Disability Services Commissioner report
Disability Services Commissioner report: A review of disability service provision to people who have died 2017-18
The Victorian Disability Services Commissioner, Arthur Rogers, recently released the first review of disability service provision to people who have died, covering both the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Victorian programs, during the 2017-18 financial year. The systemic issues and critical areas raised in the report reinforce the need for all disability service providers are to:
- seek and implement expert advice to safely support people with a disability who have swallowing and choking risks
- support people’s right to communicate in a manner appropriate to their needs
- ensure quality record keeping and incident reporting
- establish and maintain up to date health plans for people with health related conditions.
A copy of the notice from the Disability Services Commissioner in Victoria to Victorian disability service providers can be found on the Disability Services Commissioner website. A copy of the full report is available on the Disability Services Commissioner website.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is a new independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services. It will regulate the NDIS market, provide national consistency, promote safety and quality services, resolve problems and identify areas for improvement.
The NDIS Practice Standards, as well as a module on high intensity support skills, are practical ways in which the NDIS Commission will work with providers to improve the outcomes for people with disability.
More specifically, under the NDIS Rules, NDIS providers who are required to complete the NDIS Practice Standards Module 1 (High Intensity Daily Personal Activities) are required to support their workers to meet the requirements set out in the NDIS Practice Standards: Skills Descriptors (High Intensity Skills Descriptors).
Under the new National Disability Insurance Scheme (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018 (the Rules), all registered NDIS providers are required to notify the NDIS Commission of a reportable incident. This includes any death of a person with disability that occurred, or is alleged to have occurred, in connection with their services.
The NDIS Commission screens each reportable incident to identify whether there are concerns related to the service delivery and may require the provider to provide further information or take action. The NDIS Commission has a wide range of investigation and enforcement powers.
The establishment of the NDIS Commission in each state and territory from 2018-2020 (see the NDIS Commission website for commencement dates) will be the first time that consistent arrangements for the reporting of the deaths and the abuse of people with disability who receive funded NDIS services will be required across Australia.
Information received by the NDIS Commission as it implements across each state and territory will be used to identify systemic issues and inform improvements for practice in the sector.