NDIS Orange - Safety Protocols for Residential Disability Supports

The death of a 28-year-old woman at an NDIS funded care home in Orange has thrown the spotlight on the safety protocols around residential disability supports. NSW police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, which occurred at a home operated by Live Better, a national provider that provides residential and community support services to people with a disability. The company has reported the incident to both Worksafe NSW and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

A review of the case is expected to be completed in March, with an interim report to be released in February. The incident has shocked the NDIS Orange funding community, with some providers claiming the death is the result of a lack of training and poor management. Others are calling for better safety protocols and training, including for all staff.

NDIS participants and their families need to be able to trust that the supports they receive are safe, consistent and responsive. This is especially important when it comes to the delivery of intensive in-home supports and respite. In the wake of this tragedy it is critical that the NDIS takes steps to investigate whether there are systemic issues at play. This could involve reviewing the current quality and safeguards systems, looking at how to improve recruitment and retention of support workers and considering how the delivery of in-home and respite supports is managed.

The use of market language in the NDIS, and the way in which this is reflected in the design of supports, reinforces the transactional characteristics of the scheme. It promotes the notion that, for a particular price, a service shows up at a specified time and delivers a specific service. This approach fails to capture the NDIS's broader goal of lifting participants into mainstream participation and authentic belonging in their communities.

A key issue in the NDIS is the extent to which participants feel they have been turned into commodities rather than citizens. The NDIS has a powerful opportunity to change this, but it will require a significant shift in culture and mindset to do so.

This resource has been developed to help practitioners develop their skills and confidence working with families who have NDIS participation. It consists of eLearning modules that take approximately 20 minutes each to complete and includes a workbook to apply the learning to your practice. It is available on the DHHS intranet or by clicking the link below.

This resource applies to NDIS plans created on the original NDIS system. From October 2023 all NDIS plans will be created on a new system known as PACE. For more information on what changes have been made, head here. If you have a PACE plan and need assistance, speak to your Local Area Coordinator, Support Coordinator or NDIS Plan Manager for support. They can help you navigate the new system. There are also a number of helpful resources on the NDIS website here. You can also contact the NDIS Client Information and Referral Team on 1800 800 005.

Epitome Care is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities achieve their goals and live with dignity, independence, and purpose. We empower our participants to overcome barriers, embrace their strengths, and live life on their own terms. With a team of passionate and experienced professionals, we strive to provide innovative support services to help them live their best life.

NDIS Short Term Accommodation Providers Offer Respite Care

NDIS Short Term Accommodation Providers offer respite care for participants and their caregivers. Respite care is a critical service that provides individuals with disabilities and their families with the opportunity to enjoy an environment that offers them comfort and security without compromising the level of support they receive. It also allows participants to engage in a variety of activities that will further develop their skills and abilities.

The best NDIS short term accommodation providers will be able to meet your specific needs and cater to your individual circumstances. This may include dietary restrictions, accessibility features, and staff qualifications. It is recommended that you research providers thoroughly and seek recommendations from your NDIS planner or support coordinator before making a decision. In addition, it is important to communicate openly with the provider to ensure that they understand your needs and preferences.

It is essential that you choose a provider that is familiar with NDIS short term accommodation funding, and can provide the facilities and services listed in your plan. This will help ensure that your NDIS short term accommodation experience is smooth and stress-free. It is also important to book your NDIS short term accommodation early, as these services can be limited during peak seasons and holidays.

NDIS short term accommodation is ideal for those who require temporary assistance with daily living tasks such as cooking, bathing, and dressing. It can also be used to allow a participant’s family or informal supports to take a break from caregiving duties, or to assist with resettling into a new home. NDIS short term accommodation funding is flexible, and can be utilised for up to 28 days per year.

Some of the key benefits of NDIS short term accommodation include allowing a person to experience a different environment, providing a break from caring responsibilities, and giving the participant the opportunity to participate in a range of activities that will further their abilities and enhance their quality of life. Additionally, NDIS short term accommodation can also be used as an interim solution for those who are waiting for their home modifications to be completed.

There are many NDIS short term accommodation providers in Melbourne, and selecting the right one will depend on your individual requirements. Some providers will be able to accommodate specific medical or mobility requirements, while others might have limited availability during peak periods or holidays. It is important to carefully consider your individual requirements and consult with your NDIS planner or support coordinator before choosing an NDIS short term accommodation provider.

NDIS short term accommodation providers offer comfortable and modern homes that are designed to give participants a relaxing holiday away from home. They can also provide a range of support services, including meal preparation and cleaning, shopping, and transport. They can even help with arranging social and recreational activities, such as art-therapy sessions or fitness group exercise classes. In addition, NDIS short term accommodation providers can help with home and garden maintenance, and can arrange appointments with doctors and allied health professionals.

Epitome Care is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities achieve their goals and live with dignity, independence, and purpose. We empower our participants to overcome barriers, embrace their strengths, and live life on their own terms. With a team of passionate and experienced professionals, we strive to provide innovative support services to help them live their best life.

How Country Health Connect Delivers National Disability Insurance Scheme Services

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Services (NDIS) is a Commonwealth-funded program to help people with disability get the support they need to live their lives. It is a holistic and individualised system, with participants being provided with funding to purchase services that will help them achieve their goals and live the life they want to lead.

There are a number of supports available under the NDIS, including health, accommodation and social inclusion activities. At Country Health Connect, we have a specialist team who provide NDIS services to our clients. This ranges from the provision of specialist allied health and nursing services through to individualised child, adult and community programs. These programs are delivered by our highly skilled team who work together to ensure our participants receive the best outcomes possible and can reach their potential.

NDIS participants are provided with an individualised plan to identify the support needs and goals that they have. This is then assessed by the NDIA to determine if these are reasonable and necessary, and if funding can be allocated for them. These plans are then used to purchase services from a service provider that is registered with the NDIS, including our organisation. Each year, the participant will attend a planning meeting with their NDIA planner who will talk to them about their goals and the support that they require for this year.

Despite the promise of choice and control, NDIS participants have often reported difficulties in using their funds and engaging with providers through the NDIS’s ‘personal budgets’ model. This has resulted in a breakdown of trust between the NDIA and disability communities. The NDIA is now faced with the challenge of rebuilding this trust, but it will take significant effort and a new ethos to do so (Dickinson & West, 2022).

In the short term, there are a number of things that can be done to improve the way in which the NDIS works. These include addressing the barriers to participation, improving transparency and accountability, and establishing an enforceable duty of care. However, the long-term solution will require a major overhaul of how the NDIS operates. This will require the involvement of all stakeholders including the NDIA, service providers, State and Territory Governments and, importantly, disability advocates (Dickinson & Olney, 2022).

The Independent Review into the NDIS has recently published its Working Together to Deliver the NDIS final report. This report contains 26 recommendations and 139 supporting actions. While it is still early days, PIAC has welcomed many of the recommendations and believes that they reflect the concerns that we and other disability advocates have raised in our submissions to the Review. The Commonwealth and State Governments will now need to decide whether and how they can implement these recommendations, in particular those that relate to registering and regulating service providers and eliminating restrictive practices (PIAC, 2023).

Epitome Care is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities achieve their goals and live with dignity, independence, and purpose. We empower our participants to overcome barriers, embrace their strengths, and live life on their own terms. With a team of passionate and experienced professionals, we strive to provide innovative support services to help them live their best life.

NDIS Provider Support

NDIS Provider Support is designed to help people with disability live independently, build relationships and take control of their lives. As such, it is important that NDIS participants choose the right provider to meet their needs. They should also be aware of how much funding they have available. This can be found through the my NDIS portal or in their plan approval and implementation meeting. NDIS participants and their providers should work together to understand what funding is available and how the supports in their plan will be delivered and paid for.

NDIS providers should be able to provide a strategic roadmap on how their products will enable NDIS participants to achieve their goals and improve daily living. This is especially true for providers who specialise in personal care, home support and respite. In addition, providers must be able to explain the types of funding the NDIS is providing for each support and service. This will ensure participants are not paying for things that aren’t authorised under their plan.

It is crucial for NDIS participants to choose a provider that prioritises collaboration and partnerships. The best providers demonstrate professionalism throughout their meetings with participants. This includes how they greet them, the way they communicate and how they interact with families and other support workers. Additionally, they should be able to provide a range of services that are tailored to the specific needs of each participant.

Whether it is managing staff rosters, ensuring NDIS compliance or providing top-notch care management, the best NDIS providers have systems in place to streamline operations and improve outcomes for their customers. To do this, they must be able to identify the most pressing customer concerns and develop strategies to address them effectively.

One way to do this is by implementing technology that’s specifically designed for NDIS service provision. Software like ShiftCare can help NDIS providers manage all aspects of their business, from rostering to ensuring NDIS compliance and delivering outstanding care. Moreover, it can reduce the time spent on admin tasks so that team members have more time to spend with their customers.

Another strategy that NDIS providers can use is to focus on their unique strengths and expertise. By doing this, they can increase their visibility in the market and attract more prospective participants. For example, if a provider offers specialised support for people with complex needs, they can promote this to prospective participants. Similarly, if they offer flexible respite support, they can advertise this to their target audience.

Lastly, NDIS providers can also use marketing and promotional strategies to help them stand out in the market. This may include using social media, running advertising campaigns and organising community events to get the word out about their services.

Finally, NDIS providers should also look for ways to gather feedback from their customers. This can be done through surveys, interviews and informal conversations. Obtaining feedback from participants and their families is an effective way to identify issues that need to be addressed. Moreover, gathering feedback regularly can help NDIS providers improve their services and make sure that they are meeting the needs of their participants.

Epitome Care is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities achieve their goals and live with dignity, independence, and purpose. We empower our participants to overcome barriers, embrace their strengths, and live life on their own terms. With a team of passionate and experienced professionals, we strive to provide innovative support services to help them live their best life.