NDIA Accountability Project

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Intensive capacity building supports in early childhood

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DOCUMENT 1

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Intensive capacity building supports in early childhood

This form is for internal use only.

This Intensive form will help the early childhood partner or plan developer consider the information received to make Capacity Building recommendations. It will also help the delegate make a reasonable and necessary decision when considering an intensive level of Capacity Building supports for a participant younger than 7.

There are 9 parts to this form. You must complete all parts in order (Part A to Part I), unless prompted otherwise.

Before completing this form, make sure you understand the intensive level of Capacity Building supports in early childhood. You will find this information in the Practice Guide - Early childhood planning. In the Practice Guide’s appendices you will find the ‘Guide for calculating early childhood capacity building supports’ (the Guide) and ‘the alternative method.’

Do not use this Intensive form when:

  • the requested level of Capacity Building support is less than or equal to the ‘severe and profound’ level in the Guide.
  • an intensive level of support is recommended by a professional, but the parent or carer does not want this. Instead, record this in the Interaction template- Pre-planning: Early childhood planning conversation.
  • requests relate to Core supports, disability related health supports, supports in Capacity Building (CB) Relationships (for example restrictive practices) or Assistive Technology supports (AT).

Once this form is completed, upload as an Inbound Document to the participant’s record in the NDIS Business System (System). If you are not recommending intensive supports or recommending less than what was requested complete an Interaction template - Planning - Early childhood declined supports in the participant’s record in the System.

If you require further support to complete this form, please talk to your team leader or request advice from the Early Childhood Services Branch.

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Part A: Participant details

Child’s full name

Date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY)

NDIS number

Part B: Supporting information and reports

Supporting information & reports Author Date
☐ Planning conversation interaction DD/MM/YYYY
☐ Evidence of developmental delay form (initial plan) DD/MM/YYYY
☐ Medical report/s DD/MM/YYYY
☐ Provider report/s DD/MM/YYYY
☐ Other DD/MM/YYYY

Part C: Request for support

3.1 Who is requesting the intensive level of Capacity Building supports?

Select all that apply:

  • ☐ Parent or carer

  • ☐ Service provider

  • ☐ Health professional

  • ☐ Early childhood partner or plan developer

  • ☐ Other, please specify in the cell below.

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Part D: Are intensive supports likely to be needed?

4.1 Intensive supports criteria

In the table below, select all that apply.

Criteria Criteria details Criteria met
Impact on daily life in the home Very substantial support is required to participate in a range of routines and activities in the home (relative to age). For example: bath time, meal-time, sleep routine, play with family, make a choice or express needs. ☐
Impact on daily life in the community Very substantial support is required to participate in a range of activities in the community (relative to age). For example: visiting friends, going shopping, going to the playground, going to the doctor’s, playgroup. ☐
Impact on early childhood education, childcare or school Very substantial support is required for participation in an early childhood education, childcare or school setting (relative to age), to: ☐
☐ start or recommence, or
☐ maintain attendance (for example if at risk of withdrawing), or
☐ increase attendance (for example if part time), or
☐ n/a. Family choosing not to access early childhood education or childcare (for example due to very young age or health reasons.)
Impact on early childhood education, childcare or school ☐ Child is currently not legally required to be at school because of their age or they have exemption from the state’s education department, or
☐ Child is at school and the support required is exceptional and has been discussed with a team leader or the ECS Branch. school
Name of team leader or ECS Branch colleague: Click or tap here to enter text.
Family considerations Family feels that they would benefit from an intensive level of capacity building support. They have considered how they will flexibly implement the intensive supports across the course of their week to benefit the child and family overall. ☐

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4.2 Are all the criteria in 4.1 met?

☐ No. Use the Guide to calculate supports. Note: This form is now complete.

☐ Yes, intensive supports are likely to be reasonable and necessary. Go to Part E.

Part E: Participation in early childhood education, childcare or school

5.1 What were the child’s participation levels in the past 12 months?

For example, type of activity, days per week, start/end date.

5.2 What are the child’s participation levels planned for the next 12 months?

For example: type of activity, days per week, start date.

5.3 What are barriers to the child’s participation?

5.4 Eligible mainstream funding

If applicable, comment on eligible mainstream funding for inclusion or disability supports for the child at childcare, preschool or school.

Part F: Provider reports

6.1 Are current provider reports available?

☐ No. Recommend a 12 month plan with 3 months of intensive supports. Go to Part I

☐ Yes. Complete the table in 6.2, below.

6.2 Provider reports and parent or carer information

In the table below, select all that apply.

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Criteria Consider reasonable and necessary criteria Criteria met

Provider reports | Current results of functional assessments for all relevant developmental areas of need are available in one or more provider reports, within 6 months (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(d)). | |

Provider reports | For plan reviews, where intensive supports have already been provided (for at least 6 months), there are outcome measures which show that there has been a progression with skills in daily activities, and an increase in participation (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(d)). | ☐ n/a |

Therapy goals | There are therapy goals in at least one report, or the family or carer can describe the therapy goals. The goals: | |

  • ☐ are consistent with NDIS goals (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(a)),
  • ☐ are specific enough to allow a measure of progress (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(d)), and
  • ☐ focus on increasing the child’s independence, participation in everyday routines, activities and places of daily life (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(b)), and
  • ☐ cover all developmental areas of need requiring therapy support (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(a)).

Parent capacity building | The early intervention will strongly focus on building the family or carer’s capacity to support the child. For example, the parent is involved in therapy sessions, the therapist supports parent with strategies. (NDIS Act 2013 s 31(c)-(e)). | |

Early intervention embedded in the home and community | The early intervention support is implemented so that strategies are embedded in the child’s everyday routines, activities and places of daily life. For example, when therapy is centre based strategies are implemented in daily routines and activities. (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(b)). | |

Early intervention embedded in early childhood education, childcare or school | If the child is attending early childhood education, childcare or school, their participation is supported through the provider’s consultation with staff. For example, strategies are shared with childcare staff (NDIS Act 2013 s 34b, s 34(d)-(e)). | ☐ n/a |

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Criteria Consider reasonable and necessary criteria Criteria met

NDIS early intervention principle | You have discussed with the family or carer that the need for intensive supports is expected to reduce over time, because:

  • ☐ the provider is recommending short term intensive support,
  • or
  • ☐ of transition points for the child (for example starting preschool or school), or
  • ☐ other, please specify: Click or tap here to enter text.

6.3 Are all the criteria in 6.2 met?

☐ Yes. When you calculate funding, recommend a plan with up to 12 months of intensive level of supports that meets the reasonable and necessary criteria.

☐ No. When you calculate funding, recommend a 12 month plan with 3 months of intensive supports.

Part G: Evaluate provider recommendations

7.1 Provide a breakdown of each of the provider’s recommendations

In the cell below, include service type (for example: group, individual, parent training) and setting (for example: centre based, home based, natural settings), professionals involved (for example: qualifications, registrations), frequency and rates for each support.

7.2 Further considerations against reasonable and necessary criteria

In the table below, select all that apply to the recommendations received.

Consideration of provider recommendations (with any parent or carer information relating to the recommendations) against the reasonable and necessary criteria.
☐ Duplication of similar supports by one provider or multiple providers. For example, two professionals within the one organisation are providing similar supports or two different providers are supporting the child to develop the same skill (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(c), NDIS Rules 2013 Part 5(1) (c)). 
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Consideration of provider recommendations (with any parent or carer information relating to the recommendations) against the reasonable and necessary criteria.

☐ Calculations in the quote that do not represent value for money (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(c)). For example, hourly rates in provider reports are above prices in the NDIS Support Catalogue, or 52 weeks of the year calculated rather than 48 weeks.

☐ Supports are not considered value for money; the requested hours are excessive compared to the outcomes to be achieved (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(c)). For example, the provider recommends an increase in funding which is not justified in reports, the provider recommends funding for an intensive toilet training program in addition to a comprehensive early intervention program which supports the area of self-care.

☐ Hours for provider travel (not including remote MMM6, very remote MMM7), report writing, multiple staff attending the same meeting, professional development, does not represent value for money (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(c)).

☐ Recommendations made by a professional who is not qualified for example a therapy assistant has written the therapy program (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(d)).

☐ Delivery of service by professionals who are inappropriately qualified. For example, a behaviour therapist who is not qualified to supervise a therapy program (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(d)).

☐ Programs with a low evidence base (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(d)). For example, equine therapy, dance therapy.

☐ Support which replaces mainstream and community supports (NDIS Act 2013 s 34(f)). For example, it is not reasonable and necessary to fund therapy assistant in a preschool, therapist teaching a child to read, therapy recommended on days when the child should be at a mainstream setting.

☐ Other concerns, please specify: Click or tap here to enter text.

7.3 Your recommendation

Have you selected any of the criteria in 7.2?

☐ Yes. The recommendations are not likely to meet the reasonable and necessary criteria and you are unable to base funding on the provider quote. Go to Part I.

☐ Yes. The recommendations are likely to meet the reasonable and necessary criteria after minor adjustments are made to the provider quote, so it represents value for money (NDIS

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Act 2013 s 34(c)). For example, removing provider travel, accepting number of hours but applying NDIS rate, reducing 52 week recommendation to 48 weeks. Go to Part H.

☐ Yes. However, there are exceptional circumstances and the provider recommendations have been discussed with a team leader or the ECS Branch. Please record these details in the cell, below. Go to Part H.

Name of team leader/ECS Branch colleague: Click or tap here to enter text.

Describe the exceptional circumstance: Click or tap here to enter text.

☐ No. No concerns identified. The recommendations are likely to meet the reasonable and necessary criteria. Go to Part H.

Part H: Funding informed by the provider quote

8.1 Calculate the funding you are recommending

Based on your response to Part F, use the provider quote to calculate funding in the plan for either:

  • 3 months of intensive supports within a 12 month plan and the remaining 9 months based on the Guide (pro rata for 9 months). Plus 9 hours for assessment,
  • a plan with up to 12 months of intensive supports.

In the cell below, include your calculations and the total hours that will be entered into the System, using the line item Capacity Building Supports for Early Childhood Interventions – Other Therapy. Add total hours recommended to the Capacity Building justification comment.

Enter your staff member details and this form is complete.

Part I: Funding based on an alternative method

9.1 Use an alternative calculation method

Use the alternative method if the recommendations in 7.3 were not likely to meet reasonable and necessary criteria and you were unable to base funding on the provider quote.

Use an individualised approach instead of the alternative method when:

  • the required supports are intensive and for shorter timeframes, or
  • the alternative method comes to an amount that is greater than the total provider recommendations.

Form

Use the information in Part E to consider the child’s current and future mainstream participation in your calculations.

Based on your response in Part F, calculate funding in the plan for either:

  • 3 months of intensive supports within a 12 month plan and the remaining 9 months based on the Guide (pro rata for 9 months). Plus 9 hours for assessment, or
  • a plan with up to 12 months of intensive supports.

In the cell below, include your calculations and the total hours that will be entered into the System, using line item Capacity Building Supports for Early Childhood Interventions – Other Therapy. Add total hours recommended to the Capacity Building justification comment.

Enter your staff member details below and this form is complete.

Staff member details

Field Value
Date (DD/MM/YYYY)
Staff member name redacted
Early childhood partner organisation
Early childhood partner service area