Provider Toolkit Module 4: Guide to Suitability

1July 2016

Contents

Provider Toolkit Module 4: Guide to Suitability

Contents

Toolkit structure

Executive Summary

4.1.Specialist Disability Registration Groups

4.2.Professional Registration Groups

4.3.Other Registration Groups

4.4.Home and vehicle modification Registration Groups

4.5.Assistive technology and equipment Registration Groups

4.6.Professional Qualifications for NDIS Providers

4.7.State and Territory Requirements for Specialist Disability Providers

4.7.1Requirements for new specialist disability providers in South Australia

4.7.2Requirements for new and existing specialist disability providers in Queensland

4.7.2.1Criminal history screening

4.7.2.2Complaints management

4.7.2.3Restrictive practices

4.7.2.4Monitoring and compliance

4.7.2.5Quality assurance

4.7.2.6Registration Process

4.7.2.7Provider Registration Process for Queensland

4.7.2.8Mapping of Queensland Specialist Disability Services and Queensland Community Care services to NDIS registration groups

4.7.3Requirements for new and existing specialist disability providers in Tasmania

4.7.3.1Requirements for new specialist disability providers in Tasmania

4.7.3.2Requirements for existing DHHS funded disability providers in Tasmania

4.7.4Requirements for specialist disability providers in Victoria

4.7.4.1Which quality and safeguards requirements apply?

4.7.4.2Arrangements for existing providers

4.7.4.3Existing providers of Home and Community Care (HACC) services

4.7.4.4Arrangements for new providers

4.7.4.5Removal of ‘Victorian Approved NDIS Provider’ status

4.7.4.6Victoria’s quality and safeguarding requirements by provider type

4.7.4.7Requirements for disability service providers

4.7.4.8Requirements for providers of early childhood intervention supports

4.7.4.9Requirements for existing providers of HACC services

4.7.4.10Table 1: NDIS registration groups that are in scope of Victorian requirements

4.7.4.11Table 2: Requirements for all Victorian approved NDIS providers

4.7.4.12Table 3: Requirements for disability service providers

4.7.4.14Table 4: Requirements for providers of psychosocial supports

4.7.4.15Table 5: Requirements for providers of early childhood supports (0-6 years)

4.7.4.16Table 6: Requirements for existing HACC providers

4.7.5Requirements for new specialist disability providers in ACT

4.7.6Requirements for new specialist disability providers in New South Wales

4.7.6.1Registering to provide NDIS Services in NSW

4.7.6.2Registration of existing NSW funded service providers

4.7.6.3Expanding range of service provision

4.7.6.4Registration of new providers

4.7.6.5What are comparable standards?

4.7.6.6Performance

4.7.6.7Governance

4.7.6.8School Education

4.7.6.10Probity in Employment

4.7.6.11Disability Reportable Incidents Scheme

4.7.6.12Death

4.7.6.13Work Health and Safety

4.1.1.1Workers Compensation

4.7.6.14Privacy

4.7.6.15Child Protection

4.1.1.2Health

4.7.6.16Mental Health

4.7.6.17Accommodation

4.7.6.18Fire Safety

4.7.6.19Supporting People

4.7.6.20Appendix 2: Disability SupportsPart A

4.7.6.21Appendix 2: Disability SupportsPartB

Toolkit structure

This is Module 4 of the Provider Toolkit, The Provider Toolkit also contains Modules 1 – 12.

Provider Toolkit

Module 1: Introduction and overview of the Provider Toolkit

Module 2: Registering as a Provider

Module 3: Terms of Business

Module 4: Guide to Suitability [this module]

Module 5: Service Agreements

Module 6: Service Bookings

Module 7: Payment and Assurance

Module 8: PRODA Step by Step guide

Module 9: myplace Provider Portal Step by Step Guide to logging into myplace for the first time – existing providers

Module 10: myplace Provider Portal Step by Step Guide to Registration for new providers

Module 11: myplace Provider Portal Step by Step Guide (excluding registration)

Module 12: Glossary

Executive Summary

The Guide to Suitability is a key document in assisting providers understand what supports they will be providing, and what their obligations are as providers of these NDIS supports.

Different supports have different levels of risk associated with their delivery. To minimise risk, enhance outcomes and maximise the social and economic participation of participants, certain experience, qualifications, processes and expertise are required of the providers registered to provide NDIS supports. As quality and safeguarding of disability supports remains the responsibility of States and Territories in transition, some of these requirements may differ between States/Territories to align with existing systems and requirements.

The NDIS has a catalogue of support items that can be funded through a participants plan. For the purposes of quality and safeguards, these support items have been grouped into ‘Registration Groups’ where the requirements to provide these supports are generally similar. Details on the specific requirements of each of these registration groups can be determined by reading through the initial tables in conjunction with the relevant state/territory requirements section. These Registration Groups are generally informally categorised one of five ways:

  1. Specialist Disability Registration Groups
  2. Professional Registration Groups
  3. Other Registration Groups
  4. Home and Vehicle Modification Registration Groups
  5. Assistive Technology and Equipment Registration Groups

Details on these categories can be found in the first section of the Guide to Suitability.

The grouping of supports into these Registration Groups also streamlines registration for providers. Instead of registering for individual line items, providers are able to instead just register for the Registration Group/s relevant to their business.

ndis.gov.au1 July 2016 | Provider Toolkit Module 41

4.1.Specialist Disability Registration Groups

Providers wishing to register for Specialist Disability Registration Groups must:

  • Be registered, approved and compliant with the requirements for registration or approval as a specialist disability service, community care or Home and Community Care provider as determined by the jurisdiction in which the provider wants to deliver supports. This includes Quality Assurance / Management systems compliance.
  • Submit evidence of this registration, approval and compliance issued by the jurisdiction, or authorised third party provider (as determined by each jurisdiction), for which you have applied to deliver supports. This evidence document must state the services that you are currently providing, or are authorised to provide under the NDIS;
  • New providers or providers wishing to expand their services should refer to the State requirements for new providers in this document.

Registration group / No / Professions / Expectations as to Experience
Assistance to Access and Maintain Employment or higher education
[Assist Access/Maintain Employ]
Workplace assistance enables a participant to successfully obtain and/or retain employment in the open or supported labour market. Includes:
  • individual employment support
  • employment preparation and support in a group
  • School leaver employment supports
  • transition through school and to further education
/ 0102 /
  • Developmental Educator
  • Teacher
  • Disability Support
Worker
  • Social Worker
  • Other care worker e.g.:
-Welfare worker
-Mental Health support Worker
-Mental Health Peer Worker / Experience delivering person centred services in the community or in the home and working with people with disability seeking employment, training for employment, or building and delivering sustainable employment opportunities.
Development of Daily Living andLife Skills [Development-Life Skills]
Development of daily living and life skills focuses on training and development activities undertaken by the participant or their carer to increase their ability to live as autonomously as possible, including supports that will enhance the ability of the participant to travel and use public transport independently. / 0117 /
  • Disability Support Worker (includes Mental Health or Peer Worker)
  • Welfare worker
/ Experience in providing training and supports to people with disability.
  • Registration group
/ No. /
  • Professions
/
  • Expectations as to Experience

Daily Personal Activities
Assisting with and/or supervising personal tasks of daily life to enable the participant to live as autonomously as possible. These individual supports and can be provided in a range of environments, including but not limited to, the participant’s own home. / 0107 /
  • Disability Support Worker
-Other care worker (includes Welfare worker, Mental Health support Worker, Peer Worker) / Experience delivering person centred services in the community or in the home and delivery of supports to assist people with disability with development of their skills and abilities.
High Intensity Daily Personal Activities
Assisting with and/or supervising personal tasks of daily life to enable the participant to live as autonomously as possible. These supports are provided by a worker with additional qualifications and experience relevant to the participants’ complex needs. These individual supports and can be provided in a range of environments, including but not limited to, the participant’s own home. / 0104 /
  • Disability Support Worker (includes Mental Health or Peer Worker)
  • Welfare worker
/ Experience delivering person centred services in the community or in the home and delivery of supports to assist people with disability with development of their skills and abilities. Experience and where relevant credentialing in e.g. behaviour support, suctioning etc.
Assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement[Daily Tasks/Shared Living]
This registration group incorporates assistance with and/or supervising tasks of daily life in a shared living environment, which is either temporary or ongoing, with a focus on developing the skills of each individual to live as autonomously as possible. This registration group includes short-term accommodation and assistance (e.g. respite care) / 0115 /
  • Disability Support Worker
  • Developmental Educator
  • Welfare worker
-Other care worker (includes, Mental Health support WorkerPeer Worker) / Experience delivering person centred services in the community or in the home and delivery of supports to assist people with disability with development of their skills and abilities.
Participation in community, social and civic activities
[Participate Community]
Assisting participants to participate actively in community, social and civic activities; includes supporting participants during these activities, and developing participants’ ability to partake in these activities. / 0125 /
  • Disability Support Worker
  • Welfare Worker
  • Developmental Educator
/ Experience delivering person centred services in the community or in the home and in the delivery of supports to assist people with disability with development of their skills and abilities.
  • Registration group
/ No /
  • Professions
/
  • Expectations as to Experience

Group and Centre Based Activities [Group/Centre Activities]
Assisting participants to participate in group based community, social and recreational activities. / 0136 /
  • Disability Support Worker
  • Social Worker
  • Developmental Educator
  • Welfare worker
  • Other care worker (inclMental Health support Worker, Peer Worker)
/ Experience delivering person centred services in the community or in the home and in the delivery of supports to assist people with disability with development of their skills and abilities.
Specialist Disability Accommodation[Specialist Accom]
Further information is being finalised. / 0131 /
  • Housing Provider
/ Submit declaration of suitability
Submit Dwelling enrolment form
Management of Funding for Supports [Plan Management]
Plan management focuses on strengthening the participant’s ability to undertake tasks associated with the management of their supports. Plan management is the financial management of the plan supports including making payments to providers, expense claims processing, developing monthly statements for participants and claiming for payment from NDIA.
Financial Intermediary funding applies to registered plan management providers who deliver plan management supports.
A financial intermediary will typically possess good knowledge of providers and supports, developed through interaction with and processing payments to providers over time. As part of their plan management role, a financial intermediary should support participants and strengthen their capacity to find and implement alternative support options if the participant asks for assistance. / 0127 /
  • Accountant/Bookkeeper
/ Experience in financial management of funding and working with people with disability.
Note that some providers may be exempt from “specialist disability service” requirements. For further information, please refer to the section in this document for the state or territory in which you intend to provide supports.
  • Registration group
/ No /
  • Professions
/
  • Expectations as to Experience

Assistance in coordinating or manageing life stages, transition and supports – [Life Stage, Transition]
This registration group includes short and long-term supports that focus on strengthening the participant’s ability to coordinate their supports, and to assist them to live at home and participate in their community. Includes:
  • support connection
  • coordination of supports
  • assistance with accommodation and tenancy obligations
  • Life transition planning including mentoring, peer support and individual skill development
  • assistance with decision making, daily planning, budgeting
/ 0106 /
  • Disability Support Worker
  • Developmental Educator
  • Social Worker
  • Welfare worker
  • Other care worker (Includes: Mental Health support Worker, Peer Worker, Community mental Health Practitioner)
/ Experience delivering person centred services in the community or in their home.
For peer support – lived experience of disability or psychosocial disability and relevant experiences and skills or training to perform this activity
IF Diploma in Disability Services studies, at least two years of experience
IF Cert III in Disability Services, substantial years of relevant experience and specialist skills sufficient to perform these activities
IF community mental health practitioner, bachelor’s degree or greater in a mental health relevant behavioural or social science discipline (including but not limited to social work, psychology, occupational therapy etc.)
IF Mental Health Support Worker, Certificate IV or diploma in a mental health relevant area of study
IF mental health peer worker, the lived experience of recovery from psychosocial disability, or of caring for someone with a psychosocial disability, combined with relevant qualifications and/or training (such as Intentional Peer Support, Cert IV in Mental Health Peer Work)
Specialised Supported Employment
Assistance in specialised supported employment/ADE / 0133 /
  • Disability Support Worker
  • Welfare Worker
  • Teacher
/ Commonwealth quality and safeguarding arrangements apply, including certification against the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS) via the Human Services Scheme (part 3 (DEES).

Please note – Mental Health Support Workers, Mental Health Peer Workers and Community Mental Health Practictioners may be required to select ‘Disability Support Worker’ when registering through myplace before declaring evidence of their suitability to provide service under these professions.

4.2.Professional Registration Groups

These registration groups require specific professional qualifications and experience as a prerequisite to provide these supports under the NDIS. Professionals who wish to provide specialist disability supports must also comply with quality and safeguards requirements of the relevant state/territories.

Additional requirements apply for some services in some jurisdictions. Please also see the information in this document for the state or territory in which you intend to provide supports.

Registration group / No / Professions / Expectations as to Experience
Positive Behaviour support
Behaviour Support
Specialised Positive Behaviour support registration group includes support items provided by Allied Health professional s with specialist skills in positive behaviour support including assessment the development of a plan developed that aims to limit the likelihood of behaviours of concern developing and /or increasing. / 0110 /
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker
  • Other health professional
/ Experience (minimum 2 years) working with people with disability who have challenging behaviours.
AND
Experience in professional / clinician supervision and development.
Community Nursing Care for High Needs
This is the provision of specialist care for participants who have high care needs. This involves support from a person with a high level of training to respond to the participant’s complex needs. / 0114 /
  • Registered Nurse
  • Other health professional
/ Experience in professional / clinician supervision and development.
Other Health Professional e.g. General Practicioner
Early Intervention Supports for Early Childhood
Provision of a mix of therapies, and a key worker for the family. / 0118 /
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Social Worker
  • Speech Pathologist
  • Teacher
  • Developmental Educator
  • Audiologist
  • Music Therapist
  • Counsellor
  • Art Therapist
  • Orthoptist
  • Podiatrist
/ Ongoing professional development
AND
Experience in early childhood interventions with children with disability
AND
Experience in providing service within a trans disciplinary framework.
Support Co-ordination
The provision of Support Coordination within a specialist framework necessitated by specific high level risks in the participant’s situation. Support is time limited and focuses on addressing barriers and reducing complexity in the support environment, while assisting the participant to connect with supports and build capacity and resilience. It may also involve development of an intervention plan which will be put in place by disability support workers. / 0132 /
  • Psychologist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Social Worker
  • Other
/ Other = Supports are delivered by Allied health professionals with extensive experience in support coordination for people with complex needs
Custom Prosthetics
Customised prosthetics requiring specialist skills. / 0135 /
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Pedorthotist
  • Podiatrist
  • Orthostist/Prosthetist
  • Physiotherapist
/ Experience relevant to the specific customised technology you wish to provide or assess. Further information under development.
Therapeutic supports
Therapeutic supports are provided to assist the participant to apply their functional skills to improve participation and independence in daily, practical activities in areas such as Language and communication, Personal care, Mobility and movement, Interpersonal interactions and Community living. / 0128 /
  • Art Therapist
  • Counsellor
  • Music Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Orthoptist
  • Podiatrist
  • Psychologist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Social Worker
  • Speech and Language Pathologist
  • Developmental Educator
  • Dietician
  • Rehabilitation Counsellor
/ Experience in professional / clinician supervision and development.
Exercise Physiology & Personal Well-being Activities [Ex Phys Pers Training]
Physical wellbeing activities promote and encourage physical well-being, including exercise and healthy diets. / 0126 /
  • Exercise Physiologist
  • Personal Trainer
  • Other qualified sports coach
/ Experience working with people with disability relevant to this support.
Interpreting and Translation
Interpreting and translation focuses on assistance to the participant to enable independent communication in essential personal, social or community activities where translation is not available from a mainstream service. / 0121 /
  • Interpreter/Translator
/ NAATI accreditation level 2 or 3 and experience working with people with disability.
Specialised Hearing Services
Specialised hearing services for children and adults with complex needs. In kind services provided through the office of Hearing Services only- not available for general registration. / 0119 /
  • Audiologist
  • Speech Pathologist

Hearing Services
Hearing services. In kind services provided through the office of Hearing Services only- not available for general registration. / 0134 /
  • Audiologist
  • Audiometrist
  • Speech Pathologist

4.3.Other Registration Groups

These registration groups do not have comprehensive requirements for providers wishing to register. These Registration Groups include ‘low-risk’ supports that do not require evidence of qualification or expertise for registration.