Current Scheme Implementation and Forecasting for the ND
Lifestyle Solutions
Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Inquiry on Current Scheme Implementation and Forecasting for the NDIS
February 2022
Introduction
Lifestyle Solutions is a leading national provider of services and supports for people with disability, and children and young people in out-of-home care. Our purpose is to enable the people we support and their communities to achieve what is important to them.
Lifestyle Solutions was founded 20 years ago by a small group of families living with disability who wanted to create better living options for people with disability. The origins of our organisation are typical of many organisations in our sector, being founded to meet the needs of people with disability.
Today, around Australia our dedicated people support more than 2,000 people with disability and we are present in every State and Territory. Our comprehensive national quality and safeguarding standards, policies and protocols ensure consistency of care and support for our local service delivery teams.
In this response to the Inquiry into Current Scheme Implementation and Forecasting for the NDIS we are highlighting challenges among people at the intersection of the NDIS, mental health and justice systems, in Inquiry focuses (b) and (c), namely:
b. The interfaces of NDIS service provision with other non-NDIS services provided by the States, Territories and the Commonwealth, particularly health and justice services
c. The reasons for variations in plan funding between NDIS participants with similar needs, including:
ii. whether inconsistent decision-making by the NDIA is leading to inequitable variations in plan funding
Challenges in forensic disability
There is a uniquely challenging cohort of people who have psychosocial and/or intellectual disability and additional, complex behavioural support needs related to, for example, criminogenic tendencies, substance misuse, and histories of trauma and abuse that have placed them in the justice system or at risk of entering the justice system. Funding decisions around these NDIS Participants are at the intersection of the NDIS, health systems – specifically mental health, and justice systems.
Areas of support that Lifestyle Solutions provides to this cohort include:
- Supported Independent Living (SIL)
- Community Access Supports
- exploration and design of Individualised Living Options
- Specialist Support Coordination
- capacity building, for example to improve relationships
Lifestyle Solutions is one of a small number of NDIS providers that support these people. We currently support 20 people in this cohort, mostly in New South Wales but also in Tasmania.
The market for provision of services to these Participants is thin and demonstrably not sustainable for providers in the medium or long term. Within the past year another provider that provided services to this cohort, DSA, entered administration before merging into another provider.
The current funding model does not align with the resource-intensive care that these people need.
The complex and often conflicting behavioural needs of these participants makes it difficult to match these Participants in SIL accommodation and limits the number who can live in the same property. NDIS Plan approaches do not recognise the needs of such highly complex people, resulting in inequitable variations in plan funding.
The common four-person model for SIL accommodation is extremely high risk for people with criminogenic tendencies and who have substance misuse issues.
Lifestyle Solutions | Submission to Inquiry on current scheme implementation and forecasting | Feb 2022
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It is widely recognised that change is needed. Solutions are needed that:
- are financially sustainable for providers, targeting the characteristics of this thin market
- reduce recidivism and reoffending among the Participants, which will benefit society, the Participants and Commonwealth, State and Territory budgets
- adequately support the holistic needs of forensic disability Participants, which will reduce substance misuse and contact with the criminal justice system
- reduce stresses, risks and incidents in the workplace, encouraging stronger workforce attraction and retention
- involve innovative models, collaborations across governments, flexible funding and person-centred planning
Lifestyle Solutions has been advocating to the NDIS for an innovative approach for this unique cohort, tested through piloting and evidence gathering and analysis. We have invested in:
- research on a therapeutic care model service model, CALM, that we expect can make a significant difference with this challenging cohort
- implementation of a new funding model in the child and family area that enables sustainability across a broad cohort although the needs of individuals vary and which could form part of an optimal cost model for this challenging forensic disability cohort
Conclusion
Lifestyle Solutions has proven that innovative approaches can deliver outcomes for Participants. We would be pleased to provide more information about our experience in working with government agencies to support this cohort of NDIS Participants and potential innovative solutions in this challenging area.
Lifestyle Solutions | Submission to Inquiry on current scheme implementation and forecasting | Feb 2022
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