Management
  Alternatives Pty Ltd
  ABN 23 050 334 435

A. Strategic
    planning
B. Human
     services
B1 Arabic youth
B2.The Vietnamese
    Community
B3. The Spanish
     community
B4. Samoan new
     arrivals
B5. Macedonian
     artistic life
B6 Counselling for
   families and YP
C. Community
     development
C1. Elderly group
C2. Polish men
C3. Korean youth
C4. Elderly Chinese
D. Project plan

Planning models B - Human services: direct service

The organisational context for a direct service plan is the vision, values and mission of the auspicing organisation.

Within this context people in the community, and their needs, are the starting point and end point of the planning process.

The planning process starts by identifying the needs of the people, what is to be achieved in relation to the needs, and broadly how this can be done (strategies). An action plan is developed which incorporates inputs, service processes and outputs. The service processes ultimately lead to outcomes which, ideally, meet the needs of the clients/community.

To download a full size image suitable for an A4 overhead transparency - click on A4 PDF OHP

  
   A4 PDF OHP    JPG

Complexity in the real world

The chart above is useful because it maps the elements of a project plan. It is also simplistic because it leaves out much of the real world complexity.

The chart below identifies some of the complexity in a human service process.

   A4 PDF OHP    JPG

Human service process take place within the context of community services (A). The client comes from a particular family, neighbourhood and community (B) . The client has specific material circumstances (C), individual and family characteristics (D) and issues to work on (E).
The client is referred to the service (F) where the human service process (G) is an interaction between staff and client, working towards goals (I) to achieve specific outcomes (J) which have longer term impacts (K).
The human service process is connected with other services (H) and (M).
When developing plans for services it is important to be able to identify the essence of the plan (Chart A) and be aware of the complexity in the service process (Chart B).

Direct Service Examples

Here are six examples of direct service plans.
These examples are brief outlines showing the use of the different terms (vision, values, aims, objectives, etc.).

1. Arabic youth
2. The Vietnamese community
3. The Spanish community
4. Samoan new arrivals
5. Macedonian artistic life
6. Counseling for families and young people