5.1 - After Hours Emergency Social Services (AHESS)

AHESS is the After Hours Emergency Social Services, which is provided by the Department of Social Development (SD). In responding to calls to AHESS, the on-call social workers are subject to the guidelines and limitations of the policies of SD. They are restricted further in that approvals should only be made in situations which in their judgment are critical; (life, health, and/or safety threatened); that is emergency situations which cannot wait until the SD office is open.

AHESS has access to NB Case to determine if callers are active clients. Their access is limited to only viewing the information on the system. AHESS will inform the SD office by E-Mail of approvals or refusals which have been made.

Clients identified as abusers of the AHESS system are to be identified by the SD office and forwarded to AHESS by E-Mail as quickly as possible. The notification should state what special benefits these clients are not entitled to and the time limit of such restriction. Generally, the abusers' list is reviewed by AHESS at least once a year. The AHESS staff will refuse special benefits as requested, unless in their judgment the refusal of these benefits would place the clients' life in danger.

The overriding principle behind approving AHESS benefits is that an emergency must be occuring. For this purpose an emergency can be defined as the following:

• A situation where failure to act may result in:
• a client being left without means of food, shelter, or warmth;
• the withholding of medical services/supplies which are required within two days.

Any avoidable and unforeseen occurrence, situation or set of circumstances occuring at the present time which requires immediate response and for which the nature of the response is seen as crisis intervention.

Food (Emergency)

Emergency food is not to be approved from Sunday to Thursday nights inclusive, except in extreme cases involving infants. On Friday and Saturday nights as well as nights before a holiday, the above definition of an emergency should be used.

Fuel (Emergency)

Only a minimum delivery is to be approved, and only in situations which in their judgment are critical, where the emergency cannot wait until the SD office is open. Approvals are only made between November 1 and April 30.

Funerals

AHESS staff do not approve funeral expenses but they may verify whether the deceased is a client. If assistance is requested, the family of the deceased are to be advised to apply to the appropriate SD office.

Medically Related Services

These may only be approved in situations where a medical professional can determine whether the life or health of the client would be in danger or where the emergency cannot wait until the SD office is open. AHESS may also approve Children's Tylenol, which is not generally covered.

Medical Transportation

AHESS is not to approve medical transportation except in extreme circumstances, instead they are to advise clients to pay for the transportation themselves, and to obtain a receipt and official verification of their medical visit. The determination of payment will be made by the client's case manager. If the client claims no funds are available and children are involved, one way fare may be authorized. Return fares can only be given after the hospital confirms the individual was seen by emergency room personnel.

Ambulance is available when a client cannot pay transportation and feels their life would be in danger if they do not get to the hospital.

Other

Approvals of any other benefits and/or services are to be made only where the safety or life or the client may be in danger if the emergency cannot wait until the SD office is open

Prescription Drugs Not Covered By Health Card

The AHESS employee must confirm with the physician or pharmacist that the client's life would be in danger if the required medication is not received immediately. If this confirmation is not possible, AHESS staff will approve payment if in their judgment, the client's life is in danger.

The $2.00 and $4.00 client participation fee should not be approved by AHESS staff.

Shelter (Emergency)

Approvals are to be made only in situations where the emergency can not wait until the SD office is open. The number of evenings approved should only be enough so that the client has shelter until the SD office is open. Meals can be approved at a restaurant when approving hotel/motel rooms.