3.2 Support Planning

3.2 Support Planning

Preamble

BigDog Support Services Pty Ltd (BigDog) works to ensure that each client is involved in developing their support plans so that the plans reflect the client’s needs, requirements, preferences, strengths and goals. These plans are reviewed regularly.

3.2.1 Developing Support Plans

BigDog obtains each client’s consent to work with the client and their support network to enable effective assessment and to develop a support plan. BigDog ensures that the appropriate information and access is sought from a range of resources to ensure the client’s needs, support requirements, preferences, strengths and goals are included in the assessment and the support plan.

BigDog follows a person-centred approach, whereby people with disability are at the centre of planning and delivery as outlined by the Productivity Commission in its report on Disability Care and Support “the intention of person-centred approaches is to maximise, as much as reasonably possible, the capacity for people with disabilities to take control of their lives”.

BigDog recognises the importance of people with disability participating in decisions that affect their lives along with family, friends, carers and advocates. This strategy promotes active participation in decision making to safeguard and advance the human rights, wellbeing and interests of the client.

BigDog provides suitable and sufficient information to clients in order to ensure that each client is fully informed of their support options and has time to review the information prior to commencing any planning of supports. This allows support plans to be created that are based around the client’s needs, support requirements, preferences, strengths and goals. The information is reviewed regularly so that it remains current and accurate.

3.2.2 Risk Assessment

BigDog collaborates with each client to complete and document a risk assessment for each client’s support plan, then plans and implements the appropriate strategies to treat the known risks.

BigDog recognises people’s inherent right to freedom of expression and the right to make decisions about, and exercise control over, their own lives, reinforcing the fundamental right of people with disability to have respect and dignity. This includes the dignity of risk - the right to choose to take some risk in life.

BigDog incorporates Risk Management Assessments when planning client’s support plans and records active considerations of the potential risk against the benefits when supporting individual choice.

BigDog has risk management procedures in place which includes a risk register, risk assessments and the monitoring of risks associated with the workplace, travel, client’s home environment and weather conditions. BigDog has risk assessments for activities that the client may choose to be involved in such as attending carnivals, bowling and working. The likelihood, consequences and expose to risks are considered and strategies to limit or remove the risk are put into place.

3.2.3 Risk Management Reviews

BigDog conducts periodic reviews of the effectiveness of risk management strategies with each client to ensure risks are being adequately addressed and changes are made when required.

BigDog regularly meets with clients in order to review any Risk Management Assessments applicable to that client. This review allows for clients, family, friends and support workers to highlight any concerns they have in relation to the practical issues of implementing the strategies outlined in the assessment and allows for any suggestions to be made to improve these strategies.

Any changes that need to be made to the Risk Management Assessment are discussed between the parties and the agreed changes are documented in an updated Risk Management Assessment which is implemented without delay.

3.2.4 Support Plan Reviews

BigDog ensures that each support plan is reviewed annually or earlier in collaboration with each client, according to their changing needs or circumstances. BigDog assesses the progress in meeting the desired outcomes and goals at a frequency relevant and proportionate to risks the client’s functionality and the client’s wishes.

BigDog holds regular reviews of support plans with clients and any family or friends the client wishes to be involved. These reviews are focused on the strengths, needs and life goals of the client, whether these are being achieved and if not, what needs to change.

Achieving individual outcomes requires collaboration between the individual and service provider to ensure active choice and decision-making. This means a joint effort based on mutual respect rather than the service making all the decisions. A focus on individual outcomes includes individuals and services working together to review progress against planned and measurable outcomes.

This process also recognises the potential role, with the individual’s consent, of families, friends, carers and advocates in planning, delivery and review, with the individual’s consent. It encourages active dialogue between an individual, their families, friends, carers and/or advocates and a service regarding the nature of the service or supports provided, with a focus on the minimal restrictive options.

Staff are also encouraged to provide feedback on how the client’s support is helping the client to achieve the goals outlined in their plans and any areas that need change or improvement.

3.2.5 Support Plan Updates

BigDog works with clients to update and change support plans in situations where progress is different from expected outcomes and goals.

Once a support plan review has been undertaken, BigDog works with the client to amend the support plan in any areas that were raised in the review that require changes. This process allows for continuous improvement of each client’s support plan to ensure that the client is getting the support they require to fulfil their goals in a manner which they decide is suitable for their lifestyle.

Thorough records of the review are kept along with any changes that have been made to the support plan and the reasons for each change. This allows future reviewers of the support plan to be fully informed as to what has been trialled in the past, what has worked well and what hasn’t worked well for each client

3.2.6 Communicating Support Plans

Where appropriate, and with consent of the client, BigDog communicates information on the support plan to family members, carers, other providers and relevant government agencies. BigDog provides each client with a copy of their finalised support plan once available as well as any other party that the client authorises BigDog to provide a copy to. This ensures that all parties involved in a client’s support plan are fully informed as to exactly what supports will be provided to the client and when they will be provided. In some situations, it may be necessary for a client’s support plan to be provided to a third party such as government agencies or other service providers who also provide supports to the client. In these circumstances BigDog will ensure that a copy of the support plan is provided to the relevant person or organisation once consent has been provided by the client.

Procedures

A risk management strategy provides a structured and coherent approach to identifying, assessing and managing risk. BigDog undertakes to develop and implement risk management strategies for the following reasons:

1. To implement engagement practices and procedures in relation to protecting people with disability from abuse, neglect and exploitation and

2. To provide a written strategy for clients.

The “risks” that are “assessed” in risk assessments vary markedly. Such “risks” include, but are not confined to:

Risk of psychological harm to self or others,

Risk of physical harm to self or others,

Risk of legal harm,

Risk of reputational harm to the organisation.

Summary

A Risk Assessment is the gathering of information about a client and their environment in order to determine the likely way(s) that that the client may be harmed, or cause harm to someone else.

The primary purpose of any risk assessment is to plan actions that will reduce or remove (where necessary) the likelihood that the identified harm will occur.

Risk Assessments therefore differ from other Assessments (e.g. Behaviour Assessments) in that they are, by nature, preventive.

The essential procedure for conducting any Risk Assessment is as follows:

1. Identify whether a risk assessment or another form of assessment is more appropriate.

2. Clarify the areas of risk that are being assessed.

3. Obtain information from multiple sources on the area of risk and relevant risk factors.

4. Identify relevant risk factors

5. Make recommendations on how to maintain and develop protective factors and reduce risk factors.

Given the interrelatedness of risk areas, one risk assessment may inform another. There are a number of different types of risk assessments utilised by BigDog including, but not limited to the following:

Client Risk Assessment

The appropriate risk assessment tool for a client activity is the Client Activity Risk Assessment. The appropriate person to carry out the assessment will usually be a coordinator. These assessments are carried out annually for all activities, and prior to new activities commencing. The risk assessment will also be carried out for all new clients.

House Risk Assessment

The House Risk Assessment is carried out by the WHS officer, coordinator or a senior support worker if directed to do so by management. This is to ensure that the houses (accommodation settings) are healthy and safe environments for clients, workers and visitors.

Hazard Assessment

The hazard assessment is to assess the risk of reported hazards. This assessment is to be carried out by a WHS officer, coordinator or a senior support worker if directed to do so by management.

There are other forms of risk assessments that are carried out by the Directors from time to time. These may include;

Risk assessments of the intake of a new client,

Risk assessments of new accommodation settings

Steps in conducting a Risk Assessment

Any assessment should be comprehensive, and risk assessments are no exception to this. To be comprehensive, risk assessments should involve multiple sources of information.

These are likely to include one or more of the following:

Interviews: These should be conducted with the Client, members of their family or carers, or other professionals involved. Conducting more than one interview will enable the assessor to obtain a range of perspectives about the Client and their issues.

Observations: These may be appropriate if the Client cannot be interviewed, or if little is known about the Client in novel settings.

File Reviews: Information can be obtained from files that can inform the risk assessment.

Expert Advice: Advice from people such as Occupational Therapists or Diversional Therapists may be of use in regard to determining suitability of activities with people with various disabilities.

Make informed recommendations

Recommendations can be made from each risk assessment about whether the risk is acceptable. The recommendations can be made to the directors and it is up to the directors to make the final decision in regard to the most suitable action. There are options in order to proceed – whether the risk can be eliminated or mitigated through positive action. Or can steps be taken to reduce the potential impact of the risk? What direct or indirect interventions are warranted, given the nature of the risks identified in the risk assessment?

The concepts of risk for client need to also be balanced with:

The capacity of the client to understand the risks and their potential consequences

The capacity of the client to consent to the risk

The concept of dignity of risk

The duty of care owed to clients

The least intrusive and restrictive way to provide support.

Supporting Documents

Policies

3.0 Provision of Supports

3.4.5 Duty of Care

Forms

Goal Review

Goal Support Plan

Hazard Assessment Form

House Risk Assessment

NDIS PATH

NDIS Plan Review

Risk Assessment Form

Roster of Supports

WHS Safety Audit

Information

Human Services Quality Framework October 2021 Version 8

NDIS Practice Alerts

NDIS Practice Standards November 2021 Version 4

Person-Centred Planning

NGO Training

Comprehensive Health Assessments

Problem Solving

Legislation

Child Protection Reform and other Legislation Act 2022 (QLD)

Carer Recognition Act 2010 (Cwth)

Disability Services Act 2006 (QLD)

Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023 (Cwth)

Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD)

National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cwth)

NDIS (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Amendment Rules 2021

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cwth)

NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators

BigDog Support Services Pty Ltd (BigDog) is a registered NDIS provider and is required to apply the scheme’s practice standard and quality indicators.

The standards have been developed to create an important benchmark to assess provider performance and ensure that high quality and safe supports and services are provided to NDIS participants.

The four core modules are:

1.0 Rights and Responsibilities;

2.0 Governance and Operational Management;

3.0 The Provision of Supports; and

4.0 The Support Provision Environment.

The supplementary modules cover:

5.0 Specialist Support

5.1 High intensity daily personal activities.

5.3 Implementing behaviour support plans.

3.2 Support Planning

Each participant is actively involved in the development of their support plans. Support plans reflect participant needs, requirements, preferences, strengths and goals, and are regularly reviewed.

3.2.1 With each participant’s consent, work is undertaken with the participant and their support network to enable effective assessment and to develop a support plan. Appropriate information and access is sought from a range of resources to ensure the participant’s needs, support requirements, preferences, strengths and goals are included in the assessment and the support plan.

3.2.2 In collaboration with each participant, a risk assessment is completed and documented for each participant’s support plan, then appropriate strategies to treat known risks are planned and implemented.

3.2.3 Periodic reviews of the effectiveness of risk management strategies are undertaken with each participant to ensure risks are being adequately addressed, and changes are made when required.

3.2.4 Each support plan is reviewed annually or earlier in collaboration with each participant, according to their changing needs or circumstances. Progress in meeting desired outcomes and goals is assessed, at a frequency relevant and proportionate to risks, the participant’s functionality and the participant’s wishes.

3.2.5 Where progress is different from expected outcomes and goals, work is done with the participant to change and update the support plan.

3.2.6 Where appropriate, and with the consent of the participant, information on the support plan is communicated to family members, carers, other providers and relevant government agencies.

Human Services Quality Standards

The Human Services Quality Standards set a benchmark for the quality of service provision. Each Standard is supported by a set of performance indicators which outline what an organisation is required to demonstrate to meet that standard.

3 Responding to Individual Need

The assessed needs of the individual are being appropriately addressed and responded to within resource capacity.

3.1 BigDog uses flexible and inclusive methods to identify the individual strengths, goals and aspirations of people using services.

3.2 BigDog formulates service delivery that respects and values the individual (e.g. identity, gender, sexuality, culture, age and religious beliefs).

3.3 BigDog ensures that services to the individual/s are delivered, monitored, reviewed and reassessed in a timely manner.

3.4 BigDog has partnerships and collaborates to enable it to effectively work with community support networks, other organisations and government agencies as relevant and appropriate.

3.5 BigDog has a range of strategies to ensure communication and decision-making by the individual is respected and reflected in goals set by the person using services and in plans to achieve service delivery outcomes.

Delegation of Authority

Version Details

This policy will be reviewed every twelve (12) months unless circumstances deem it necessary to review earlier. The review process will involve an analysis of the usefulness of the policy and to note any changes which are required to improve the policy. If minor changes are made in wording or to clarify the intent, the version number will indicate this by adding a ‘point’ i.e. Version 1.0 indicates the original version and 1.1 with the first round of minor changes made. A significant change or intent of the policy will be indicated by a whole new number i.e. Version 2.0.

The following rules also apply in interpreting this policy:

• Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

• A singular word includes the plural and vice versa.

• A word that suggests one gender includes the other genders.

renamed from Client Risk Assessment Policy to Participant Risk Assessment Policy

Updated term 'Client' to NDIS term 'Participant'

July 2016 3.0 Changed from a policy to a procedure

Deleted some of the preamble – not necessary

Examples of different risk assessments added

Added the risk of damage to organisation’s reputation

Additional information for considering various sources of information for risk assessments

Added new factors for informed recommendations

Added new WHS officer name

August 2016

January 2019

January 2020

January 2021 5.1

Added reference to s.49 Disability Services Act 2006 (Qld)

Updated to new logo and style guide

Removed HSQF Standards Indicators and Policy matched with NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators

Front cover updated to Standards colour identification

Supporting Policies updated

Updated Responsible Officers details

Changed ‘the director’ to ‘the directors’ Introduction of BigDog Training Portal and modules

January 2022

Updated responsible officers’ details

Updated training and practice alerts

NDIS Practice Standards

November 2021 Version 4

Human Services Quality Standards and Child Protection Act and the term “Participant” is returned to “Client” to allow for policies to cover NDIS and Child Safety.