Workplace culture

After some recent management changes in our organisation and a vision and mission statement rethink, we were wondering if you have any resources that can help us improve our culture and attract employees that can deliver on our values? 

NDS has some great resources to help you. With our partner Purpose at Work and some member organisations, we created a series of short videos on How to Create an Enabling Workplace. The seven videos, which come with supporting materials, talk about creating the conditions for your organisation and work teams to thrive.  

Reclaiming costs for using external risk assessment providers

We see that, as a new provider, we have to risk assess participants’ residences for the safety of our workers and the participants. We have engaged a company to assess the residences. How do we reclaim this cost, whether from the participants plan or the NDIS in general? 

Initial risk assessments, which are part of the onboarding process and a key to your deciding to take on a participant, are a business expense and would not be billable against the participant’s plan. 

Organisational risk assessments for the safety of workers is also an organisational cost and cannot be billed directly to the participant. 

Question lists for Auditing services

We are preparing for an external audit and will be registering for two new services — Specialist Support Coordination and Developmental Educator. Where could we find a detailed question list for SSC and DE to collate the necessary information for auditing these new services? Would it come from the auditors or elsewhere? 

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Practice Standards and Quality Indicators are the best source of information for what the auditors will be looking for and what questions may be asked. The Quality Indicators are all the elements that need to be met to demonstrate that the practice standards have been reached.  

There are specific modules in the Practice Standards for specialised support co-ordination and specialist behaviour support. 

The Allied Health Professionals Association have a resource on their website to help allied health professionals navigate the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Registration requirements and processes. This may also assist you with your preparations. 

Rules for billing Irregular SIL Supports for community participation

Can you advise me on using irregular support funding to cover community participation support? We provide Community Participation supports to our SIL customers, but many of our customers do not have enough core funds available or they are quarantined for other providers. We have been told to use irregular supports funding — is this correct? 

According to the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL), billing against Irregular SIL Supports can only be for intermittent or unplanned events that disrupt supports already in the SIL budget.  For example, if a participant falls ill or a day program is cancelled, and the participant stays home, requiring SIL supports that weren’t initially planned or rostered for.  

SIL providers can only claim from a participant’s plan for Irregular SIL Supports if all these conditions are met:  

• The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits indicates that providers can claim Irregular SIL Supports for that support item.  
• The proposed charges for the activities comply with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.  
• Where the SIL activity does not sit within the definition of Regular SIL Supports, the provider explains to the participant or their nominee why Irregular SIL Supports are required, and what other options are available. 
• The participant or their nominee gives their agreement for the provider to claim for the support before a payment request is made (that is, the service agreement between the participant and the provider should specify that Irregular SIL Supports can be claimed when required). 

You’ll find more in the SIL Operational Guidelines on the NDIS website.