About these resources and tools

These resources were developed for the NDS Quality and Safeguards Sector Readiness Project as a starting point to assist NDIS providers in meeting quality and safeguarding requirements.

NDIS Registered Providers

The NDIS Commission manage the registration and quality assurance of NDIS providers through a national quality and safeguarding framework. The NDIS Commission work with people with disability and NDIS providers to improve the quality and safety of services and supports. Their website has information for registered and unregistered providers. They produce resources and guidance to assist providers to meet the requirements, learn and upskill their teams.

Useful links

• NDIS Commission Website
• NDIS Code of Conduct. All registered and unregistered NDIS providers and their workers are required to comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct. It sets out expectations for safe and ethical conduct by all providers and their workers.
• Registered provider obligations and requirements. A registered NDIS provider is a person or organisation that is registered with the NDIS Commission. NDIS providers must be registered to deliver some kinds of supports. This link provides information on the obligations, requirements and responsibilities of registered NDIS providers.
• NDIS practice standards and quality indicators. The NDIS practice standards and quality indicators specify the quality standards to be met by registered NDIS providers. Each standard has outcomes and quality indicators to guide registered providers on what they need to do to meet each standard.
• Unregistered provider obligations. Not all NDIS providers need to register with the NDIS Commission, but all NDIS providers have an obligation to provide high quality and safe supports to people with disability. This link provides information for unregistered provider obligations and responsibilities of unregistered NDIS providers.

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NDIS Worker Screening

All registered provider workers, in risk assessed roles, are now required to hold an NDIS Worker screening check.

These resources were developed to give providers an understanding of the different agencies involved in NDIS Worker Screening in WA. Providers will be able to understand the responsibilities in relation to their workforce and to know how to access the information they need to meet the requirements of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. The resources provide an overview and aim to give providers some tools which can be used as a starting point, in developing policies, procedures and processes to manage the requirements around NDIS Worker Screening checks.

Resources

Factsheet: NDIS Worker Screening Check 
What is Worker Screening, why is it important and links to important information for WA providers.

Useful links

• NDIS Worker Screening Check. An overview of NDIS Worker Screening and accessing the Worker Screening Database.
• Department of Communities: NDIS Worker Screening Check. Information regarding the process in WA, resources for you and your workers and contact details for the Worker Screening Unit.

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Conflict of Interest

The NDIS Code of Conduct places certain responsibilities on NDIS registered providers and workers to declare and avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest. These resources explain conflict of interest in context of NDIS and provide useful checklists, including examples and considerations to assist providers to eliminate or reduce conflict of interest in their workplace.

Resources

Factsheet: Conflict of Interest 
What is conflict of interest and why is it important? What is expected of NDIS providers and some examples of conflict of interest.

Useful links

• The NDIS Code of Conduct - Guidance for service providers. This guide is available to assist NDIS providers to understand and comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct. It provides information and examples of what the Code of Conduct looks like in practice including examples of conflict of interest.

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Emergency and Disaster Management

The Emergency and Disaster Management Practice Standard outlines how providers must prepare for and respond to different types of emergencies and disasters. These resources include tips and ideas for developing emergency and disaster management policies, procedures, plans and resources to assist with training your workers.

Resources

Factsheet: Emergency and Disaster Management
An overview of emergency and disaster management in NDIS supports and services.

Emergency and Disaster Management: Prevention and Preparation Tip Sheet
Tips and ideas for developing emergency and disaster management procedures and plans.

Emergency and Disaster Management Policy Checklist
A checklist to assist in developing your own policy.

Key Conversations Tool for Emergency and Disaster Management
A tool and templates to raise awareness with your workers.

Board Briefing Note
To assist Boards and governing bodies to understand their role and responsibilities.

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This project is funded by the Government of Western Australia - Department of Communities.

Effective Organisational Communication

Communication in its many forms, appears throughout the NDIS Code of Conduct and in every NDIS Practice Standard. These resources aim to assist providers to improve the organisation’s internal and external communications and provide information and links to resources on developing communication skills, creating accessible and inclusive communications, tips for developing a culture of effective communication and key questions to answer when developing and implementing a communication plan.

Resources

Organisational Communications - Review and Improvement Action Plan

An action plan template to assist with reviewing or developing your organisation’s internal and external communications.

Effective Organisational Communications

Information to assist you to improve your communications with all stakeholders.

Communication Policies, Procedures, Strategies and Plans

A tool to develop or evaluate your existing framework for internal and external communications.

Factsheet: Accessible and inclusive information provision and communications.

An overview on providing information and creating communications which are accessible and inclusive.

Useful links

NDS Communication Plan template: NDS's Communication Plan Template is an example of a communication plan that was developed as part of NDS Risk Incident and Complaints Management Resources.

Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement opportunities may be identified in everyday work and life. They may be raised in conversations, in feedback, complaints or as the result of an incident. Ideas to improve services can come from anyone including people with disability, family, carers, staff, and volunteers.

These resources have been developed to assist providers by providing information, ideas, resources and tools which could be used for gathering and tracking continuous improvement in your organisation.

Resources

Continuous Improvement Checklist
A checklist with questions which are designed as thought starters for your organisation to consider.

Continuous Improvement Tools
Information and links to other resources which could be helpful to gather and collate continuous improvement ideas.

Factsheet: Continuous Improvement Planning
An overview of meeting the requirements of the NDIS Practice Standards with regards to continuous improvement.

Useful links

• NDS Safer Services Continuous Improvement Ideas Submission Form: This template is an example of an improvement idea form that that was developed as part of NDS Safer Services Toolkit.
  
  

NDIS Governance Health Check

The NDIS Governance Health Check is a self-assessment tool for a board and/or executive team, developed to evaluate the governing body and key personnel against the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding requirements. The tool is designed to reflect on the maturity of an organisation’s commitment and its readiness to comply with the governance and operational management requirements. It also identifies areas for continuous improvement and assists with developing an action plan.

Resources

NDIS Governance Health Check
Information to support organisations to look at NDIS quality and safeguarding requirements for the governing body and a tool to self-evaluate against the requirements.

Useful links

• NDS: Safeguarding for Boards: A guide developed for Boards of Management of disability service providers. It is intended to assist you to have a better understanding of abuse, neglect and violence experienced by people with disabilities.
• NDS Factsheet: Involvement of participants in the governance operations and leadership: Information about providing opportunities for people with disability to contribute to the governance of the organisation.

Turning Policy into Practice

Policy to practice is a term used to describe the steps involved in turning policies, procedures and other guidelines into the work practices and behaviours demonstrated by your workers. These resources aim to assist organisations and their leaders to develop a culture where the principles, expectations, actions and desired behaviours laid out in policies and procedures, are reflected in the experience of people receiving services.

Resources

Factsheet: What is Policy to Practice and Why is it Important?
An overview on the steps involved in turning policies, procedures and other guidelines into the work practices and behaviours demonstrated by your workers.

Policy to Practice: Leadership Roles, Responsibilities and Resources
Information on leadership roles and responsibilities, monitoring, and resources for Boards and leaders.

Tipsheet: Policy to Practice – Gaining insight from people with disability and their networks
Includes tips and ideas for involving people with disability and their networks.

Tipsheet: Policy into Practice: Supporting the Workforce
Provides tips, ideas and resources for engaging and supporting your workforce through consultation, communication, education, monitoring and support.

Useful links

• NDS Disability Workforce Resources Interactive PDF
  Resources and an interactive PDF to assist with all aspects of your workforce strategy and planning.

NDIS Registration and Audit Process - Verification and Certificaiton Pathways

To be a registered provider of NDIS supports and services, means applying for and maintaining registration with the NDIS Commission. These resources are aimed at new providers of NDIS supports and services and want to increase their understanding of the audit process, timelines and working with Approved Quality Auditors (AQAs).

Resources

Factsheet: NDIS Registration Process and Audit Pathways
Information and links to other resources on the registration process, audit pathways and process, quality auditor recommendations, application outcome and ongoing cycle.

Factsheet: Audit Reports
An overview on audit findings and ratings and corrective action plans.

NDIS Registration and Renewal Timelines
An infographic and tips for managing your registration and renewal basic timelines

Tipsheet: Selecting and Engaging an Approved Quality Auditor (AQA)
Provides ideas and helpful tips for selecting an Approved Quality Auditor (AQA) that is a good fit for your organisation

Useful links

• NDIS Commission: Understanding what is involved in an audit
  Information on Quality, Verification, and Certification audits.

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Risk, Incidents, and Complaints Management

A well-managed risk, incidents and complaints system will help drive safer and good quality outcomes for people with disability and meet the regulatory requirements of the NDIS Commission.

These resources have been developed for individuals/sole traders and small and medium sized providers and can be adapted for an individual service's needs and size. These resources build on the foundation resources in NDS's Risk Incident and Complaints Management.

Resources

Tools, Resources and Information for Developing your Risk Management Approach A resource to assist with developing or reviewing the way your organisation manages risk.

Factsheet: Understanding Incidents - Recording and Reporting requirements

An overview on incidents, what the NDIS Commission consider an incident, information on Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) and other types of incidents.

Incident Management Practice Standard - Information and Resources

Information to assist NDIS providers to understand their responsibilities in relation to the Incident Management NDIS practice standard.

Complaints Management – Self-Assessment and Action Plan

A tool to assist you to review and develop feedback and complaints management systems, policies, and processes.

Tools, Resources and Information for Lead Complaints Handlers

Information to assist with developing different skills of the people in your organisation who are responsible for handling complaints.

Useful links

• NDS Risk Incidents and Complaints Management Resources
  Resources to assist with implementing systems and processes that will drive good quality outcomes for people with disability and help meet some of the regulatory requirements of the NDIS Commission

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