Continuity of Support (CoS) Program

What is the Continuity of Support (CoS) Program

The Continuity of Support (CoS) program provides psychosocial support to consumers of the former Commonwealth mental health programs, Partners in Recovery (PIR), Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHaMs), and Day to Day Living (D2DL), who are ineligible for supports under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The objectives of the CoS program are to:

• Ensure consumers who previously accessed support under PIR, PHaMs, and D2DL programs and have been found ineligible for the NDIS continue to receive appropriate support using a recovery and strengths-based framework; and
• Combine service delivery models and activities currently being provided through the three mental health programs to provide a consolidated approach to support.

Neami National as the lead organisation, along with subcontracted organisation Flourish Australia provides CoS services across the Central and Eastern Sydney PHN region from multiple sites.

Consumers are able to access targeted individual support and socially based capacity building group activities that focus on unmet needs such as social connection, employment, self-management and physical health. Levels of support are triaged and based on consumer need and intensity of support required, in line with a flexible stepped care approach.

The individual and group support and activities are provided by a team of mental health workers and peer workers, and focus on the key aims of:

• increasing personal capacity, confidence, and self-reliance;
• increasing social participation;
• streamlining access to appropriate services; and
• providing flexible and responsive support at times of increased need.

In delivering the CoS program, Neami National and Flourish Australia provide support that is recovery focused, trauma informed and person-centred. CoS will provide a culturally appropriate service to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds as well as appropriate services to those who identify as LGBTQI+.

Eligibility

To be eligible for services under the CoS program, persons must:

• have accessed supports under PIR, PHaMs or D2DL as at 30 June 2019;
• have tested for eligibility under the NDIS and received an ineligible assessment decision or, have been deemed ineligible to apply due to age or residency requirements;
• reside in the coverage area of CESPHN;
• not be restricted in their ability to fully and actively participate in the community because of their residential settings (e.g. prison or a psychiatric facility); and
• not be receiving or entitled to receive similar community supports through state or territory government programs.