In our previous blog post, we looked into the topic of your safety. Now we will have a look at
the NDIS safeguarding policy in more detail and see how we can incorporate its principals into our business.
The basis of the NDIA policy is to:
· Improve assistance for NDIS participants and their support networks by establishing or strengthening safeguards.
· Clearly define roles and responsibilities within the NDIS support system.
· Show commitment to being more active in helping people with disabilities and their support networks identify, assess, and manage the risk of harm.
· Upgrade our safeguarding resources for both individuals living with disabilities and staff.
The policy is focused on six co-designed principles:
1) Safety Culture -
Organisational culture - is like the personality of a company. It's a mix of values, expectations, and both formal and informal practices. This mix decides how a company runs its operations, treats its employees, make assessments, and attends to its customers. Think of it as "the way things are done here."
Customer culture - refers to how people and organisations act to keep customers safe. It’s about the behaviours and values they share, always working to reduce any harm customers might experience while getting support.
2) Empowerment – this where you focus on the person instead of a disability, asking them first and doing it respectfully. Helping is not the same as doing it for someone else. Listening and advocating assists customers to bring about change for themselves.
3) Proactive support – Understand the difference between a “disability and ability”. Develop strategies that are solution rather than problem based. Remember, a person living with a disability all their lives is the best author of their own story and you are the supporting cast.
4) Individual circumstances – People living with a disability are more likely to experience poverty, poor quality housing and lower levels of education. Often, they are socially isolated, giving fewer opportunities to take part in their community. Working with your customers needs to be geared towards their individuality, circumstances, and daily life.
5) Dignity of risk and informed decision-making – Taking risks and making informed decisions is a basic right that's sometimes forgotten in the disability support sector. People with disabilities have the right to decide for themselves, just like everyone else. Disability shouldn't stop them from doing everyday things. Each person should be in control of their decisions without others thinking they know better. Assisting a customer with decision making strategies, is ok, it shows respect and gives the customer dignity for their own conclusions.
6) Informal Support Networks - Friends and family, play a crucial role in complementing the paid assistance your customers receive. It's important to value these groups highly. Without the support of friends and family, individuals would solely depend on paid services, which might make any relationships less personal. We should view them as supportive people around the customer and as a trusted knowledge base. They can provide valuable assistance in developing strategies and finding solutions.
Now that Royal Commission has brought down its findings, which include two hundred and twenty-two recommendations – every provider has an obligation to ensure that customers are supported in their independence and their right to live free from discrimination.
A bit of light reading to see what the Royal Commission found:
As always we wish you well from
The Lama Care Team
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