Why Risk Management is Essential for Your Professional Practice
Risk management is a core
responsibility for Support Coordinators, crucial not only for ensuring the
safety and well-being of NDIS participants but also for respecting a
participant’s right to freedom of choice and empowering a participant to make informed
decisions about their lives.
In the NDIS framework, managing risk goes
beyond simply responding to crises. It involves identifying potential risks
early, planning preventive actions, and working collaboratively with
participants and their support networks.
This proactive approach helps prevent small
issues from escalating into major problems. If you’re looking to deepen your
understanding of crisis intervention, our blog on Support Coordination and Crisis Intervention provides
actionable insights into handling these complex situations.
Why Risk Management is Essential for Your Professional Practice
The NDIS expects Support Coordinators to
manage risks. At
Support Coordination Academy we provide extensive training designed to
equip you with the skills to evidence, manage and report on risk.
Managing risk effectively means:
- Identifying Early Indicators: Recognising the early signs that a participant may be heading toward a crisis, such as disengagement from services or unstable living conditions.
- Proactive Planning: Developing risk management strategies tailored to the participant’s unique needs while maintaining their autonomy.
- Effective Communication: Collaborating with the participant and their support network to
address risks and ensure everyone is aligned on mitigation strategies to reduce
the impact or likelihood of the risk occurring.
By integrating strong risk management
practices into your professional practice, you not only develop the skills to
put safeguards in place but also elevate your own capabilities as a support
coordinator and your ability to provide a professional service.
Documenting Risk for NDIS Reporting
Evidence-based documentation, including
Risk Management Plans, ensures the NDIS understand the supports a participant
needs. Without clear evidence, important
details about a participant’s situation may be overlooked, leading to delays or
gaps in the supports they receive, and may place the participant in a situation
of enhanced risk.
Support Coordinator reporting needs to
clearly evidence the factors that contribute to barriers and risk for a
participant, and mitigation strategies to overcome the barriers and reduce the impact
and likelihood of the risk occurring. As
well, detailing the actions taken to work collaboratively with the
participant’s support network to manage and monitor the risk.
When is a Change of Situation Form required?
If you assess that a participant’s needs
have changed significantly, you will need to notify
the NDIA through a Change of Situation form.
- Plan Variation: When additional funding is required for supports already allocated in a participant's plan, or new funding is needed for a different type of support. Just a variation to the current plan, with the majority of supports remaining sufficient until the end of the plan.
- Plan Reassessment: When a participant experiences a significant change in their
situation and their current supports no longer meet their disability related
needs. A full review and reassessment of
the participant’s disability-related needs are required.
As a Support Coordinator, part of your
professional practice includes providing the NDIA with comprehensive evidence
to substantiate these requests. This includes:
- Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan: Outline the risks experienced by the participant, including the strategies implemented to reduce these risks. Be sure to detail how the support network is involved in managing the risks.
- Support Coordinator Report: Provide a clear explanation of the change, the risks, and how
these impact on the participant. This should include the factors contributing
to increased complexity and risk, and any additional supports required to implement
mitigation strategies to reduce the risk.
Additionally, consider the importance of
participant feedback when gathering your evidence of the impact of any risk. Incorporating insights from tools like the NDIS Participant Satisfaction Survey can guide your approach
to risk management and ensure participants feel heard and supported. Listening
to participant feedback is key to refining your services and continuously
improving the outcomes you deliver.
Improve your practice with Professional Support Coordination Training
Understanding how to manage risk and write
effective reports, is just the beginning.
Effective risk management leads to improved participant satisfaction, professional service delivery and more informed professional practice. It also establishes you as a reliable and proactive professional in the NDIS sector.
Now is the time to gain the skills that will set you up to transition into the future Navigator roles!
