The Helpdesk Top 5 for February saw some thought-provoking questions raised about the NDIS. Provided by NDS.

1. Q: I have found the ninety-page list of NDIS providers on the NDIA page but is there a way I can filter or search for providers in an area?

A: The provider search tool has been taken off the NDIA page and is now on the participant portal. Providers are urged to update their details using the new ‘Outlet Management’ tile, which is on the Provider’s registration page.

2. Q: Which NDIS items in the price guide come under 'personal care' and 'community access'? These terms are used to identify items where cancellations, travel and establishment fees can be charged but don't directly line up to any items or clusters in the price guide.

A: ‘Personal care’ and ‘community access supports’ refers to supports under ‘assistance with self-care activities’, ‘assistance to access community, social and recreational activities’ and ‘group-based community, social and recreational activities’. Centre-based groups come under ‘group based community, social and recreational activities’. 

The function of the cancellation fee is recognising that, if a participant cancels a service or does not attend a service without giving due notice, the provider will still incur costs.  

3. Q: We have received an enquiry from a potential client who wishes to join our group Music Therapy sessions.  We believe the client has funding from ‘Group therapy 15_044_0128_1_3’ to cover these sessions. The price guide stipulates these sessions should be a group of 3. Is there any leeway in the group of 3 requirement? Our group sessions tend to be larger than that?  How would we charge the participant or NDIS in this instance?

A: As stated on page 27 of the price guide, ‘Group rates are based on a staff/participant ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 or more participants’

This recognises NDIA’s strong preference for small group sizes in recognition that small group support is generally more beneficial to the participant. There are some instances where larger groups are more appropriate to the activity and the social norm (for example for choirs and sporting teams) and providers have opted to maintain larger group sizes. 

There are a couple of different ways providers have managed this:

• By having larger groups but maintain a 1:3 staff to group member ratio (employee rosters/timesheets/notes etc. would reflect the 1:3 ratio).

• By making adjustments to what is being claimed (i.e claiming less per person because there are more participants in the group). The group rate is based on the individual rate divided by 3. ($42.81) so with 4 people in the group this rate could be divided by 4, thus charging $10.70 per person.

As a side note, we’d like to remind providers that the NDIA has permitted providers to charge the 1:2 rate for groups of 1:3 as it’s the NDIA’s expectation that participants get value for money in the delivery of these services. As a guide, if a provider is claiming a 1:2 rate for group activities, the expectation is that they are delivering activities in small groups (less than 4 participants). The Agency also expects providers running any larger groups to demonstrate how they are delivering outcomes and value for participants.

4. Q: I would like clarification in regards to professional qualifications. I have read the updated NDIS Provider Toolkit Module 4 dated 20 December 2016. What qualifications are required for a disability worker, mental health worker or welfare worker, as examples?

Does a person with a certificate 2 in disability qualify as a disability worker? A more explicit explanation would be greatly appreciated.

A: The most updated requirement for qualifications as stipulated in Module 4 of the Provider Toolkit states to check the requirements in your jurisdiction. Relevant industry experience or qualifications including Certificate III, Certificate IV, Diploma, or Advanced Diploma in Disability, Mental health, Welfare, Mental Health Peer Work (etc.), may be required.

In essence, this means that the Victorian framework remains for Victorian providers and currently, they do not require minimum qualifications for disability support workers.

5. Q: We have a query from a guardian of one of our supported independent living clients. The guardian has requested a disability support worker accompany our client to a doctor's appointment. It is anticipated the doctor's appointment including travel time to and from the accommodation house will be 3 hours. Does this constitute community access, and therefore a claim be made against the client's community access funds in their plan?

A: Yes, Supports funded under SIL include:

• Supports that build people’s capacity to live independently in the community, 

  such as; living skills training, money and household management, social and communication skills and behavioural management.

• Home modifications to the participant’s own home or a private rental property.

• Support with personal care; such as assistance with showering or dressing

• Domestic assistance around the home where the participant is unable to undertake these tasks due to their disability, such as assistance with cleaning and laundry.

Please refer to this fact sheet from the NDIA for more information.

Other questions were under the categories of: quality and safeguarding, children and young people, workforce and ‘other.’  Compared to previous months, we have noticed a significant drop in the proportion of questions relating to the NDIA portal (with only one question being asked).  This may reflect some ‘ironing out’ of portal issues.

The NDS NDIS Help Desk is a free Q&A page, open to everyone who joins this Google+ group.