sacare THE DIFFERENCE IN DISABILITY
586 Regency Rd, Broadview SA 5083 p. 1300 145 636 e. w. www.sacare.com.au
To the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme,
SACARE are opposed to the changes being implemented regarding the Independent Assessments to be carried out for participants of the NDIS.
SACARE is an NDIS registered provider of Supported Independent Living, In-Home Support, Registered Nursing and Community Participation services. We are also an Allied Health provider for many NDIS participants in our Supported Independent Living facilities and the community.
SACARE are very concerned about the introduction of Independent Assessments and the impact they will have on the fundamental principal upon which the NDIS Scheme has been built, Participant Choice and Control.
The role of a treating therapist is to take a holistic view of what the participant needs. These views are based on a series of interactions and rely on evidence from a wide range of stakeholders. Building a rapport is vital to eliciting the right information and this can only be done when the participant has the right to choose who provides this service to them.
Like many other agencies/participants/concerned loved ones who have provided submissions for this enquiry we find the use of the word “independent” curious. The NDIA have not only appointed the assessors, but they have prescribed which assessment tools are to be used to determine level of disability. There is an undeniable correlation between “level of disability” and allocated funding. This is something participants are all too familiar with, given the evidence NDIA currently require to build a plan.
There has been persistent denial from NDIA that the introduction of independent assessments has nothing to do with cost saving measures, however this trend towards ‘categorising people with the same disability having the same needs’ seems to suggest otherwise.
Some of the other concerns SACARE has about this process includes:
The lack of consultation with industry professionals
- The fact that Assessment Provider panel was announced during the consultation process indicates a tokenistic approach to seeking valuable feedback from professionals who work tirelessly to ensure their participants receive all the support they need.
The accuracy of assessments
- The standardised assessments are not a true reflection of a person’s needs and only speak to the categorisation of the disability. The only way to establish the actual needs is from an extensive observational functional assessment, not self-reported questionnaires.
sacare THE DIFFERENCE IN DISABILITY
586 Regency Rd, Broadview SA 5083 p. 1300 145 636 e. w. www.sacare.com.au
The scope of the pilot project was too narrow.
- There was very little evidence provided about how Independent Assessments might affect individuals with high physical support needs and complex health requirements. The pilot targeted a specific cohort but not the wider spectrum of the disability sector.
Some participants lack insight into their support needs.
- There needs to be a clear understanding that an individuals insight/capacity fluctuates, and information gathered during one assessment (within a 20 min-4 hour timeframe) is not necessarily accurate. Individuals with impaired cognition can lack insight into their functional capacity and therefore and Independent Assessment of this nature will not truly reflect their needs.
The professional experience of the assessor
- The criteria for the assessor to have a minimum of 1 year experience within their chosen profession indicates a lack of understanding around the complexities of some disabilities. It cannot be expected that all therapists have intimate knowledge of all disabilities, hence the need for specialisation.
We urge you to oppose the introduction of independent assessments.
Yours Sincerely
sacare
THE DIFFERENCE IN DISABILITY
586 Regency Rd, Broadview SA 5083 | PO Box 211 Prospect SA 5082 t 1300 145 636 | w www.sacare.com.au