Chapter 2. Job Seeker Assessments

Supporting Documents for this Chapter:

• Explanation of the Job Seeker Snapshotsign-in required (sign-in required)

• Job Seeker Snapshot offline Formsign-in required (sign-in required)

• Job Seeker Snapshot Overviewsign-in required (sign-in required)

• Assisting Job Seekers and Participants in Crisis Factsheetsign-in required (sign-in required)

This Chapter describes the role and purpose of the Job Seeker Assessment Framework (JSAF) under Workforce Australia Services and TtW. It provides instructions on the JSAF assessments used to determine the services a Participant is eligible for and supports they may need to secure employment.

The JSAF assists in determining the employment services that Participants are eligible for and supports them in making appropriate choices. The JSAF is intended to be ongoing and dynamic, to support and encourage Participant disclosure and engagement and to minimise reporting duplication for Participants.

It acknowledges that Providers may have their own tools, assessments, and resources to provide servicing that is tailored to the Participant's individual needs, circumstances, skills, strengths, and any barriers or issues they may have in relation to finding employment or reconnecting with education.

The Job Seeker Snapshot and Employment Services Assessment (ESAt) both perform a fundamental role in Workforce Australia Services and TtW. The results of a Participant’s Job Seeker Snapshot and ESAt should be used in conjunction with other assessments to understand a Participant’s goals and personal circumstances. Providers may also support Participants to access and use the assessments and tools available on Workforce Australia Online, including the Job Seeker Snapshot and Profile.

(Deed Reference(s): Section B2.4)

The Job Seeker Snapshot is the questionnaire completed by the Participant, Services Australia or the Provider. It includes questions that determine the Participant’s Job Seeker Classification Instrument (JSCI) score, support the Participant to make an informed decision when given a choice between TtW and Workforce Australia Services, and helps identify if the Participant requires an ESAt (see Referring Participants for an Employment Services Assessment).

The JSCI is the statistical tool that determines a Participant’s risk of becoming long term unemployed. It considers the relative labour market disadvantage of a Participant to determine the level of support and assistance required. The JSCI score is a product of various personal factors such as a Participant’s work experience and qualifications. For further information see the Job Seeker Snapshot Overview supporting documentsign-in required (sign-in required).

See the Eligibility, Referral and Commencement Chapter for information regarding Eligibility for TtW.

For Participants receiving Activity Tested Income Support, the Job Seeker Snapshot is generally first completed as part of the Income Support claim process, prior to a Participant’s Referral to Workforce Australia Services or TtW.

If a Participant has not completed the Job Seeker Snapshot (which includes those Participants who are Direct Registered or not on an Activity Tested Income Support Payment), or has an inactive Job Seeker Snapshot upon Referral, any Provider must:

• ask the Participant to complete the Job Seeker Snapshot; or

• conduct the Job Seeker Snapshot with the Participant (e.g. if the Participant cannot access the internet, or has limited digital ability).

Note: Providers must ensure that all Participants have a completed Job Seeker Snapshot by the end of the Initial Phase.

The Provider may, at any time, record changes in the Participant’s personal circumstances (for example a loss of licence) or include new information (for example a change in living circumstances) in a Participant’s record in the Department’s IT system by conducting a Change in Circumstances Reassessment by editing the relevant questions in the Job Seeker Snapshot.

Where a Participant supplies documentation to support their answers in the Job Seeker Snapshot, it is good practice for the Provider to retain this documentation.

Providers should inform Participants they can access and update their Job Seeker Snapshot at any time and that this will assist in identifying services and supports that may be beneficial to them. When a Participant updates their Job Seeker Snapshot, their Provider is notified via Workforce Australia Online for Providers. Some data such as their age or length of time in an employment service will update the Job Seeker Snapshot automatically. See the Eligibility, Referral and Commencement Chapter for information regarding Eligibility for TtW.

If Workforce Australia for Providers is unavailable for any reason, a Job Seeker Snapshot Offline form can be used for updates. Any information obtained this way must be recorded by the Provider in the Department’s IT Systems as soon as practicable. Until the Participant’s responses are captured, the level of assistance and support required is unable to be determined.

Note: TtW Providers do not need to conduct the Job Seeker Snapshot for Parent Pathways Participants in TtW.

(Deed Reference(s): Clause 94.2)

Should the Provider need to conduct a Job Seeker Snapshot the Explanation of the Job Seeker Snapshot Questionssign-in required (sign-in required) document available on the Provider Portal will assist Providers to administer the Job Seeker Snapshot. The Provider should ensure:

• the Job Seeker Snapshot is conducted in a private setting and in a professional and culturally appropriate manner

• the Participant has given their consent for the Provider to collect and use the sensitive information collected through the Job Seeker Snapshot (refer to Part A Guidelines: Privacy Chapter sign-in required (sign-in required)for further information)

• an interpreter is offered and provided to the Participant when a Provider considers it appropriate

• the Participant understands they may be accompanied by a support person of their choosing

• the Participant is informed their responses to the questions will not affect their payments in any way, are not provided to prospective employers and that the questions are designed to ensure they receive the services and support best suited to their needs

• the Participant understands some of the questions in the Job Seeker Snapshot are voluntary questions and the Provider will inform the Participant if a question is voluntary before the question is asked.

If a Participant discloses the need for crisis assistance or other support, the Provider should refer them to services appropriate to their needs. Refer to the Assisting Job Seekers and Participants in Crisis Factsheetsign-in required (sign-in required) on the Provider Portal. Services Australia may also assist with counselling, child support payments and accessing a crisis payment. For further information, please visit Services Australia's website.

Services Australia conducts an Employment Services Assessment (ESAt) to determine if a Participant has a long-term reduced work capacity (known as a Partial Capacity to Work) or is eligible for Inclusive Employment Australia.

TtW Providers cannot book an ESAt Appointment for a Participant. If the Provider considers the Participant, receiving Activity Tested Income Support, has a medical condition(s) or disability that may require further assessment, the Provider should instruct the Participant to contact Services Australia directly. The Participant will need to provide medical evidence to Services Australia by uploading it via their Centrelink account before an appointment is booked. Providers should support Participants through this process.

A Provider may adjust a Participant's Mutual Obligation Requirements to reflect a short-term or temporary change in circumstances in certain situations, such as an injury or temporary medical condition. Refer to Participant Requirements Chapter and Job Plan Chapter for further information.

The Provider must take account of the recommendations for interventions made by the Services Australia assessor in the ESAt report – as well as work with the Participant to reflect any assessed Partial Capacity to Work when determining appropriate activities, and tailoring their services. Refer to Participant Requirements Chapter and Job Plan Chapter for further information.

Should an ESAt result in the Participant no longer being serviced by the Provider, for example the Participant is referred to Inclusive Employment Australia or no longer required to Participate in Employment Services at all, the Provider will be able to see this Exit through Workforce Australia Online for Providers.

Note: TtW Providers are unable to refer a Participant directly to Inclusive Employment Australia through Workforce Australia Online for Providers.

An ESAt report will capture the Participant’s:

• medical conditions

• barriers to employment

• recommended interventions

• current baseline work capacity

• future work capacity with intervention

• recommended Workforce Australia Service

.

The ESAt report may be released to a Participant except where Services Australia has indicated in the report that it contains information that may be detrimental to the Participant’s health. In this circumstance, the Participant has the option of requesting the report through the Department’s Freedom of Information team, email: foi@dese.gov.au.

Additional information regarding disclosure of information and privacy considerations can be found in the Part A Guidelines: Privacy Chaptersign-in required (sign-in required).