Western Australia's transition to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
From December 1 2020, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will start managing quality and safeguards in Western Australia.
The Government of WA decided to defer WA’s transition to the NDIS Commission from July to December. This will enable providers to focus on supporting people with disability during the COVID-19 recovery period.
The WA Department of Communities Disability Services Provider Panel will only accept new NDIS applications until the tender closure date, 18 September 2020. Providers who miss the closure date and require evidence of WA Communities compliance will need to wait until 1 December 2020 to apply for registration via the NDIS Commission. Providers wishing to add other supports that are considered to be ‘like’ services to Commonwealth program supports they already provide, have until 30 November 2020 to apply through the NDIS for registration.
What do I need to know about the NDIS Commission?
The NDIS Commission is an independent body that works to:
Improve the quality and safety of NDIS services and supports
Investigates and resolves problems
Strengthens the skills and knowledge of providers and participants.
Once WA has transitioned to the NDIS Commission, it will be operational across Australia. There will then be a consistent approach to quality and safety across the nation.
What will change for providers in Western Australia?
Below is a summary of the changes to quality and safeguards WA NDIS providers can expect:
Provider registration:
The NDIS Commissioner now registers providers. Registered providers must follow:
The NDIS Practice Standards
The NDIS Code of Conduct
Requirements for incident management, complaints management, worker screening and behaviour support.
Standards of quality and safety:
Registered NDIS providers must meet and be audited against the relevant NDIS Practice Standards. There are transitional arrangements for providers who transition to become registered NDIS providers on 1 December 2020.
Code of Conduct:
All NDIS providers and workers in the NDIS must meet the requirements of the NDIS Code of Conduct.
Worker screening:
There will be a nationally consistent Worker Screening Check. This is for workers of registered providers who are in a risk assessed role and those who have more than incidental contact with people with disability.
Complaints management:
Registered providers must have internal compliant management and resolution arrangements in place.
Complaints about the quality or safety of NDIS supports and services can be made to the NDIS Commission. Complaints about the NDIS will continue to be made to the NDIA or Commonwealth Ombudsman. Complaints about the NDIS Commission can be made directly to the NDIS Commission or Commonwealth Ombudsman.
Post transition, the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office will still be able to receive complaints about incidents that occurred up to two year prior.
Behaviour support
NDIS providers who use restrictive practices must be registered with the NDIS Commission. They must meet extra requirements of the NDIS Practice Standards. Those who develop behaviour support plans are also required to do this.
The NDIS Commissioner approves behaviour support practitioners. Registered NDIS providers must lodge behaviour support plans with the NDIS Commission and notify it of the use of restrictive practices.
Incident management
Registered NDIS providers must have effective incident management systems in place. They must also notify the NDIS Commission about reportable incidents.
Until 1 December, current state requirements will continue to apply to WA NDIS providers. Existing quality and safeguarding functions performed by the Department of Communities will continue. The Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) has been allocated more resources to the delay in transition. The State Government also allocated $2 million to the Sector Transition Fund. This will help prepare the disability sector to meet the requirements of the NDIS Commission.
If you would like more information on how the NDIS Commission will change quality and safeguards in WA, head to the NDIS Commission website. To learn more about the WA government’s decision to delay the transition, read their media statement.