Welcome to the Makepeace & Co Community
For my first blog ever for my new company I wanted to share my driving enthusiasm with newly registering providers, and for people who may be here killing time reading about why I do what I do..... To sum it up;
"The bottom line is that I am passionate about ALL people living their best lives, regardless of the hand life has dealt them".
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a new way to provide funding to support people with disabilities. As any system this big is introduced, there’s likely to be problems (such as recent payment delays) or the impact of the system on individual service providers who now have to change their policies, procedures and systems to adapt to meet certification standards. Although for businesses it may appear on the surface like an arduous , costly and bureaucratic process, the principles of the system are just what participants have been waiting for and makes it all worth while.
TheNDIS Code of Conduct says it all:
In providing supports or services to people with disability, a person covered by the Code must:
• act with respect for individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination and decision-making in accordance with applicable laws and conventions
• respect the privacy of people with disability
• provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill
• act with integrity, honesty and transparency
• promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact the quality and safety of supports and services provided to people with disability
• take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against, and exploitation, neglect and abuse of, people with disability
• take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct.
9 Coal Face Benefits of the system to the end user...... the participants
1. More Money, Honey
Government spending on disability services will double as a result of the NDIS. When it is fully rolled out, it is estimated that around $16 billion each year will be spent on disability support services.
2. People Choose what they want (duh!!) Person Centred goals and needs are consulted with and taken into account in preparing a plan for support. NDIS funding is paid to a wide range of supports to help people to be independent and participate in the community in the way that they choose. Prior to the NDIS, choices of what was funded was limited.
3. Access to mainstream services (and why not??)
Great example - Jane requires assistance when shopping. Before NDIS she used to give her support worker a shopping list each week and she would get her shopping for her. Jane was charged $35 for the support worker’s time and also had to pay to cover petrol. Now she can use online shopping if she chooses. There is only a $10 delivery fee and it leaves her with more funds to use on other needs. As well as saving money, Jane likes having the flexibility to shop when she needs it instead of having to wait for her scheduled time.
4. Own choice of support staff (who wouldn't want this?)
The NDIS provides participants with the choice to employ staff that they feel comfortable, safe and have a rapport with. This could be the support worker or the cleaner that assists them to live their best lives.
5. Funding is portable (for nomads like me)
If you're a self professed nomad like me, this provides flexibility and freedom to allow participants to move when and where they like. Like electricity or any other service, notice needs to be provided (contained in the service contract), but it is both possible and easier.
6. Holiyays!!!
Portable NDIS funding makes it easier to go on holidays. Great example - Matt needs help with showering and dressing. If his local Melbourne not-for-profit service provider doesn’t operate in Darwin, they wouldn’t be able to provide support while he is there. He can now source a service provider in Darwin who will provide his care for two weeks while he is there. He just arranges for details of his care needs to be sent from his existing service provider to the new provider and can ask for a male support worker. This provides much more freedom, and makes a lot of sense!! Who doesn't need a holiday (or ten) sometimes?
7. Better Service (did you say market competition)
By giving service users control over their own funding, the NDIS is boosting consumer power. Service providers will begin to compete to get business by offering better quality, more flexible or better priced services. More businesses will seek to offer services to people with disabilities. As a result, the market should become more responsive to consumer needs and wants – providing more of the services are wanted and less services that aren’t so popular.
8. Service Providers can be easily changed (and feedback is encouraged!!)
Like service anyone receives, if a support worker is rude, late or unhelfpul, participants are encouraged to complain to the service provide or the NDIS Commission. A different support worker or service provider can be sourced. Service providers can be changed if they are charging too much or can be changed if a different service is sourced that provides better value for money.
9. Equitable assessment...…… (did you say Nationally Standardardised???)
Previously, disability funding was provided by State Governments. This meant that the amount and types of services provided different between States and also varied depending on the cause of the disability. Since the NDIS is a Commonwealth program based on an insurance model, it is a fairer system. The same level of funding and support regardless will be provided regardless of location or the cause of the disability. The final state to transition is WA on July 1, 2020.
How can anyone not be excited about this? Once the teething issues are resolved the results will be a much more accessible world for people with disabilities and who doesn't want that?
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