The TAC can pay for the reasonable cost of Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) when required for the treatment of transport accident-related injuries.

TAC supports CISS as a rehabilitation service for people recovering from transport accident injuries, or who have acquired a permanent disability as a result of these injuries.

CISS – Client independence Skills Services

Clients may experience difficulties achieving their independence goals and may benefit from a period of practice and repetition provided by a qualified Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) worker to develop specific skills.

CISS providers work with clients to deliver a goal-directed approach, with plenty of opportunity for practice, to help clients realise their independence goals.

CISS helps reduce a client's reliance on attendant care and encourages them to achieve their goals by becoming more independent with their Activities of Daily Living (ADL), personal wellbeing and community integration.

Section 3, 23, and 60 of the Transport Accident Act 1986 (the Act) indicates that the TAC is responsible to pay the reasonable cost of a range of services, including medical, rehabilitation and disability services, for eligible persons who are injured as a result of a transport accident.

These services require written approval before they are provided.

These services must be received in Australia, meaning the client must be in Australia to be eligible.

Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) have been authorised by the TAC as a Rehabilitation expense to facilitate rehabilitation and recovery in circumstances where it is needed.  For full details of the authorisation, please refer to Schedule 1 Authorised Rehabilitation Services e. Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) which includes what services can be provided and the criteria for who can perform them.

Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) uses a goal- and skill-directed, client-centered approach to develop independence with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), personal wellbeing, budgeting and finance and community integration. CISS workers are experienced in the type of support required to help clients develop skills.

The service is targeted, skill-specific and time-limited (up to 12 weeks). Repetitive practice maximises skill retention.

Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) is suitable for clients who have:

• active life area goals and want to develop their skills and gain independence
• attendant care related to assistance with life areas

CISS can only be provided by a provider authorised and approved by the TAC. These services must be approved by the TAC in writing prior to provision.

Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) could be a suitable service for clients if they have:

• identified goals relating to Personal ADLs, Domestic ADLs, community access or finance and budgeting
• the ability to achieve goals, but would benefit from one-on-one or group-based skill development.

The TAC will pay for treatment and services according to the CISS fee schedule.

• Directly to the service provider, when the client has given the service their TAC claim number.
• The client can pay for the service and then using myTAC, send a copy of their receipt to TAC for reimbursement.

We can’t pay for services that:

• Do not treat a client’s transport accident injuries.
• Are not reasonable, necessary or appropriate.
• Are not clinically justified, safe and effective.

All providers

Support provided via Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) may assist a client to:

• achieve independence goals
• reduce reliance on attendant care or gratuitous care for community participation and ADLs
• increase community participation
• foster a positive environment of support that empowers them to achieve greater independence

CISS can support TAC clients with services that fulfil the following conditions:

• Are required as a direct result of a transport accident injury (not for a pre-existing condition).
• Are safe and effective.
• Promote recovery, functional independence, or self-management.
• Are reasonable.
• Comply with all responsibilities relating to a provider’s profession or service.
• Comply with all relevant legislative requirements, including the Transport Accident Act 1986, the Health Records Act 2001, the Disability Act 2006, the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities 2006.

Before providing service, a provider can confirm that the client has an accepted TAC claim by either:

• Asking them to share their TAC claim number (found on their claim acceptance letter or the myTAC app).
• Calling the TAC so the claim can be confirmed.

The TAC can pay for services in line with the published fees schedule. If an item is not in the fees schedule, it cannot be paid for.

Conditions

Services will be delivered over a 12-week period. In consultation with the treating team, the provider will develop a training program that includes the client's SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) that are consistent with their Independence Plan's pre-defined outcomes.

The program must use a model of supported repetitive functional task practice.

Authorisation

All CISS providers must meet and maintain the TAC’s disability service provider registration requirements to deliver services to a client with a disability.

The requirements outlined in the policy and provider guidelines for each service type must be adhered to as part of TAC’s provider registration requirements.

The TAC may consider paying for services by a CISS provider who does not meet the TAC’s disability service provider registration requirements if:

• The client does not have a disability
• The provider is ineligible to register with the Social Services Regulator because they are not providing services to a client with disability.

All CISS providers must:

• possess either an Associate Diploma or Certificate IV qualification in disability, community services or equivalent, and.
• provide SMART client goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) that are consistent with the client's MyPlan focus on empowering the client to achieve pre-defined independence outcomes, and
• use a model of supported repetitive functional task practice.

Monitoring Requirements

Provide SMART client goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) that are consistent with the client's Independence Plan focus on empowering the client to achieve pre-defined independence outcomes.

Use a model of supported repetitive functional task practice.

Reporting

Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) will not necessarily change the way providers work. It is an additional service option to consider as part of working with the client to achieve independence and facilitate goal achievement.

The service provider will maintain regular contact with the TAC to ensure the program can be effectively implemented and that the client is making progress towards the desired goal.

Providers may need to evaluate the outcome of the service at the end of the intervention (end of the 12-week period) and provide advice in relation to any changes to the client’s service needs as a result of the service. Any requested extension needs to be clinically justified and approved by the TAC.

Safeguarding

TAC Safer Services provides TAC clients and the community a pathway to raise concerns or complaints about the quality and safety of TAC funded services.

Any member of the client's treating team can request a referral to the service. Providers should contact the client's TAC support coordinator to discuss the service and how to refer.

1. Entitled

TAC clients are entitled to CISS if the TAC has accepted liability for the accident-related injury that relates to the CISS service.

2. Reasonable

When determining if CISS services are reasonable, the TAC considers whether the cost of the service is reasonable in relation to the Client Independence Skills Services fees.

3. Clinically Justified

When deciding if CISS is clinically justified, the TAC considers whether:

• CISS is clinically appropriate for the client’s transport accident injuries and presentation

4. Outcome Focused

When deciding if CISS is outcome focused, the TAC considers whether the service is progressing toward or achieving individualised recovery or care outcomes relating to approved transport accident injury goals.

For more information on TAC decision making, see the ‘How we make decisions’ page.

Client Independence Skills Services fee schedule

Provider dashboard: CISS  provider

Provider dashboard: General practitioners