Capped Program
What is Capped DEN?
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Context
Capped DEN is one of the range of Providers of Australian Government Employment Services (PAGES) whose work is focused on people with disabilities, injuries and conditions of a permanent nature.
Capped DEN service providers have been in operation since 1986 and the introduction of the Commonwealth Disability Services Act. They continue to operate for a specified group of clients following the introduction of Welfare to Work.
Definition:
In the Capped program, job seekers are assisted for a period of up to 18 months to find a job. Whilst greater than 6 months of ongoing support is defined as the client group who access DEN, if required, the person in Capped DEN can access ongoing support for the duration of their employment.
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Jobseekers may fulfill one of the following criteria:
Jobseekers will also be directed into the Capped DEN stream if they meet either of the following eligibility criteria:
Capped DEN clients are on payments such as Newstart, Youth Allowance or Parenting Payment with full time participation requirements, or Pre-May 2005 DSP with no participation requirement, or current DSP or occasionally no payment at all.
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Key Differences to other Providers of Australian Government Employment Services:
Job Network jobseekers have relatively little or no ongoing need for support after the job commences.
Capped DEN jobseekers require support after the job starts, and the job support may be provided on an indefinite basis. Providers may make some clients independent or provide ‘intermittent’ support following the initial 6 months of intensive support. This job support may be on or off the job.
Uncapped DEN jobseekers share many of the characteristics of Capped DEN jobseekers. Uncapped DEN Jobseekers have a limit of 2 years of assistance and must receive award wages. Uncapped DEN providers cannot supply job support for an indefinite period.
The Capped DEN jobseekers’ current and future capacity for work however varies and their need for ongoing support potentially may be beyond 2 years. Some capped DEN clients may be eligible for and access productivity based wages i.e. the Supported Wages System.
Vocational Rehabilitation jobseekers again share many characteristics with Capped DEN clients as both groups of Jobseekers may share the same conditions. The difference is Vocational Rehabilitation Job Seekers are assisted into work after specialist intervention. The intervention aims to assist the Job seeker to understand, compensate for or manage their disability.
Capped DEN jobseekers may require some degree of these services however in the main the Jobseeker’s capabilities are predominately known and the Capped DEN’s prime focus is on finding the appropriate job match.
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Also note:
1) If a client needs a single aspect of Vocational Rehabilitation, such as Vocational Counseling a DEN provider may be able to provide or purchase that single service.
2) Specialist Capped DEN providers may also provide a higher degree of pre Vocational work, in which case the need for ongoing support after the jobs starts differentiates the client groups.
Personal Support Program supports people to become job ready. It focuses on their non employment related barriers to gaining work.
Capped DEN jobseekers must be relatively ‘ready’ and motivated to look for work.
Disability Supported Employment or Business Services (some of which were formerly referred to as ‘sheltered workshops’) provide employment opportunities and support to people in their own business workplace, work crews and/or contract labour arrangements. Support is generally provided for more than 24 months and can be ongoing for as long as the person remains employed by the service. Generally the workers in Business Services are paid productivity based wages that may or may not be based on the Supported Wage System.
Capped DEN job seekers will work in the general labour market for award wages or occasionally wages assessed against the Supported Wage System. The differentiating factor between people who go to Capped DEN and people who go to Business Services is the need for support within the workplace, in addition to choice about working within the general labour market compared with a more segregated setting. Capped DEN workers become relatively independent of full time support and supervision at work.
Process:
Capped DEN referrals are actioned after the JCA assessment report is electronically submitted. Only then can an appointment be arranged.
(sourced from Ace National.org.au)
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