Spotlight issue: Working collaboratively with the disability sector
Working collaboratively with the disability sector is critical for safety and high-quality health care of people with intellectual disability in acute care. Within a healthcare setting, people with intellectual disability often rely on others to access health care and make reasonable adjustments for their safety, particularly with communication. This means safe and high-quality health care depends on the quality of communication with the disability sector.
The disability sector includes the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), NDIS service providers and disability advocacy agencies.
The level of NDIS service involvement in a person’s life will often relate to the level of disability support they require in their daily activities and to participate in the community.
Many people with intellectual disability may also have other complex circumstances such as being disconnected from family and NDIS services; in contact with the criminal justice system; or at risk of homelessness. A person may receive NDIS supports in the person’s family home, supported independent living, or disability specialist accommodation with 24-hour staff support.
NDIS service providers may be integrally involved in a planned or unplanned admission to hospital. Disability support workers may accompany the person to hospital, bringing the person’s health file and guardianship orders.
NDIS service providers have a role in providing critical information to clinicians in the safe transition of care into hospital and the transition back to the community.
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) staff, such as NDIS planners or NDIS health liaison officers, may also be involved if the person requires a new NDIS plan or funding for post-admission disability support services.
The NDIS does not typically fund support workers for NDIS participants while they are in hospital. However, reasonable and necessary supports may be funded to provide guidance and training for hospital staff if the NDIS participant has behaviours of concern and/or complex communication needs. The NDIS has further information on Services if you’re in hospital.
Disability advocacy services are available for people facing complex challenges. Depending on the individual’s circumstances, a disability advocate may be involved in their health care and may provide representation to the health service on the person’s behalf or support the person in decision-making and informed consent processes. The Department of Social services has more information about Disability advocacy for individuals.
Important NSQHS Actions
| Action 6.03 |
Clinicians use organisational processes from the Partnering with Consumers Standard to effectively communicate with patients, carers and families during high-risk situations to:
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Strategies for improvement
Involve the person with intellectual disability in decision-making about their health care. This includes, with appropriate consent:
- Discussing and planning clear roles and responsibilities during the person’s admission, factoring in the roles of NDIS service providers and hospital staff. This includes who is responsible for making regular updates, contributing to reasonable adjustments and determining how best to support the person
- Working collaboratively with NDIS service providers and disability advocates to understand and recognise the supports provided to the person in the community on discharge. For instance, disability support workers have a role in administering and reviewing medication, whereas a disability advocate may support the person to understand information they need to make a decision
- Providing NDIS service providers and disability advocates with relevant information about healthcare rights, how the system works, and a consistent liaison point for reviewing and contributing to the person’s comprehensive care plan.