Applicable to: Application Entities
Legislative Authority for Policy Directive: Section 7(2)3
Functions of Application entity under the Act: Sections 14, 15, 17 (1) (a)
Effective Date: October 1, 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this policy directive is to ensure that the application entity follows consistent processes to help adults with a developmental disability who appear to be in urgent need of interim developmental services and support.

Policy

The application entity shall use a provincially-consistent process to respond to adults who appear to be in urgent need of interim developmental services and support where there are reasonable grounds to believe, or it is already known, that such persons are eligible for adult developmental services and supports.

Directive

When a person contacting an application entity needs an emergency service response, the application entity shall provide information to direct the person to the most appropriate local emergency service (for example, police, ambulance, fire, hospitals).

When a person contacting an application entity appears to be in urgent need of interim adult developmental services and support, the application entity shall initiate the local process for resolving service issues for adults with a developmental disability (such as the Urgent Response process) that may refer the person to appropriate, available, interim support.

Where a person has not previously completed the confirmation of eligibility process for ministry-funded adult developmental services and supports, the application entity shall follow-up with the person to complete the eligibility confirmation process in accordance with the act.

The application entity shall complete and/or update the full Application Package for all eligible persons as soon as possible and no later than twelve (12) months after the date of the initial request for urgent support.

The application entity is not to provide any direct care services for people with urgent adult developmental support needs.

Examples of situations where an adult with a developmental disability may have an urgent need for interim developmental services and support include:

  • The unpaid primary caregiver (e.g., family member) is unable to continue providing care that is essential to the health and well being of the adult.
  • The adult has no residence or anticipates in the very near future a very real likelihood of having no residence.
  • The adult’s support needs have changed to such an extent that their current support arrangement may soon become untenable and their well-being is at risk.