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Complete the Update the Severity Tools task

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Complete the Update the Severity Tools task

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will support you to complete the Update the Severity Tools task in the NDIS Business System (System). A functional capacity assessment is used to assess the level of impact the participant’s disability has on their everyday activities. In the System we refer to functional capacity assessments as Severity Tools. The term Severity Tool is for internal use. It is best practice to use the more widely accepted term Functional Capacity Assessment when talking with the participant.

Note: The age range is changing for the NDIS early childhood approach. From July 1 2023, the age will change to include children younger than 9. The change will be rolled out over the next 2 years. Early childhood partners will need to use this resource to plan for children aged 7 or 8.

Recent updates

Date What’s changed
July 2023 Updates to support early childhood partners to plan for children aged 7 or 8.
May 2022 SOP update to confirm children aged 7-16 only need the PEDI-CAT assessment tool if a more appropriate tool cannot be recorded.
February 2021 New SOP format to align with Our Guidelines refresh. SOPs include process information only. Use Our Guidelines to help you make decisions and refer to Related procedures or resources.
Additional updates:
  • The table for the American Spinal Injury Impairment Scale (ASIA) has been updated. |

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Disclosure Log - FOI 24/25-0234

Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Checklist

Topic Checklist
Pre-requisites  The participant has met access to the NDIS.
You have: 
- read and understood **Our Guideline – Creating Your Plan**
- read and understood **Our Guideline – Your Plan**
- identified that you need to complete the update severity tools task because:
    -  The participant has met access requirements.
    -  There is a change in the participant’s functional capacity.
    -  The participant has a degenerative condition such as Motor Neurone Disease where their functional capacity is likely to change, or an episodic condition like Psychosocial disability.
    -  The participant provides you with an updated functional capacity assessment.
    -  The participant is younger than 7 and needs a PEDI-CAT completed at each plan reassessment.
    -  The participant met access through early intervention and is having their plan reviewed. This includes adults and children.
    -  The participant’s plan is being reviewed. The Update Severity Tools task or the WHODAS needs to be completed at plan review to generate a TSP.
-  checked the participant’s primary disability has been recorded correctly in the System and updated if needed.

You are familiar with: - Appendix 1: Tools for assessing a participant’s functional capacity - Appendix 2: Collecting functional capacity assessment score or level - Appendix 3: Providing evidence of severity of disability - Appendix 4: Overview of the create-Severity Scales Tools form |

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Topic Checklist
Actions This SOP is structured differently to other guidance documents.
You only refer to the instructions for the participant’s primary disability. Choose from:
  • 3.1 Acquired Brain Injury
  • 3.2 Autism
  • 3.3 Cerebral Palsy
  • 3.4 Developmental Delay (0-6 only)
  • 3.5 Intellectual Disability, Global Developmental Delay (age 0-6 only) or Down Syndrome
  • 3.6 Internal Agency Assessment Tool
  • 3.7 Hearing
  • 3.8 Multiple Sclerosis
  • 3.9 Psychosocial disability
  • 3.10 Spinal Cord Injury
  • 3.11 Stroke
  • 3.12 Vision
  • 3.13 Other Primary Disability
  • 3.14 PEDI-CAT
  • 3.15 WHODAS Then
  • 3.16 Next steps Important: For all children younger than 7 the PEDI-CAT is to be completed by an early childhood partner in addition to any other severity information provided by the nominee or child representative (for example DSM-5). For children who are aged 7 or 8, the PEDI-CAT may also be completed if the results of a more appropriate severity tool are not available. |

Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Procedure

Acquired Brain Injury

  1. Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant has a primary disability of acquired brain injury. | Age | Preference | Severity tool by order of preference | Source of assessment | | — | — | — | — | | 0-16 | 1st | PEDI-CAT | Internal | | 17+ | 1st | Care and Needs Scale (CANS) | Medical professional (or equivalent) | | 17+ | 2nd | WHODAS | Internal |

  2. Ask the participant if they have the required assessment report. If:

  • Yes go to step 3
  • No complete the preferred internal assessment tool, in the table above.
  1. Attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents.
  2. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools.
  3. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. Select the rating from CANS Rating list.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  1. You can select Save at any time to save the form and return to complete it later. When you are finished select Submit.

  2. A confirmation message appears. Select Close. The Pre-Planning page displays and Update Severity Tools has a green tick to show it is complete.

Autism

  1. Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant has a primary disability of autism.
Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
All 1st Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)* Medical professional (or equivalent)
All 2nd Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Third Edition (Vineland-3) Medical professional (or equivalent)
All 3rd Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Second Edition (Vineland-II) Medical professional (or equivalent)
0–16 4th PEDI-CAT Internal
17+ 4th WHODAS Internal

Note: There are different DSM-5 levels for intellectual disability (ID) and autism. Note: Complete the PEDI-CAT in addition to the above for all children younger than 7. 2. Ask the participant if they have the required assessment report. If: • Yes go to step 3 • No complete the preferred internal assessment tool, in the table above. 3. Attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents. 4. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  1. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. You will update different parts of the form based on the assessment information you have:
  • DSM-5: Select the level from the DSM – Autism Level list. For information on what level to choose, go to 3.2.1 What is the DSM-5 Autism.
Primary Condition
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) - Autism
Vineland-3

Vineland-3: enter the adaptive behaviour composite score in the Adaptive Behaviour Composite field. For information on the Vineland-3, go to 3.2.2 What is the Vineland-3.

Primary Condition
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) - Autism
Vineland II

Note: Enter the score as a whole number, with no decimal places.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Primary Condition
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) - Autism
Vineland-3
Vineland II
Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory
Internal Agency Assessment Tool
Other Tools

  1. You can select Save at any time to save the form and return to complete it later. When you are finished, select Submit.

  2. A confirmation message appears. Select Close. The Pre-Planning page displays and Update Severity Tools has a green tick to show it is complete.

3.2.1 DSM-5 Autism

The severity of autism is determined using measures of social communication and of restrictive, repetitive behaviours. Where a participant presents with DSM-5 Autism assessment information, the following guidance should be followed to record this information in the System:

Rating Description
Level 1 Requiring Support
Level 2 Requiring substantial support
Level 3 Requiring very substantial support

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Vineland-3

The Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Third Edition (Vineland-3) is a revised version of the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Second Edition (Vineland-II) providing an overall adaptive behaviour composite. It assesses three domains: Communication, Daily Living Skills, and Socialization. Vineland-3 also offers optional Motor Skills and Maladaptive Behaviour domains for situations where these areas are of concern.

Vineland-II

The Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Second Edition (Vineland-II) assesses the personal and social skills needed for everyday living. It assesses many domains and provides an overall adaptive behaviour composite. The core domains within the Vineland-II are Communication, Daily Living Skills, Socialisation and Motor Skills. Use the Vineland-II assessment information the participant provides you with and the table below to determine the Adaptive behaviour composite score for the System:

Category Number Description
Mild 01 Adaptive behaviour composite 56+
Moderate 02 Adaptive behaviour composite 41 - 55
Severe 03 Adaptive behaviour composite 26 - 40
Profound 04 Adaptive behaviour composite 25 and below

Cerebral Palsy

  • Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant has a primary disability of cerebral palsy.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
All 1st Cerebral Palsy Gross Motor Functional Classification Scale (GMFCS) Medical professional (or equivalent) OR Internal
All 2nd Cerebral Palsy: Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) Medical professional (or equivalent)
All 3rd Cerebral Palsy: Manual Ability Classification Scale (MACS) Medical professional (or equivalent)

Note: Complete the PEDI-CAT in addition to the above for all children younger than 7. 2. Ask the participant if they have the required assessment report. If:

  • Yes go to step 3
  • No complete the preferred internal assessment tool, in the table above.
  1. Attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents.
  2. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools.
  3. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. You will update different parts of the form based on the assessment information you have:
  • GMFCS: Select the level from the GMFC Rating list.

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Disclosure Log - FOI 24/25-0234

Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Primary Condition
Gross Motor Functional Classific., Scale
Communication Function Classific.
Manual Ability Classification System
Internal Agency Assessment Tool

Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  • Primary Condition
  • Gross Motor Functional Classific., Scale
  • Communication Function Classific. Score
  • Manual Ability Classification System
    • MACS Rating:
      • Level 1
      • Level 2
      • Level 3
      • Level 4
      • Level 5
  • Internal Agency Assessment Tool
  • Other Tools

  1. You can select Save at any time to save the form and return to complete it later. When you are finished select Submit.

    Form has been saved 10:5 AM - Save - Submit

  2. A confirmation message appears. Select Close. The Pre-Planning page displays and Update Severity Tools has a green tick to show it is complete.

Developmental Delay (0-6 only)

Developmental delay is a term used to describe how a child is presenting in relation to their developmental milestones. A child who is considered to have a developmental delay is taking longer to reach, or has not reached, age-appropriate developmental milestones. When the participant has a primary disability of developmental delay you must use the PEDI-CAT tool. Important: Developmental delay is different to Global Developmental Delay (GDD). If the participant has a primary disability of GDD follow the procedure in 3.5 Intellectual Disability, Global Developmental Delay or Down Syndrome. For information about GDD go to Disability Snapshot – Global Developmental Delay.

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Standard Operating Procedure

Intellectual Disability, Global Developmental Delay or Down Syndrome

Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant has a primary disability of:

  • intellectual disability
  • global developmental delay
  • down syndrome.
Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
All 1st Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)* Medical professional (or equivalent)
All 2nd Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Third Edition (Vineland-3) Medical professional (or equivalent)
All 3rd Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Second Edition (Vineland-II) Medical professional (or equivalent)
0-16 4th PEDI-CAT Internal
17+ 4th WHODAS Internal

Note: There are different DSM-5 levels for Intellectual Disability (ID) and Autism. Note: Complete the PEDI-CAT in addition to the above for all children younger than 7.

Ask the participant if they have the required assessment report. If:

  • Yes go to step 3
  • No complete the preferred internal assessment tool, in the table above.

Attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. You will update different parts of the form based on the assessment information you have:

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  • DSM-5: Select the level from the DSM – ID Level list. For information on what level to choose, go to 3.5.1 What is the DSM-5 Intellectual Disability (ID).

    Primary Condition Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) - ID > DSM - ID Level: > Mild Level 1 > Moderate Level 2 > Severe Level 3 > Profound Level 4

    Vineland-3 Vineland II Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test (PEDIAT) Internal Agency Assessment Tool Other Tools

  • Vineland-3: Enter the adaptive behaviour composite score in the Adaptive Behaviour Composite field. For information on the Vineland-3, go to 3.5.2 What is the Vineland-3.

    Primary Condition Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) - Autism > Vineland-3: > Adaptive Behaviour Composite: redacted (redacted)

Note: Enter the score as a whole number, with no decimal places.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  1. You can select Save at any time to save the form and return to complete it later. When you are finished select Submit.

  2. A confirmation message appears. Select Close. The Pre-Planning page displays and Update Severity Tools has a green tick to show it is complete.

3.5.1 DSM-5 Intellectual Disability (ID)

The DSM-5 ID uses the measure of cognitive function (IQ) and a measure of adaptive functioning to rate an individual in a four-level scale. Where a participant presents with DSM-5 ID assessment information, the following guidance should be followed to record this information in the System:

Rating Description
Level 1 Mild
Level 2 Moderate
Level 3 Severe
Level 4 Profound

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Disclosure Log - FOI 24/25-0234

Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Vineland-3

The Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Third Edition (Vineland-3) is a revised version of the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Second Edition (Vineland-II), providing an overall adaptive behaviour composite. It assesses three domains: Communication, Daily Living Skills, and Socialization. Vineland-3 also offers optional Motor Skills and Maladaptive Behaviour domains for situations where these areas are of concern.

Vineland-II

The Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Second Edition (Vineland-II) assesses the personal and social skills needed for everyday living. It assesses many domains and provides an overall adaptive behaviour composite. The core domains within the Vineland-II are Communication, Daily Living Skills, Socialisation and Motor Skills. Use the Vineland-II assessment information the participant provides you with and the table below to determine the Adaptive behaviour composite score for the System:

Category Number Description
Mild 01 Adaptive behaviour composite 56+
Moderate 02 Adaptive behaviour composite 41 - 55
Severe 03 Adaptive behaviour composite 26 - 40
Profound 04 Adaptive behaviour composite 25 and below

Internal Agency Assessment Tool

The Internal Agency Assessment Tool is in the Update Severity Tools screen. You should:

  • not use this tool.
  • ignore any default score generated
  • not remove or change the internal rating level, as this may cause an error in the System.

When the Internal Agency Assessment Tool is the only tool available within the Update Severity Tools task:

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  • update the Primary Disability in the System using Standard Operating Procedure - Change Disability (Post Access)
  • the preferred severity tool is now available in the Update Severity Tools task.

Hearing

  1. Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant has a primary disability of hearing.
Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
17+ 1st Hearing Severity Tool: Functional Impact of Hearing Loss Assessment Tool Internal
7-16 1st PEDI-CAT If you are unable to complete PEDI-CAT for age 7-16, complete the modified Hearing Severity Tool: Functional Impact of Hearing Loss Assessment Tool. You may also use this Tool in addition to the PEDI-CAT. Internal
Younger than 7 1st PEDI-CAT Internal

Important: Hearing acuity assessment report will not impact the funding generated for the participant. 2. Complete the Hearing Severity Tool or follow guidance in 3.14 PEDI-CAT. 3. Attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents. 4. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools. 5. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. Select the level from Functional Impact of Hearing Loss list.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  1. You can select Save at any time to save the form and return to complete it later. When you are finished select Submit.

  2. A confirmation message appears. Select Close. The Pre-Planning page displays and Update Severity Tools has a green tick to show it is complete.

Multiple Sclerosis

  1. Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant has a primary disability of Multiple Sclerosis.
Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
All 1st Disease Steps Medical professional (or equivalent)
All 2nd Multiple Sclerosis Severity Tool: Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) Medical professional (or equivalent) OR Internal
All 3rd Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) Medical professional (or equivalent)

Note: the PDDS level needs to be converted to a Disease Steps level to enter it into the System. Refer to Multiple Sclerosis Severity Tool: Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS). V3.0 2023-06-21 Update the Severity Tools task Page 17 of 33 This document is uncontrolled when printed OFFICIAL Page 17 of 33

Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Note: Complete the PEDI-CAT in addition to the above for all children younger than 7. 2. Ask the participant if they have the required assessment report. If:

  • Yes go to step 3
  • No complete the preferred internal assessment tool, in the table above.
  1. Attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents.
  2. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools.
  3. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. You will update different parts of the form based on the assessment information you have: Note: You do not have to complete both the Disease Steps and the Patient Determined Disease Steps. Either one will generate funding for the participant.

  • PDDS: Select the level from the Disease Steps list.

  • EDDS: Select the level from the Expanded Disability Status Scale list.

Disclosure Log - FOI 24/25-0234

Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  1. You can select Save at any time to save the form and return to complete it later. When you are finished select Submit.

Form has been saved 10:5 AM

Save | Submit

  1. A confirmation message appears. Select Close. The Pre-Planning page displays and Update Severity Tools has a green tick to show it is complete.

Psychosocial disability

Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant has a primary disability of psychosocial disability.

Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
17+ 1st Life Skills Profile (LSP-16) Medical professional (or equivalent)
0-16 1st PEDI-CAT Internal

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
17+ 2nd WHODAS Internal

Note: Complete the PEDI-CAT in addition to the above for all children younger than 7.

  1. Ask the participant if they have the required assessment report. If:
  • Yes go to step 3
  • No complete the preferred internal assessment tool, in the table above.

  1. Attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents.

  2. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools.

  3. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. Enter the score in the Life Skills Profile (LSP-16) box. For information on what level to choose go to 3.9.1 What is the Life Skills Provile 16 (LSP-16).

  4. You can select Save at any time to save the form and return to complete it later. When you are finished select Submit.

  5. A confirmation message appears. Select Close. The Pre-Planning page displays and Update Severity Tools has a green tick to show it is complete.

3.9.1 Life Skills Profile-16 (LSP-16)

The Life Skills Profile-16 (LSP-16) assesses areas such as social relationships and a person’s ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

The four subscales in the LSP-16 are withdrawal, self-care, compliance and anti-social behaviour. The total score can range from 0 to 48, ascending with the severity of the impact of the disability. The LSP-16 score corresponds to a LSP-16 level. The LSP-16 level will affect the amount of funding generated for the participant.

LSP-16 score LSP-16 Level
Less than 10 Level 1
10 – 22 Level 2
23 – 29 Level 3
30 or above Level 4

Spinal Cord Injury

  1. Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant has a primary disability of spinal cord injury.
Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
All 1st Level of Lesion (where on the spine the injury has occurred) Medical professional (or equivalent)
0-16 2nd PEDI-CAT Internal
17+ 2nd WHODAS Internal

Note: Complete the PEDI-CAT in addition to the above for all children younger than 7. 2. Ask the participant if they have the required assessment report. If:

  • Yes go to step 3
  • No complete the preferred internal assessment tool, in the table above.
  1. Attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  1. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools.
  2. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. Select the level from the Level of Lesion list.

Primary Condition Level of Lesion score

Internal Agency Assessment Tool Other Tools

Change History

  1. You can select Save at any time to save the form and return to complete it later. When you are finished select Submit.

Form has been saved 10:5 AM Save Submit

  1. A confirmation message appears. Select Close. The Pre-Planning page displays and Update Severity Tools has a green tick to show it is complete. 3.10.1 American Spinal Injury Impairment Scale (ASIA) American Spinal Injury Impairment Scale (ASIA) measures the completeness of the injury. For the participant with a spinal cord injury as a primary disability, it is important that you specify the level of spinal cord injury completeness (for example complete vs. incomplete). This will affect the amount of funding generated for the participant. If the participant has an ASIA grade, use the table below to determine if the spinal cord injury is complete or incomplete.
ASIA Grade Result
A Complete
B, C D, E Incomplete

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Stroke

  1. Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant has a primary disability of stroke.
Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
All 1st Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) Medical professional (or equivalent)
All 2nd Stroke Severity Tool: Modified Rankin Scale Internal

Note: Complete the PEDI-CAT in addition to the above for all children younger than 7. 2. Ask the participant if they have the required assessment report. If:

  • Yes go to step 3
  • No complete the preferred internal assessment tool, in the table above.

  1. Attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents.

  2. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools.

  3. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. Select the level from the Modified Rankin Scale list.

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Standard Operating Procedure

Vision

  1. Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant has a primary disability of a vision impairment.
Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
17+ 1st Vision Severity Tool: Functional Impact of Vision Loss Assessment Tool Internal
7-16 1st PEDI-CAT Internal
If you are unable to complete PEDI-CAT for age 6-17, complete the modified Vision Severity Tool: functional Impact of Vision Loss Assessment Tool.
Younger than 7 1st PEDI-CAT Internal

Important: A participant may provide a vision acuity assessment report. This report will not impact the funding generated for the participant. You will need to use one of the severity tools referenced in the Vision table above. 2. Complete the Vision Severity Tool or follow guidance in 3.14 PEDI-CAT. 3. Attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents. 4. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools. 5. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. Select the level from Functional Impact of Vision Loss list.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  1. You can select Save at any time to save the form and return to complete it later. When you are finished select Submit.

  2. A confirmation message appears. Select Close. The Pre-Planning page displays and Update Severity Tools has a green tick to show it is complete.

Other Primary Disability

  1. Use this table to decide which severity tool to use when the participant’s primary disability is recorded in the System as Other primary disability.
Age Preference Severity tool by order of preference Source of assessment
0-16 1st PEDI-CAT Internal
17+ 1st WHODAS Internal

If:

3.14 PEDI-CAT

Completing the PEDI-CAT will support the measurement of severity change over time for consistent reporting. For more information on the PEDI-CAT go to 3.14.1What is the PEDI-CAT. V3.0 2023-06-21 Update the Severity Tools task Page 25 of 33 This document is uncontrolled when printed OFFICIAL Page 25 of 33

Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  1. You can complete the PEDI-CAT if you are an:
  • early childhood partner
  • local area coordinator
  • NDIS planner
  • NDIS plan delegate.

Note: For children younger than 7 the PEDI-CAT is administered by the early childhood partner only. For children aged 7 and 8 the PEDI-CAT may be administered by an early childhood partner, a local area coordinator or an NDIS planner. 2. Check that the participant needs the PEDI-CAT assessment tool. Children aged:

  • Younger than 7: must have the PEDI-CAT score in addition to any other assessment tool.
  • 7-16: only need the PEDI-CAT if a more appropriate tool cannot be recorded.
  1. Conduct the PEDI-CAT assessment with the participant and/or their nominee. Note: The Responsibility domain should only be completed for children aged 3 years and over.
  2. Generate the PEDI-CAT Detailed Assessment Report.
  3. Note each of the four T-scores. These will need to be entered into the System.
  4. Attach a copy of the PEDI-CAT Detailed Assessment Report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents.
  5. In Pre-Planning – Staff Tasks select Update Severity Tools.
  6. The Create – Severity Scales Tools form opens. Enter the T-score results from the PEDI-CAT Detailed Assessment Report to the Domain Areas in the System:
  • When the T-score is generated and displayed as <10 (less than 10), record the score as 1 in the System.
  • When the T-score generated is greater than or equal to 10 record the exact score in the System.
  • For children under 3 years the PEDI-CAT - Responsibility Domain should be greyed. You should not be able to edit this field. The Responsibility domain should only be completed for children aged 3 years and over.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

  1. You can select Save at any time to save the form and return to complete it later. When you are finished select Submit.

  2. A confirmation message appears. Select Close. The Pre-Planning page displays and Update Severity Tools has a green tick to show it is complete.

What is the PEDI-CAT

The PEDI-CAT contains questions asked under four domains:

  • Daily Activities
  • Mobility
  • Social/Cognitive
  • Responsibility

The PEDI-CAT:

  • is an application outside of the NDIS Business System.
  • will produce a PEDI-CAT Detailed Assessment Report with:
    • scaled scores (i.e. raw scores)
  • normative scores (T-scores and age-percentile scores).

For more information go to PEDICAT page (internal). It has information on how to:

  • check if you have PEDI-CAT installed
  • request access to PEDI-CAT
  • download PEDI-CAT
  • activate PEDI-CAT.

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Standard Operating Procedure

WHODAS

The WHODAS is the only severity tool that is recorded outside of the Update Severity Tools task. It has its own task in the System under the Pre-Planning tab.

  1. Determine that you need to complete the WHODAS assessment tool. This means there is no other severity assessment on the participant’s record. Note: You can complete the WHODAS in addition to a disability-specific tool. This should not change the funding generated.
  2. Complete the WHODAS with the participant using Standard Operating Procedure – Complete the WHODAS.

Next Steps

  1. When the participant’s severity level has changed clearly justify the change to assessment level or score. Then attach a copy of the assessment report to the System using Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents.
  2. Continue with pre-planning using guidance on the Service Guidance Pre-Planning intranet page.

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Standard Operating Procedure

Appendices

Appendix 1: Tools for assessing the participant’s functional capacity

Severity Tool information comes from three sources. In order of preference these are:

  • Disability specific assessments
  • Internal disability specific Severity Tools
  • Assessments not specific to a disability type.

Disability specific assessments:

  • are completed by the participant’s treating health professional. Information on disability specific assessment reports in on the Providing evidence of your disability page on the NDIS website
  • cannot be completed by National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) staff and partners
  • examples are the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition (DSM-5) for Intellectual Disability and Autism.

Internal disability specific Severity Tools:

  • can be completed by Agency staff and partners.
  • are:
    • Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS) for Cerebral Palsy
    • Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) for Stroke
    • Disease Steps for Multiple Sclerosis
    • Hearing tool
    • Vision tool

Assessments not specific to a disability type:

  • Can be completed by NDIA staff.
  • Assessments not specific to a disability type are:
    • PEDI-CAT
    • World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Appendix 2: Collecting functional capacity assessment score or level

The participant’s functional capacity assessment score or level can be collected by:

  • the National Access and Workload Management branch (NAWM) when assessing the participant’s eligibility to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
  • a delegate when NAWM was unable to collect the severity level or score, or where there has been a change in level of severity.

When collecting functional capacity assessment information, the score of an external assessment needs to be provided by:

  • the participant
  • their nominee
  • their child representative
  • their treating health professional. You must record the severity assessment score against the primary disability. When the participant has more than one disability listed, the primary disability is the impairment which has the greatest impact. For information on updating the participant’s disability go to Standard Operating Procedure – Change Disability (Post Access).

Appendix 3: Providing evidence of severity of disability

The plan developer must sight a copy of the assessment report before the result, or score is entered into the System. If a preferred assessment tool is not available, evidence of the impact of the disability must be sighted. This can be supplied in the form of a signed letter or a letter on a formal letterhead from the participant’s treating health professional. Evidence of the severity of the disability should include:

  • type of disability
  • date disability diagnosed
  • how long the disability will last
  • available treatments
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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Once the preferred evidence of impact of the disability is received, add the result to the System. Information on how to do this is in the Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents.

Other reports

The following reports may be supplied to support a participant’s level of severity, however they will not impact the funding generated in the participant’s plan:

  • Hearing: Hearing Acuity information.
  • Vision: Vision Acuity information.
  • Health of the Nation Survey (HoNOS).

You must upload a copy of any reports received as an inbound document. Information on how to do this is in the Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents.

Appendix 5: Overview of the create-Severity Scales Tools form

You will enter the result or score from an assessment in the Update Severity Tools task. This is used to generate the TSP in the participant’s plan. You need to apply reasonable and necessary decision making to any funding generated. Funding in the participant’s plan must be individualised for each participant’s disability support needs.

  • Severity tools that impact the funding generated will appear above the Internal Agency Assessment Tool field.
  • Report results that do not impact the funding generated will appear under the Agency Assessment Tool.

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Standard Operating Procedure

For Internal Use Only

Note: The fields that show in this form will change depending on the Primary Disability assigned to the participant.

  • Our Guideline – Creating Your Plan
  • Standard Operating Procedure – Change Disability (Post Access)
  • Standard Operating Procedure – Manage inbound documents
  • Standard Operating Procedure – Complete the WHODAS
  • Standard Operating Procedure – Prepare and complete the planning conversation

Feedback

If you have any feedback about this Standard Operating Procedure, please complete our Feedback Form.

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Standard Operating Procedure

Version control

Version Amended by Brief Description of Change Status Date
1.0 CW0032 Class 2 approved.
Standard Operating Procedure moved to the new SOP format to be used with the Creating your plan Operational Guidelines.
Update to the American Spinal Injury Impairment Scale (ASIA) table.
Additional information added on calculating the LSP-16 score. APPROVED 2021-02-17
2.0 JS0082 Class 1 approved.
Minor update of wording APPROVED 2022-04-27
3.0 CW0032 IIW664 Class 2 approved.
Updated to align with the early childhood age range change. Updates to support early childhood partners to plan for children aged 7 or 8. APPROVED 2023-06-21

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