Speak Out April 2018

The NDIA’s National Quality and Safeguarding Framework (NQSF)

What is it? All state governments have agreed to the development of a national approach to quality and safeguarding as part of the NDIS. Funding was provided in the last budget to establish the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to oversee the delivery of supports and services under the NDIS. Graham Head has been appointed to the role as commissioner, and the commission is currently underway recruiting to other senior positions in the commission, including senior practitioners who will be responsible for overseeing NDIS approved behaviour support practitioners and providers. The NDIA has been developing a system of monitoring and credentialing that will replace the state-based systems with a single national framework. This will enable more consistency between the states and mean that providers are all registering and operating under the same set of rules and regulations and, ultimately, will be registered to provide supports nationally, via a single point of entry. What does this involve and what will it mean for me? Currently the monitoring of NDIS providers and safeguarding of services provided to participants sits predominantly at a state- based level. As a result, each state has different rules and criteria for registration, particularly for provision of what the jurisdictional governments have decided are "specialist disability support" groups such as Early Childhood Supports and Positive Behavioural Supports. The registration and credentialing process will continue as normal at a state-based level until the NDIS National Quality and Safeguarding Framework (NQSF) is implemented in the state or territory in which you are providing services; • NSW and SA, commencing 1 July 2018, • VIC, NT, ACT, QLD and TAS, commencing 1 July 2019, • WA, commencing 1 July 2020.

As the new framework is rolled out, it will affect members wanting to register to provide supports under the NDIS as well as those who have already registered (i.e. registered providers). The full details of the framework have not yet been released, however recent provider forums have provided the following information regarding registration as an NDIS provider: • There will be a two-tiered system, with a higher level of credentialing (certification) expected for providers of "high • Registration will not be mandated for provision of Early Childhood Supports. This means that self managing or third party managed participants will still be able to choose to see non-registered providers, • The decision re: how frequently third party verification (TPV) will be required is still pending, but it is likely to be every three years. If you have already undertaken TPV as part of registration requirements in your state or territory then this is likely to be recognised and count towards the timeframe you have until you have to complete your next TPV process when you move under the NQSF, • The provider will be expected to pay for the TPV. A choice of endorsed providers of TPV will be made available to registered NDIS providers, who will then engage and negotiate the process, including the cost. There has been talk of a "grant" that providers may be able to apply for, to help towards the costs of the TPV, but no details are currently available about who may apply, or what percentage of the TPV costs it may cover. • There will be a less onerous process for "verification" of registration as providers of other supports, including Therapeutic Supports. Providers will be asked to provide risk or complex" supports. This will include provision of Positive Behavioural Supports and Early Childhood Supports,

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April 2018 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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