Group Homes

What is a DADHC group home?

A group home is a dwelling for 4 to 6 people that is, wherever possible, located in a residential neighbourhood, or in an area zoned residential by the local government authority. The location is usually accessible to services and supports to meet client needs, including family or social support, transport, commercial services, education, medical, employment and recreational facilities.

Group homes provide accommodation and (usually) 24 hour support to people with an intellectual disability in group setting for between 4 to 6 people.  In the group home, clients are supported in their daily living.

Group Homes are staffed by Residential Support Workers. The staffing level is in accordance with the assessed need of the group of clients in the Group Home.

Group homes have:

• 4 to 6 bedrooms, to allow clients to have individual bedrooms
• adequate space for clients, staff (including some office capacity) and provision for visitors
• sufficient outdoor recreational and leisure space is essential
• A cyclic program of repair and maintenance

Group homes provide:

• quality, small-group supported accommodation in a community setting
• a service with appropriate support for clients to carry out essential activities of daily living
• support and assistance for people with an intellectual disability who cannot reside independently or with their family, even with support
• opportunities for people residing in the group home to participate in the community, who, without support would not be able to achieve this

A policy manual for supported accommodation is currently in development. When completed, these service descriptions are to read in conjunction with the policy manual.

Who is eligible?

Group homes are for people over the age of 18 who have an intellectual disability with moderate to high support needs.  To be eligible, people must have an independent assessment, which determines their level of support needs.  People aged from 12 to 18 can access the service only with approval of the Director-General or Minister, and people under the age of 12 are not eligible for this type of service.  An Area Placement Committee determines priority and entry.

Who has priority of access?

• People with complex multiple needs
• People with assessed complex challenging behaviour
• People with forensic issues
• People who are at risk of entering a more restrictive option and/or whose carer is likely to be at risk unless entry into the service is facilitated
• People who are homeless or who are at risk of becoming homeless

What services do group home staff provide?

Staff in DADHC group homes work with clients and their support network/s to develop and implement Individual Plans, with the aim of supporting each client with:

• Maintenance of personal hygiene
• General self care
• Household management
• Decision making / management of finances
• Accessing and utilising community resources
• Making and maintaining community contacts, including social relationships
• Skills development
• Accessing generic services where these would normally be used by an individual in their own home
• Living as part of a group

Services group homes do not provide

Although Group Home staff can assist clients to access the following services, they do not provide them directly:

• Day programs
• Holidays
• Recreation programs (except for some group outings)

What are the outcomes for clients?

• Privacy – the client’s own room
• Respect
• Access to meaningful activities/community participation and presence including some group outings
• Development of social networks and relationships and maintenance of familial and cultural networks
• The right to retain personal possessions
• A healthy diet
• Personal hygiene
• A safe, secure and stable environment
• Proper selection and maintenance of clothing
• Accessibility to medical services
• Assistance to live safely in a group
• Development of appropriate interpersonal behaviours
• Improvement and maintenance of communication skills
• Development and maintenance of money and budgeting skills
• Access to a range of generic services
• Planning and assisted access to recreation programs
• Planning for leisure activities and holidays