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 only 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 organisation 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 or 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 of an an in indiv ivid idual l psychologist will ill be bas ased on on: • 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 o 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 on 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 operated 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 operators 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 ongoing support during your process implementation • If an application is not approved, detail as to why, and guidance for resubmission is provided to you
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