal Psychologist to review your application

• Approval is then provided to your organisation along with templates and
• ngoing support during your process implementation
• If an application is not approved, detail as to why, and guidance for

resubmission is provided to you