NDIS illusion of 'Choice and Control' - failing people with complex and challenging support needs

Published 5th November 2018

The difficulties for people with complex and challenging support needs to obtain adequate supports under the NDIS is identified inthe report by Colleen Pearce, Public Advocate and released in September by the Victoria Office of the Public Advocate.

The purpose of this report is to tell the stories of some of OPA’s clients who have complex and challenging support needs, and who are not seeing the benefits that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is intended to deliver. The human impact and harm experienced by clients when they receive inadequate supports under the NDIS is significant and the costs to them for this failure, and to all of us, have been enormous.

The conclusion carries with it a warning; that these issues will remain and potentially escalate in scale and impact as full NDIS rollout is achieved unless significant and effective actions are taken immediately to ensure the NDIS delivers the intended transformational benefits for all people with disability.

This report makes fifteen recommendations to improve system, service and operational issues to ensure the scheme delivers the intended transformational benefits for all people with disability. Some of these are:-

• The NDIA should finalise, pilot and roll out the proposed Complex Needs Pathway as soon as possible.
• The NDIA should urgently undertake the planning and consultation required to implement the McKinsey & Company Independent Pricing Review recommendations relevant to the pricing of supports for people with complex needs.
• The NDIA should enable contingency funding to be immediately accessible when crises arise. This approach would require designated liaison and emergency contact points and procedures within the NDIA (or authorised agencies) which are responsive during and outside of business hours.
• The NDIA should provide written reasons on request from a participant or person acting on their behalf regarding discrepancies between requested and approved supports.

Download the report here.

Source:
Vol 12 No 72, 2018, Global Gazette Disability (http://globalcarestaff.com/)