Intake process and tools

Catchment-based intake and comprehensive assessment process

Intake services triage people seeking alcohol and other drug treatment. A treatment provider will take part in a comprehensive assessment with them. Through this process, practitioners:

• identify the level of harm associated with a person's alcohol and other drug use and broader life issues
• identify people at high-risk who may need immediate support
• identify the type of treatment people may need (for example, counselling or residential withdrawal)
• obtain a baseline measure to assess future outcomes

Treatment pathways

There may be cases where a person requires (or prefers) ongoing treatment. People seeking treatment beyond a current course are not required to repeat intake. In most cases, the existing treatment provider can:

• facilitate further treatment
• update the treatment plan
• inform the catchment-based intake service of the client's allocation to a new course of treatment or episode of care

If a significant change in need or life complexity occurs, clients may be referred for re-assessment.

Resources for service providers

Tools and guidelines are available to support assessment and care planning.

Intake tool

The intake tool supports providers to identify a person's level of risk and need. It works to determine appropriate treatment pathways.

Using the tool, practitioners engage with the person to understand their needs and preferences. They can then determine next steps together.

The intake tool is useful for engaging clients in a range of delivery settings, including over the phone.

Comprehensive assessment tool

The comprehensive assessment tool supports treatment providers to understand a person’s circumstances and history. This assists in developing a collaborative care plan.

A self-completion form collects relevant information at assessment. The comprehensive assessment tool is designed for use alongside this and other sources of information. This helps to plan quality, holistic care in collaboration with the person seeking

Providers collaborate with the person seeking support to provide quality, holistic care. The collaborative care plan is created using:

• The comprehensive assessment tool
• The self-completion form
• Other relevant sources of information.

Optional assessment modules are also available. Practitioners use these to further consider a person’s experiences, strengths and needs

Optional module 12 (forensic) is required for some. All ‘diversion’ clients referred from courts or court support programs, such as the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP), must complete this.

Initial care planning

Practitioners who provide the comprehensive assessment develop an initial care plan with the person seeking support.

Development of the care plan is informed by:

• Information collected at intake
• the comprehensive assessment
• the identified treatment needs
• the client's own preferences

The completed tools and care plan form part of a package of referral information. This package is provided to services engaged in the client's treatment pathway.

Clinician Guide to the Victorian AOD Intake and Assessment Tools

The Clinician Guide is available as a guide to using the AOD intake and assessment tools. The guide explains the tool and why it was developed. A copy of the Clinician Guide is available on the Turning Point website.

Online Learning Program for the revised AOD Intake and Assessment Tools

Turning Point provide an online learning program for AOD clinicians. This learning program comprises of the AOD Intake and Assessment tools.

By completing the online training program, participants will better understand the purpose of the intake and assessment tools. They will learn how to complete the tools and how the tools can support their clinical decision making about treatment options.

The online learning program is available on the Turning Point website.