Recent Sensitive Claims Advisory Group (SCAG) meeting

Information from the New Zealand Christian Counsellors Association

The Sensitive Claims Advisory Group (SCAG) met on the 18th and 19th October in a working session to focus on:
* Service issues, gaps and improvements for children and adolescents
* Approaches to mental injury assessment and alternatives to DSM-IV
* Feedback on the implementation of the 16 hours of support
* Support for returning clients
* Sexual abuse provider workforce development needs

Outcomes from the session included:
* Agreement on a number of principles for working with children and adolescents and subsequent recommendations for further service improvement and development.
* Formation of a working party to focus on and progress child and adolescent service improvements. The working party will included representatives from the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists, New Zealand Association of Counsellors, Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers, New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists and Te Ohaakii a Hine - National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST). The first meeting will be held on 2 December in Wellington. ACC is also investigating a range of possible representatives from the wider sector including health, education, DSAC and Maori and Pacific groups to act as a secondary consultation and advisory group.
* Generation of a range of alternative assessment methods for mental injury which are currently being reviewed by ACC.
* Establishment of a Maori working group to focus on developing culturally appropriate and safe services for Maori with the first meeting on 26 November in Wellington.
* Endorsement for ACC to work closely with the professional bodies representing service providers to establish a process for addressing quality and workforce issues.
* Identification of a preferred approach for working with Pacific people in sensitive claims and discussion regarding the formation of a working group.

http://www.nzcca.org.nz/acc/