ACC cuts see woe for rape counselling

An article from the Southland Times by Gwyneth Hyndman

Southland's rape crisis centre continues to struggle to meet needs of sexual abuse victims since ACC cuts to funding for counselling services in 2009.
Centre manager Susana Lepoamo said referrals to the Invercargill centre – which serves the whole of Southland – had nearly doubled in 2010 as a result, with 173 referrals that year. Of these, 154 wanted counselling.
A waiting list for the long-term counselling that the crisis centre provided – a service ACC used to offer – was set up. With only two fulltime staff, this was a heavy load and it took time she said.
In the 2010-2011 year, referrals had dropped to 80, with 42 wanting counselling. The year to date – July 2011 till March 2012 – had 69 referrals for Southland.
The drop in referrals hadn't been analysed, but it was possible it was because there was still a waiting list for counselling services. Most referrals came from New Zealand Police or community agencies. A small percentage were self-referrals, many coming to the centre after the New Year when people were re-evaluating their lives, she said. "A waiting list for this is not ideal."
Education facilitator Natalie Bennie said survivors had counted on ACC support to provide longer support than what they were equipped to offer. The crisis centre offers 10 free sessions for victims. "Especially in the historical cases [of abuse] there is a social and emotional impact. They need time to resolve this."
The impact of long-term abuse could not be resolved in 10 sessions. "They can't just be dropped out in the cold."
Eventually, the board that oversaw the rape crisis centre wanted the services to be 50 per cent preventive services, she said. However the service was still centred on counselling services.
Ms Bennie said further strategic planning – including the gathering of Southland-specific statistics – was being done.
The centre had also seen a rise in referrals following youth-based initiatives in schools, such as the Breaking the Silence 2010 pilot initiative. Another initiative in schools was planned for the winter, she said.
Centre services in Invercargill began in 1981 with a Women's Supportline Southland – a telephone service staffed by volunteers working from their homes.
The service evolved into the Rape and Abuse Support Centre Southland and began a service to male abuse victims in 2009.

© 2012 Fairfax NZ News

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/6841187/ACC-cuts-see-woe-for-rape-counselling

A needed correction

An editorial from the Southland Times

A storm of reproach has rightly prevailed and ACC's shabby cutback of sexual abuse counselling has been reversed, writes The Southland Times in an editorial.
The idea that only victims with a diagnosed mental injury resulting from sexual abuse or assault should be covered for the counselling drew compelling criticisms from victim advocates. These simply could not be rejected as the self-serving whines of vested interest groups. Rather, they were an emphatic message from seasoned clinicians and were endorsed by an independent panel appointed by minister Nick Smith.
ACC portrays the backdown as, in effect, evidence that it can listen and react to a strong case. Dr Smith, to some extent, can portray it as a case of him intervening usefully.
It's arguable that some encouragement can be taken from this for the southern campaign against the proposal to strip Dunedin of its neurosurgery unit, which is also at the "minister's panel" stage. Certainly the case is no less strong.
What we now have, with ACC, is a stopgap provision by which up to 16 hours' counselling will be available for victims of rape and other sexual abuse "sensitive claims". The panel's final report isn't due to be released until the middle of next month and something more permanent may result from that. Popular opinion is that it better.
This doesn't exactly take the heat off Dr Smith, however. He says he was concerned when he saw an increase in claims being turned down and that the Government had not asked for cuts in the sensitive claims area. Of course it hadn't. Governments hardly ever do anything as plain as saying "do less for victims of sexual abuse".
What they do, as many a health board can attest, is make more generalised requirements for funding cutbacks that leave the boards to make the sharply focused decisions like this, and then cop the criticisms.
In cases such as this, the Government gets to wade in like this and insist that, well, obviously, this wasn't what it had in mind. There really is a short distance politically, from an instruction that is no more detailed than the ridiculously generalised Nike slogan – "just do it" – to the outraged specificity of a "you did what"? And sure enough, Dr Smith says ACC handled this matter badly.
Now opposition parties, notably the Greens, are fully entitled to say other changes that ACC has made should also be given pointy scrutiny by independent reviews.
Such reviews would be rather spoilt for choice. Not so much the decision to push the date by which ACC is fully funded back five years to 2019, which is widely accepted as sensible, but sore changes to the work assessment regime, the diminished entitlements for seasonal workers and the tougher standards before people can get hearing aids. Less likely, purely for populist reasons, is that there will be a revisitation of the decision taking away compensations for criminals in jail.
But surely there can be a rethink of the notion that the families of suicide victims might need ACC help. Given, as we have lately been reminded by the Chief Coroner, that the suicide rate is far worse than the road toll, it doesn't take much of an imaginative leap to see a real need, if not in all cases, then certainly a substantial number, for some practical assistance to be given. And by the State.
The suspicion that ACC is being privatised by stealth still lingers.

© 2010 Fairfax New Zealand Ltd
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/opinion/4024289/A-needed-correction

Sex abuse victims 'not getting help from ACC'

An article from the Southland Times by Ceana Priest

Invercargill sexual abuse victims are not getting the help they need and now the area is at risk of losing a counsellor following changes to the ACC sensitive claims process, counsellors said.
Southland-Otago Catholic Social Services director Ian Donnelly said there had been a substantial drop in referrals since the changes were implemented last year. "Referrals for our Invercargill counsellor are down and it means women who need counselling are not getting it."
Their Invercargill counsellor worked two days each week and client numbers reduced from 16 in July last year to four in April.
Mr Donnelly said two-thirds of their clients were ACC referrals. "We now have difficulties in supporting our counsellors, the funding being paid to our counsellors is reduced. There is a risk of losing a counsellor but the worst part is people aren't getting the help they need."
Implemented in October, the clinical framework for the ACC Sensitive Claims Unit changed the way people are funded for counselling of sexual abuse.
Previously, ACC funded four sessions for counsellors to discuss clients' history and send their recommendations to ACC. Now one session is funded before the victim is referred to a specialist for a mental health diagnosis.
The new framework is under review after it was opposed by organisations including the New Zealand Psychological Society, NZ College of Clinical Psychologists and Mental Health Foundation.
ACC Minister Nick Smith announced an independent review in April and expected the group to report back this month.
His press secretary, Simon Beattie, said: "The minister appreciates concerns about the way ACC have handled sensitive claims and that is why he set up the review."
Counsellor and social worker Marion Bottle, of Invercargill, said the process intimidated people seeking help. "For most people, coming to see a counsellor is a traumatic process and it can take many years to get up the courage.
"After the first session they might not get to see that counsellor again and there is no time to build rapport or condense their history into one hour.
"Many come for an individual session then won't come back because the process is too intimidating. Some might end up in the mental health services, no-one can tell exactly what will happen to them."
Her ACC counselling hours reduced from 61 in July last year to 27 in June. "My clients were 70 per cent from ACC but now only 10 or 15 per cent. Counsellors' jobs are at risk."
An ACC media liaison officer refused to comment while the framework was being reviewed.

Copyright Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2010
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