For many families of the NDIS participants in Sydney, the NDIS is a complex process to understand. High intensity support can be even more confusing for them. Most families would hear or read many terms about it, or see it listed on an invoice, but still, they are not sure what it actually means for a participant or their family members.
If you are comparing registered NDIS providers in Sydney for yourself or for a member of your family, it is very important to get a proper idea about this type of support before you select a provider. High intensity support is not offered for any NDIS participant. It is a specific type of assistance for those people with disability only who have complex care needs and need help in their personal activities (which may carry significant clinical risk).
In this guide, we will explain high intensity support in simple language and discuss all the key things you should know before choosing a service.
What does NDIS high intensity support mean?
In simple terms, high intensity support is a type of daily assistance which is offered to a participant with a higher level of clinical complexity or risk.
This type of assistance can help a participant with:
- Showering and personal hygiene
- Dressing and grooming
- Meal preparation
- Mobility and transfers
- Basic daily activities
High intensity support is a bit different than other common assistance. It can include tasks where even a minor mistake can prove to be very serious for the participant.
There are three different levels of High intensity support available for the participants
- Standard support
In the standard support, common daily living and personal care tasks are performed. A support worker here generally helps in the routine activities of a participant such as personal hygiene, household tasks and community access.
- High intensity support
For this type of assistance, a support worker needs to be separately trained and guided. Besides, he/she must have those appropriate skills for the task.
- Very high intensity support
Very high intensity support can be availed by only those persons whose health are generally very fragile, complex and unstable. They are mostly under the supervision of registered nurse and other intense clinical oversight.
What Activities Generally High Intensity Support Cover?
There are eight recognised high intensity daily personal activities approved by NDIS.
- Complex bowel care
This can include manual bowel evacuation and clinical care for a colostomy or ileostomy.
- Enteral feeding
Here a participant can be fed through tubes such as PEG, nasogastric or jejunostomy tubes.
- Severe dysphagia management
People who are have high difficulties in swallowing, are given this specialised support. This is to make sure they do not have any risk of choking or aspiration.
- Tracheostomy management
This assistance is mainly liked with airway monitoring, suctioning and tracheostomy tube care.
- Ventilator support
This for those participants who need assistance with equipment such as CPAP, BiPAP or invasive mechanical ventilation.
- Urinary catheter management
For persons with difficulty in normal urination, this can include care of indwelling and suprapubic catheters.
- Subcutaneous injections
Here, a trained support worker offers assistance with prescribed injections (like insulin).
- Complex wound care
Care is provided to the participants who have pressure injuries or surgical wounds.
Each task here has its own risks and needs. Your provider should have a clear process to make sure the worker is fully competent for the particular task they provide.
Who May Get High Intensity Support?
High intensity support generally is not offered just based on your health diagnosis report. What matters most here is the type and level of assistance you need to maintain your routine daily activities.
Participants with some specific health condition can receive such intense support. These can be like:
- Spinal cord injury
- Acquired brain injury
- Muscular dystrophy
- Motor neurone disease
- Severe epilepsy
- Complex physical disability
- Multiple health conditions which affect a participant’s daily care
- Both psychosocial disability with significant amount of physical health needs
Good thing is participants’ ‘age’ does not become a barrier here. No matter if you are a ‘child’ and or an ‘adult’ – both can receive high intensity support if their needs meet the relevant requirements set by NDIS.
What Should You Check When Choosing A Provider for High Intensity Support?
When you look to get a provider for high intensity support, it becomes particularly important to find an ‘experienced’ one. You should not just select a service based only on its hourly rate.
If you are comparing registered NDIS providers in Sydney, here are some areas you should give close attention.
- Check for NDIS Registration
Ask the provider about its NDIS registration and the relevant registration groups for the support you need.
- Ask About Clinical Details
A good provider will always have their basics strong, such as clear systems for clinical governance, incident management, worker competency and nursing monitoring.
They should give you clear answers to some of the basic but important questions very clearly like:
- Who develops the care plan?
- Who assesses worker competency?
- How is competency recorded?
- How often is it reviewed?
- What happens if a worker makes a mistake?
- Who should you contact if there is a clinical concern?
- Check Worker Training
You must need to confirm if your support worker has all the appropriate training and competency for the specific high intensity task.
Do not just think that every support worker has the same level of training.
- Ask About Experience with Your Specific Needs
You should ask about experience with the exact support your family member requires.
A provider may have extensive experience with catheter care but not much with ventilator support. Another provider can be well experienced with enteral feeding but may not be able to manage complex wound care well.
Where This Service Can Be Availed
- Private homes
A participant can get this service directly in his/her own residence.
- Shared accommodation
This service can also be provided in group homes or shared living arrangements.
- Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) / Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Besides, it can be included as part of supported home and living options.
Also read: How you can improve your living at a SIL house in Sydney
What Should You Ask a High Intensity Support Provider?
Before you agree to services, you can ask the provider a few straightforward questions:
- Are you registered to provide the support I need?
- Do your workers have training for my specific care tasks?
- Who assesses their competency?
- Is a registered nurse involved in the care plan?
- How often is worker competency reviewed?
- What happens if my regular worker is unavailable?
- How do you manage clinical incidents?
- How do you keep my care records?
- Can you provide a consistent team?
- What experience do you have with my specific condition or care requirements?
A trustworthy NDIS provider in Sydney should be fully confident and comfortable to answer all these questions.
Get Quality Assistance For Your Complex Needs at ZedCare Ability Services If you are searching for registered NDIS providers in Sydney, ZedCare Ability Services can help you know your support options. Discuss the type of daily assistance your family member needs.
FAQS
Do I need a specialist for high intensity support?
Not always. You need suitable clinical evidence that explains your care needs. This may include information from your GP, nurse, specialist or allied health professional.
Can I receive high intensity support at home?
Yes. You as a NDIS participant can get high intensity support at your home if the environment and care arrangements are suitable.
Can my support worker provide every type of high intensity care?
No. Workers need the appropriate training and competency for the specific tasks they offer. Generally, one type of training does not automatically mean that, that particular support worker can cover every high intensity tasks.
What should I do if I am unhappy with my provider?
First, you can raise your concern with the provider. You can also speak with your support coordinator or contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission if you have concerns about the quality or safety of your support.