Supported Independent Living (SIL) Policy

Introduction

Purpose

The purpose of this Policy is to guide the provision of Supported Independent Living (SIL) services within Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd's operations. It outlines our commitment to the provision of person-centred and flexible SIL services that empower Participants to live as independently as possible.

Scope

This Policy is applicable to all Workers affiliated with Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd. It is the responsibility of every individual, regardless of their employment status, to fully comprehend and comply with the commitments outlined in this policy. All Workers must acknowledge that they have read, understood and will comply with the contents of this Policy.

NDIS Indicators (Objectives)

Service Agreements with Participants

Outcome: Each participant has a clear understanding of the supports they have chosen and how they will be provided. To achieve this outcome, the following indicators should be demonstrated:

• How a Participant's concerns about the dwelling will be communicated and addressed.
• How potential conflicts involving participants will be managed.
• How changes to participant circumstances and/or support needs will be agreed and communicated.
• In shared living, how vacancies will be filled, including each participant's right to have their needs, preferences and situation taken into account.
• How behaviours of concern which may put tenancies at risk will be managed, if this is a relevant issue for the participant.

Policy Statement

Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd is committed to providing high-quality, personalised SIL services that respect the rights, goals, and aspirations of each Participant we serve. We strive to support Participants in achieving their potential home and living arrangements in line with their individual needs and preferences. We acknowledge that all NDIS-funded supports must meet the reasonable and necessary criteria, and we undertake to adhere strictly to these requirements. Our commitment is to deliver services that enhance the quality of life and independence of our Participants.

Relevant legislation

All relevant legislation to this Policy is outlined in the Legislation Register.

Related documents

• SIL Service Agreement
• SDA and SIL Collaboration Agreement
• SIL Information Pack

Responsibilities and Roles

Supriya Thapa is responsible for the development and review of this policy. It is expected that Supriya Thapa ensures this Policy remains compliant with all applicable laws, regulations and standards.

Key Management Personnel play a vital role in ensuring the effective implementation of this Policy throughout Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd. It is the responsibility of all Key Management Personnel to not only assist Workers in understanding and complying with this policy but also to comply with it themselves. By leading by example, they demonstrate the importance of adherence to the policy and foster a culture of compliance within the organisation.

Workers are responsible for understanding the contents of this policy and complying with all procedures applicable to them.

Definitions

Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd means Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd ABN 19658578575.

Key Management Personnel means Supriya Thapa and other key management personnel involved in Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd from time to time.

Director means Supriya Thapa.

Worker means a permanent, fixed term or casual member of staff, a contractor or volunteer employed or otherwise engaged by Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd and includes the Director.

SDA means specialist disability accommodation.

SDAP means a registered NDIS provider that is permitted to provide SDA.

Procedures

Initial Assessment

When a potential Participant, aged 18 years or more, expresses interest in our Supported Independent Living (SIL) services, the process is initiated with a comprehensive consultation. During this session, Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd will gather detailed information about the Participant's objectives for their home and living conditions, the type of support they need to live as autonomously as possible, the assistance they currently receive, and any significant needs requiring direct person-to-person support.

During this consultation phase, other types of supports such as Individualised Living Options or personal care supports that might serve the Participant's needs better than SIL may be evaluated also.

An extensive evaluation will be conducted to determine if SIL is a suitable solution. This includes assessing the Participant's current situation, future home and living goals, independent living skills, day-to-day support needs, and any therapy assessments and other relevant information about the Participant's support needs.

In alignment with NDIS guidelines, we ensure that all supports financed by the NDIS adhere to the reasonable and necessary criteria, considering the Participant's present situation, goals and aspirations, existing living conditions, future living objectives and independent living skills, to identify what support is needed for the Participant to achieve their home and living goals.

Upon completing the assessment, a report is compiled outlining the findings and recommendations for suitable support solutions. If SIL is identified as a suitable service for the Participant, Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd will formulate a detailed quote that comprehensively outlines the associated costs as per the NDIS Price Guide. The assessment report and quotation will then be shared with the Participant, their local area coordinator, support coordinator, or planner.

Creation of the Roster of Care

Upon identifying SIL as an appropriate service, Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd will initiate a second consultation phase with the Participant. Based on the insights gathered during this consultation, our team creates a custom Roster of Care that outlines the specific supports that Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd will provide to the Participant.

The development of the Roster of Care is executed in accordance with this policy and other relevant guidelines, including the Provider SIL Pack. During the creation of the Roster of Care, we actively involve the Participant or their nominee or representative. The pricing of the Roster of Care is done as per the NDIS Price Guide and Provider SIL Pack to ensure fairness and transparency.

Once the Roster of Care is drafted, it is reviewed and approved by relevant parties to ensure it aligns with the Participant's needs and complies with all regulations and standards. The final Roster of Care is then communicated to the Participant or their representative. Any adjustments requested by the Participant are made, and once final approval is obtained, the Roster of Care is finalised.

Establishing the Service Agreement (SIL)

Once the Roster of Care is finalised and approved by the Participant, the process of drafting the Service Agreement for the provision of Supported Independent Living services is commenced. This agreement outlines the terms of service, the responsibilities of both the Participant and Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd, as well as the specifics of the agreed-upon services as laid out in the Roster of Care.

The draft Service Agreement is then presented to the Participant or their representative for their consideration. After accommodating any amendments and receiving the Participant's approval, the Service Agreement is finalised. The agreement is then signed by both parties, signalling the official commencement of the SIL services provided by Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd to the Participant.

The creation of the Service Agreement is conducted with complete transparency and respect for the Participant's rights and autonomy, ensuring they are fully informed and comfortable with all terms and conditions of the services to be provided. Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd will ensure Participants are encouraged and supported to access legal or advocacy services that could inform them of their tenancy management rights.

Provision of SIL in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

In scenarios where the Supported Independent Living services are to be provided within Specialist Disability Accommodation, Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd will establish a formal SDA and SIL Collaboration Agreement with the Specialist Disability Accommodation Provider (SDAP). This agreement aims to foster healthy working relationships, effective referral pathways, and robust support links between the Participant, SDAP, and Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd.

Under the Collaboration Agreement, the SDAP is chiefly responsible for:

• establishing house rules;
• addressing dwelling-related concerns of the Participant;
• managing potential conflicts involving the Participant (except those solely related to Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd's services); and
• filling vacancies in its dwellings.

In any of these cases, the SDAP and Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd will collaboratively consult and work together to ensure the Participant's needs are met.

Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd will ensure that Participants are aware of their rights relating to SIL and SDA, including the right to choose and change their supported independent living provider irrespective of any associations with the SDAP, and the right to security of tenure in their SDA dwelling, regardless of their decisions regarding SIL service providers or other NDIS support within the dwelling.

If under the Collaboration Agreement Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd is required to manage any dwelling-related concerns or conflicts involving the Participant, handle vacancies, or manage behaviours of concern, these will be addressed in accordance with this Policy, the Feedback and Complaints Policy, the Conflict of Interest Policy, the Risk Management Policy, the Work Health and Safety Policy, and other relevant policies respectively.

Collaboration between Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd and the SDAP

Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd commits to working collaboratively with the SDAP and all other involved parties to meet the specific needs of the Participant. Supports and services provided will be coordinated with those provided by the SDAP to ensure seamless service delivery and avoid duplication or gaps in support.

Establishing a strong collaborative relationship with the SDAP will be prioritised to effectively support the Participant in their SDA-enrolled dwellings. This can include regularly communicating and consulting with the SDAP on all matters that affect the Participant. With the Participant's consent, relevant information will be shared with the SDAP to provide comprehensive support. This information may include updates about the Participant and details about the services provided by each party.

In case of any circumstances including changes in the Participant's accommodation needs, behavioural issues impacting other residents, incidents, or reports of violence, abuse and neglect, Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd will ensure prompt communication and collaboration with the SDAP to resolve these issues. This however will be limited to lawful actions and situations that necessitate such communication and information sharing.

Management of Vacancies in SDA-Enrolled Dwellings

If a dwelling enrolled under the SDA becomes vacant and Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd is responsible for managing the tenancies, Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd will adhere to a robust process for declaring, advertising, and filling these vacancies. This process is designed to provide clarity to applicants, ensure timely filling of vacancies, uphold legislative compliance, and consider each Participant's views, preferences, and needs.

Vacancies will be filled as quickly and efficiently as possible. To ensure this, the systems, workflows, and strategies employed by Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd in declaring, advertising, and filling the vacancies in the SDAP's SDA-enrolled dwellings will be continuously monitored and reviewed.

When evaluating the suitability of an applicant to occupy an SDA-enrolled dwelling, a broad range of factors will be considered, including:

• the applicant's eligibility under the NDIS legislation;
• their current residence;
• proximity to family and place of employment;
• age;
• ability to pay rent;
• the size of the SDA property relative to the applicant's needs;
• their required support services; and
• any references provided by the applicant.

The right of the Participant to have their needs, preferences, and situation taken into account is always respected and prioritised by Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd.

Feedback and Complaints Management

Feedback is actively sought and valued from Participants, workers, and other stakeholders. Regular consultations are conducted with our Participants to facilitate continuous improvement in delivering best practice service. If a dispute arises involving Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd's SIL supports or a Participant has a complaint about Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd's process, it will be addressed in accordance with Disability and Mental Health Care Pty Ltd's Feedback and Complaints Policy.

Policy review and updates

This Policy is to be amended and updated according to the requirements to comply with the applicable law.

Approval Authority	Supriya Thapa
Version	1
Approval Date	August 2025
Review Date	August 2027