Preamble
BigDog Support Services Pty Ltd (BigDog) acknowledges our responsibilities with respect to the environment in which supports are provided to clients. Where supports are provided in the client’s home, work is undertaken with the client to ensure a safe support delivery environment.
The following policies represent elements of the NDIS Practice Standards under this Core Module and include the key indicators of each element.
4.1 Safe Environment
BigDog works to ensure that each client accesses supports in a safe environment that is appropriate to their needs.
4.1.1 Worker Identification
4.1.2 House Risk Assessments
4.1.3 Collaboration with other Providers
4.2 Money and Property
BigDog works to ensure that client money and property is secure, and each client uses their own money and property as they determine.
Financial capability contributes to the wellbeing of clients by providing them with the knowledge, behaviours and skills to manage their money day to day, plan for the future and make informed choices. Poor financial decisions can have a long-lasting impact, not just on individuals but on families and society.
Clients’ money or other property is only used with the consent of the client and for the purposes intended by the client. Clients are not given financial advice or information by BigDog other than that which would reasonably be required under the client’s plan.
4.2.1 Manage, Protect and Account for Property
4.2.2 Access and Spend own Money
4.2.3 Financial Advice
4.3 Management of Medication
BigDog has a commitment to the maintenance of safe and effective practices in assisting clients in the management of their individual medication regimes to the level of support they require.
BigDog will only assist with medication where a pharmacist has dispensed medication into a Webster-Pak. Staff will not handle medication in any other form of containers unless directly requested by the client, Statutory Health Attorney or qualified medical officer.
Each client requiring medication is confident that BigDog administers, stores and monitors the effects of their medication and works to prevent errors or incidents.
4.3.1 Medication Records
4.3.2 Medication Management Training
4.3.3 Safe Storage
4.4 Mealtime Management
Having access to mealtimes that are safe and enjoyable is critical as it minimises the risk of choking and serious health problems and also improves a person’s safety and quality of life. BigDog ensures that each client requiring mealtime management receives meals that are nutritious, and of a texture that is appropriate to their individual needs, and appropriately planned, and prepared in an environment and manner that meets their individual needs and preferences and delivered in a way that is appropriate to their individual needs and ensures that the meals are enjoyable.
4.4.1 Identifying Clients
4.4.2 Mealtime Management Needs
4.4.3 Client Involvement
4.4.4 Understanding Mealtime Management Needs
4.4.5 Managing Health Risks
4.4.6 Mealtime Management Plans
4.4.7 Developing Menus
4.4.8 Texture-modified Foods
4.4.9 Identifying Correct Meals
4.5 Management of Waste
Various human activities generate a wide variety of waste. This waste is unwanted material that we throw away. When left unnoticed, these wastes have detrimental effects on our health and environment. So, managing waste is very important. BigDog works to ensure that each client, each worker, and any other person in the home is protected from harm as a result of exposure to waste, infectious or hazardous substances generated during the delivery of supports.
4.5.1 Policies, Procedures and Practices
4.5.2 Incident Management
4.5.3 Emergency Plans
4.5.4 Waste Management Training
Procedures
BigDog provides appropriate, consistent and relevant inductions to all new workers through using standard information manuals and checklists with signed confirmations. This induction includes a Workplace Health and Safety induction through the issuing of the WHS Induction Manual and acknowledgement by checklist that the individual safety items and policies have been presented and the new worker signing as confirmation.
All BigDog support workers are required to undertake an in-house Medication training program at the time of their induction and thereafter every 12 months.
All workers understand the steps to take in the event of an incident involving medication.
All medications are stored safely and securely, can be easily identified and differentiated, and are only accessed by appropriately trained workers.
Summary
BigDog is committed to ensuring a healthy and safe working environment for workers, clients, visitors and contractors. BigDog encourages members and personnel to regard accident prevention and working safely as a collective and individual responsibility.
NGO Training
Comprehensive Health Assessments (PA03)
Customer Service
Dysphagia (PA04)
Effective Progress Notes
Epilepsy Management (PA05)
Management of Medication
Management of Waste
Mealtime Management
Medicine and Swallowing Problems (PA07)
Polypharmacy (PA01)
Transitions of Care (PA02)
Legislation
Acts Interpretation Act 1954 (QLD)
Child Protection Reform and other Legislation Act 2022 (QLD)
Disability Services Act 2006 (QLD)
Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023 (Cwth)
Environmental Protect Act 1994 (QLD)
Guardianship and Administration Act 2000 (QLD)
Health Act 1937 (QLD)
Health Regulation Act 1996 (QLD)
Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD)
National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cwth)
NDIS (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Amendment Rules 2021
National Environmental Protection Measures (Implementation) Act 1998 (Cwth)
Powers of Attorney Act 1998 (QLD)
Public Guardian Act 2014 (QLD)
Public Trustee Act 1978 (QLD)
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009
Trust Accounts Act 1973 (QLD)
Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 (QLD)
Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (QLD)
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.
4 0 Support Provision Environment
These NDIS Practice Standards set out the environment in which supports are provided to participants.
4.1 Safe Environment
4.2 Participant Money and Property
4.3 Management of Medication
4.4 Mealtime Management
4.5 Management of Waste
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.
3.3 BigDog ensures that services to the individual/s are delivered, monitored, reviewed and reassessed in a timely manner.
4 Safety, Wellbeing and Rights
The safety, wellbeing and human and legal rights of people using BigDog services are protected and promoted.
4.2 BigDog proactively prevents, identifies and responds to risks to the safety and wellbeing of people using services.
4.3 BigDog has processes for reporting and responding to potential or actual harm, abuse and/or neglect that may occur for people using services.
4.5 BigDog has processes that demonstrate the right of the individual to participate and make choices about the services received.
6 Human Resources
Effective human resource management systems, including recruitment, induction and supervisory processes, result in quality service provision.
6.1 BigDog has human resource management systems that are consistent with regulatory requirements, industrial relations legislation, work health and safety legislation and relevant agreements or awards.
6.3 BigDog provides people working in BigDog with induction, training and development opportunities relevant to their roles.
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.
August 2017
January 2019
January 2020
Added information and references to HSQF
Created an all-inclusive HSQF Policy to address each of the service standards indicators.
Change of Policy Name from Individual Needs to Responding to Individual Need
Included NDIS references
Returned supporting procedures to supporting policies
Updated Responsible Officers
4.0
5.0
January 2021 5.1
January 2022
5.2
Updated to new logo and style guide
January 2023
6 0
January 2024
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
Introduction of BigDog Training Portal and modules
Updated Responsible Officers details
Updated 2.9 Emergency and Disaster Management
NDIS Practice Standards November 2021 Version 4
Included 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.
6.1 Disability Services Act 1986 replaced with Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023 and policy review process included.