Evaluation of the Integrated Service Project for clients with challenging behaviour

• Karen R. Fisher, Shannon McDermott, Ryan Gleeson
• Social Policy Research Centre

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03 September 2009Mid term report

The Integrated Services Project for Clients with Challenging Behaviour (ISP) aims to decrease the adverse impact of challenging behaviour on clients, the community, and the service system. The Project does this by developing intervention and support plans that better respond to the individual needs of clients with challenging behaviour, as well as improving their service access, housing, health and social conditions. The ISP is delivered through the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care in cooperation with the NSW Department of Health and Housing NSW. 

Initial outcomes during the ISP are positive. Preliminary analysis shows a decrease in both the level and severity of challenging behaviours.  The strongest indicator of change during ISP is the decrease in unplanned use of hospital and criminal justice services. Analysis indicates that:

• the number of hospital emergency presentations decreased on average by 20 presentations
per year; 
• the number of days in hospital decreased on average by 45 days per year; and
• the number of days spent in prison decreased on average by 87 days per year.

ISP clients believe their health to have improved over the past year, with three quarters (76.7 per cent) of clients rating their health as excellent, good or very good. Most (60.5 per cent) clients have increased their social connections by reconnecting with family and friends or making new friends since being involved in the ISP. Over half have become involved in social activities such as church, sporting activities and art classes.

Evaluation Plan

This document outlines the methodology used to conduct an evaluation of the Integrated Services Project for Clients with Challenging Behaviour (ISP). This research addresses the questions that DADHC set forth in the request for tender. This evaluation will investigate whether the model of integrated service delivery has:

• Increased the capacity of local services to manage clients with challenging behaviour;

• Improved the level of well being of clients by decreasing challenging behaviour;

• Improved service access, service coordination and service durability for ISP clients;

• Decreased the impact of challenging behaviour on individual clients, the service system and wider support system; and

• Contributed to the evidence base of supporting people with challenging behaviour.