Conflict of interest is a massive issue in the NDIS space.
Defining a conflict of interest:
This is where a NDIS provider, whether that be a sole trader, or company, or any eligible type, provides more than one service in a person’s NDIS plan. Some examples are:
⭐️ Coordination of supports and community access
⭐️ Coordination of supports and therapy
⭐️ Supported independent living and Community Access
⭐️ Supported independent living and coordination of supports
⭐️ Occupational therapy and behaviour support
As a registered NDIS provider, we have an obligation to ensure the people we support are making informed decisions about the supports they receive, and are able to exercise true choice and control.
Providers are obliged under the Terms of Business, which is signed and submitted to the NDIA, to not provide services to a participant where there is a conflict of interest, unless this conflict can be managed, and is upheld by policies and procedures.
Create A Sense of Place began for many reasons, but the biggest kick up the butt to get cracking, (no pun intended) was because the organisation I was working for, made me their intake officer and their support coordinator. Hmmm conflict much?? When I was doing an intake for coordination, they would ask me to take our program coordinator along, in the hope to get the person’s community access budget also.
I was told on many occasions, that I should not be referring externally, until we were sure that the organisation couldn’t provide the service first.
Well, there was only so many times that I could hit my head against the brick wall, the organisation clearly did not understand what choice and control meant, and worse, they did not care. So I left, and spent weeks writing the policies and procedures necessary to apply to become a registered provider.
Unfortunately these stories are extremely common, and they will continue to happen until people are more informed about the choices that are available to them. And of course until the powers that be, actually crack down on it.
Some key things to remember:
1. You can have AS MANY people/organisations delivering supports as you want – it’s about budgeting your supports.
2. You can have AS MANY people/organisations involved delivering the same/similar support as you want, including having two or more support coordinators involved! Just remember to budget!
3. It’s YOUR choice who supports you.
We provide independent Coordination of Supports, and we have capacity. Get in touch with us if you would like to know more.
