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A Simplified Guide to NDIS High Intensity Support and its Different Levels
“Empathy and support lift people with disabilities to independence and dignity.”
The NDIS, or National Disability Insurance Scheme, is a vital support system for eligible Australians living with disabilities. Its mission extends beyond financial assistance, aiming to enrich lives by fostering connections within the community. From promoting quality time with loved ones and enhancing independence to facilitating access to new skills, job opportunities, and community involvement, the NDIS high intensity support is dedicated to improving its beneficiaries’ overall quality of life. This extends to connecting individuals with disabilities to essential services in their communities, including doctors, community groups, sports clubs, support networks, libraries, and schools. Moreover, it provides valuable information about the support available through state and territory governments.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission recently introduced updated skill descriptors for high-intensity support (NDIS high intensity support), aligning with contemporary practices and expert advice. These descriptors offer clear guidance to providers and workers assisting participants with high-intensity daily personal activities (HIDPA) under the NDIS high-intensity support, emphasizing the importance of ongoing training and staying current with best practices. These changes took effect on 1st February, reflecting the NDIS’s ongoing commitment to fostering a caring and supportive community for those needing NDIS high intensity support.
What is NDIS High Intensity Support?
NDIS High Intensity Personal Activities, also known as NDIS high intensity support, are the most intensive and risky of all services offered through the NDIS. To safeguard the well-being of participants relying on NDIS high intensity support, providers assisting those with NDIS high intensity support must ensure that health professionals possess the essential skills and knowledge to offer these supports safely.
Presently, there are eight NDIS high intensity support:
- Complex Bowel Care
- Enteral Feeding Support
- Dysphagia Support
- Ventilator Support
- Tracheostomy Support
- Urinary Catheter Support
- Subcutaneous Injections
- Complex Wound Care Support
Once they determine that the task can be delegated, especially when considering NDIS high-intensity support, they’ll have to determine the level of support required. This is done to ensure that they allocate adequate funding in their NDIS high-intensity support plan for the registered nurse to evaluate, train, and oversee the worker responsible for carrying out the delegated task.
There are three levels of NDIS high-intensity support, which are determined by the number of tasks and the complexity of the assistance required:
- Low
- Intermediate
- High
It’s essential to consider NDIS high-intensity support when evaluating the appropriate level of assistance needed.
Understanding NDIS Levels of Support
The NDIS high intensity support is divided into three tiers, also known as “NDIS levels of support.” These tiers are classified as follows:
- Low level supports:
Low-level NDIS support implies the need for a registered nurse to oversee tasks within a maximum of two disability-related health support areas. For instance, if you find yourself in need of assistance solely within one or two disability-related health support domains, such as diabetes management or podiatry support, this falls under the category of low-level NDIS support.
- Intermediate level supports:
Intermediate-level NDIS support involves the requirement for a registered nurse to supervise tasks across three distinct disability-related health support areas. An example would be the need for support in areas like continence, diabetes management, and wound and pressure care.
- High level supports:
Lastly, high-level NDIS support indicates the necessity for a registered nurse to oversee tasks spanning four or more disability-related health support areas. An instance of this would be the need for assistance in areas like epilepsy support, wound and pressure care, nutritional support, and diabetes management.
These three NDIS levels of support for high intensity support NDIS, cater to individuals based on their specific needs, with the complexity of care increasing from low to intermediate to high. It is important to determine the appropriate level of NDIS support required to ensure individuals receive the most suitable and comprehensive assistance.
Level 2 High Intensity Support NDIS
What level of worker will NDIS fund for individuals in need of low level support? NDIS will ensure that ample funding is allocated to facilitate the training of a support worker at Level 2 High Intensity Support NDIS under the guidance of a registered nurse, enabling them to proficiently execute their delegated responsibilities within the Level 2 High Intensity Support NDIS framework. If you are in need of low-level support, the NDIS can provide funding for a Level 2 Support Worker. This worker functions as a Disability Support Worker under the category of High Intensity Support at Level 2.
What level of worker will NDIS fund for individuals in need of Intermediate level support? They will also allocate sufficient funding for a support worker to undergo training by a registered nurse and to carry out delegated tasks, ensuring that the support worker is adequately prepared for Level 2 High Intensity Support NDIS requirements. In cases requiring intermediate level support, they will provide funding for a Level 2 Support Worker NDIS High Intensity Supports Disability Support Worker.
Level 3 High Intensity Support NDIS
Level 3 High Intensity Support, commonly associated with NDIS High Intensity Support, signifies the necessity for an individual to have a registered nurse oversee and delegate tasks spanning across four or more disability-related health support domains, a requirement often aligned with the need for a Level 3 Support Worker NDIS.
For example, tasks encompassing epilepsy support, wound and pressure care, nutrition assistance, and diabetes management are included in this category of NDIS High Intensity Support. In scenarios where an individual requires high-level support, the funding allocation will encompass the provision for a support worker, often at the High Intensity Supports, Disability Support Worker Level 3, as recognized under NDIS, to undergo training conducted by the registered nurse and to execute the delegated tasks. Specifically, for those necessitating high-level support as stipulated by NDIS, the funding will cover a support worker at the Disability Support Worker Level 3 within the High Intensity Supports framework, ensuring that NDIS High Intensity Support is adequately provided.
What are the high intensity support skills descriptors?
The NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors, often called “Skills Descriptors,” offer additional guidance for NDIS providers and workers who assist individuals requiring extensive daily personal care (HIDPA). They outline the essential skills and knowledge that NDIS providers should ensure their staff possess when providing support to individuals dependent on HIDPAs. These types of support carry some of the highest potential risks for participants.
Many of these NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors tasks are profoundly personal, necessitating close communication and collaboration between workers and participants. It is crucial for workers to fully comprehend when and how to deliver these supports safely while aligning with the participants’ preferences and daily routines.
Who Should Use the Skills Descriptors?
- Participants, their families, and their support networks can utilize the skills descriptors to grasp the level of support they can anticipate. These descriptors also serve as a point of reference during discussions with service providers and when choosing support workers.
- Auditors employ the skills descriptors to ascertain whether a provider complies with the NDIS Practice Standard requirements for delivering high-intensity supports, as part of a rigorous quality audit.
- NDIS providers and support workers can rely on the skills descriptors to gain insight into the standards they should uphold when offering High-Intensity Disability Support Programs (HIDPAs). This guidance aids in selecting training programs that impart the requisite knowledge and skills essential for delivering high-intensity support effectively.
- Trainers must incorporate the skills descriptors into their training curricula to ensure that workers are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide these specialized forms of support.
Conclusion
The NDIS provides invaluable support to eligible Australians living with disabilities. They recently updated their skill descriptors for high-intensity support, prioritizing safety and well-being. The three tiers of support ensure appropriate assistance while maintaining a strong focus on quality. The program empowers individuals with disabilities to live more independent, fulfilling, and dignified lives in the Australian community.
If you or a loved one requires NDIS High Intensity Support in Melbourne, VIC, Safelane Healthcare is available to help. Our team is recognized as one of the leading Disability Support and Care Services in Melbourne, Victoria. What sets us apart is our commitment to developing a tailored healthcare plan that fits your specific gender and age needs. Our expert team is highly qualified to deliver outstanding care, guaranteeing that you receive the specialized assistance you require.
We firmly believe that your disability should not hinder your ability to enjoy happiness, and we are dedicated to helping you lead a fulfilling and contented life. Feel free to contact us here!
