Ref Issue Example or explanation Solution or comment NDIA Response (Nov 2016) 1 Current supports not in plans Supported independent living (SIL) not in a plan even though the participant lives in a group home Encourage participants to obtain list of all supports currently received and to give it to the planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) Implement a process for quick remediation of obvious plan errors The identification of SIL funding is included in the data provided by States and Territories to NDIA. There have been rare occasions when this has not been included in the data transfer. This risk is managed by questions regarding housing support in the First Plan process. The NDIA is supporting a streamlined approach to ensure that all residents in shared living are transitioned into the scheme with minimal disruption to their supports. 2 Concern about a lack of focus on employment A participant who works in supported employment was told by a planner that it was unsuitable for them so no funding for any employment support was included Participant wants to find work but there is no funding allocated for employment support Implement training for planners and LACs on employment supports NDIA need more information about the individual circumstances in order to respond. The participant is encouraged to contact the NDIA to resolve this issue. However, the NDIA has developed and implemented training for staff on a range of employment supports available for participants. 3 Information on goals or support needs is not being reflected in funding When in the community, a participant requires someone to push their wheelchair but they are not given funding for 1:1 support Participants with complex needs are not being funded at the higher level Develop a guide for planners to improve their understanding of when 1:1 supports are required The NDIA considers all possibilities for a participant to achieve greater independence. This can include exploration of improved equipment that may enable the participant to navigate the community independently. The NDIA has
the need for a plan review. More complex equipment will need to be considered via a plan review. Didn’t answer the question 9 Planners lack understanding of some conditions Planners lack information on degenerative conditions so don’t predict support need changes over the life of the plan Assist some planners to develop specialist knowledge on some conditions and have them undertake or review plans for participants with these conditions NDIA planners have a range of skills, qualifications and experience. The NDIA also has a national Technical Advisory Team (TAT) that can provide support and guidance to planners on complex cases. 10 Support coordinators cannot view plans A support coordinator cannot view a participant’s plan; they need to meet with the participant and ask them to log in. This is time consuming, hinders plan implementation and limits flexibility Participants should be able to give support coordinators permission to log in to view their plan and make adjustments on their behalf (such as create service bookings). This access should be time-limited and be able to be withdrawn The Agency is currently updating the system to enable plan support coordinators to view participant’s plans. Participants will need to agree to this access and a service booking will need to be in place between the participant and plan support coordinator for this to take effect. 11 Participants are unaware that a plan has been completed Existing providers should be alerted when a new plan is in place Plans are system generated the day they are approved, and distributed to the participant via their preferred method of contact (either in hard copy in the mail or available on the portal). NDIA promotes choice and control for participants, and therefore does not intervene in making contact with providers on the participant’s behalf. Participants who require assistance to administer their