The delivery of supports for high intensity daily activities poses some of the greatest risks for NDIS participants and workers. Participants requiring these supports have complex health needs that must be supported by workers with specialised skills and experience, in order to ensure that the supports they receive are safe and of the highest quality.
It is essential that providers source workers with the relevant skills and knowledge to deliver supports for high intensity daily activities. Support workers need to have additional qualifications and previous experience relevant to the participant’s complex needs. With recent research demonstrating that people with a disability are more likely to suffer preventable deaths, it is increasingly important that extra care is taken to ensure sufficient communication, early detection and timely medical assistance is provided.
Providers that assist with high intensity daily activities must meet all of the requirements of Module 1: High Intensity Daily Personal Activities, of the NDIS Practice Standards. The NDIS High Intensity Skills Descriptors set out the skills and knowledge descriptors for Module 1 . Providers need to demonstrate that their workers have the relevant skills and training to provide each form of support. Providers may demonstrate that they meet the requirements of the skills descriptors through records of worker training and qualifications as well as relevant experience in the area.
We have recently developed some new resources to help providers meet and monitor their obligations in relation to the delivery of these complex supports.
Our new NDIS High Intensity Daily Activities Policy template outlines the training and skills required for staff when delivering each high intensity support. The policy template will ensure a consistent and reliable approach is taken to the delivery of complex supports. The policy document can be found in the Reading Room by searching for “high intensity”.
We’ve also recently created a new self-assessment for this area, to help providers track their obligations and compliance status. The self-assessment includes:
High intensity support:
- Complex bowel care
- Enteral feeding and management
- Tracheostomy care
- Urinary catheters
- Ventilation
- Subcutaneous injection
Additional support activities:
- High risk of seizure
- Pressure care and wound management
- Mealtime preparation and delivery
- Stoma care
You can find the self-assessment for the NDIS high intensity support skills descriptors in SPP under the Standards tab > NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework.
The self-assessment will assist providers to ensure that the skills and capabilities used in the delivery of their supports provide a safe environment for NDIS participants.
Contact us
Want to know more? Talk to our team.