of progress towards goals often the result of significant injury or acquired disability. It may be that these supports are not funded by the NDIS, however agreements with Health about the roles and responsibilities, and effective coordination across both sectors is required to maximise results. This should not be negotiated as needs arise but planned and proactive where possible, consistent with the insurance model. disability are accommodated or addressed via the THERE IS A NEED application of customised equipment and supports. FOR SKILLED The need for coordination of support to implement COORDINATION OF packages under the NDIS has been recognised in the SUPPORTS new support clusters definition and pricing framework published recently27, which state, intensity ‘Higher complex support coordination may be paid where a the identified importance participant requires assistance from a support worker of an effective health and with additional qualifications and experience relevant to disability interface for this the participant’s complex needs. If such support is target group, and the provided or guided complexity of their needs, by a health professional because of the needs of the specific attention and participant, the health professional rates apply for that approaches to pre- planning, support’ (p.6). The NDIA defines support coordination planning, coordination and as to strengthen participants’ abilities to ‘assistance implementation of NDIS coordinate and implement supports and participate more supports in a timely manner fully in the community’ (p.6). will be pivotal. This coordination will allow Given the complexity of support needs of the participants participants to receive timely in the SSAs surveyed in this study, and the access to the equipment and responsiveness required to review the needs of this supports they require to population over achieve time, ongoing coordination of support or timely and a level of social and economic responsive review of NDIS is expected to be higher participation aligned with their or more frequent for this target group than other Scheme goals and aspirations. Such participants. support coordination’ is likely to ‘Specialist coordination will also ensure be a necessary support required within an NDIS plan for that secondary conditions a majority of this target group, not an exception. relating to the functional
of progress towards goals often the result of significant injury or acquired disability. It may be that these supports are not funded by the NDIS, however agreements with Health about the roles and responsibilities, and effective coordination across both sectors is required to maximise results. This should not be negotiated as needs arise but planned and proactive where possible, consistent with the insurance model. THERE IS A NEED FOR SKILLED COORDINATION OF SUPPORTS the identified importance of an effective health and disability interface for this target group, and the complexity of their needs, specific attention and approaches to pre- planning, planning, coordination and implementation of NDIS supports in a timely manner will be pivotal. This coordination will allow participants to receive timely access to the equipment and supports they require to achieve a level of social and economic participation aligned with their goals and aspirations. Such coordination will also ensure that secondary conditions relating to the functional disability are accommodated or addressed via the application of customised equipment and supports. The need for coordination of support to implement packages under the NDIS has been recognised in the new support clusters definition and pricing framework published recently27, which state, ‘Higher intensity complex support coordination may be paid where a participant requires assistance from a support worker with additional qualifications and experience relevant to the participant’s complex needs. If such support is provided or guided by a health professional because of the needs of the participant, the health professional rates apply for that support’ (p.6). The NDIA defines support coordination as ‘assistance to strengthen participants’ abilities to coordinate and implement supports and participate more fully in the community’ (p.6). Given the complexity of support needs of the participants in the SSAs surveyed in this study, and the responsiveness required to review the needs of this population over time, ongoing coordination of support or timely and responsive review of NDIS is expected to be higher or more frequent for this target group than other Scheme participants. ‘Specialist support coordination’ is likely to be a necessary support required within an NDIS plan for a majority of this target group, not an exception.
Considerations-for-National-Disability-Insurance-Scheme-Design-Word,-1.94mb.docx