Speak Out October 2020 DIGITAL EDITION FINAL

Describe the audit process... HS: “Not as scary as it seems. I think the hardest part was the unknown…once I had chosen my auditor they really put my mind at ease. They reassured me that if there was something else they needed they'd tell me so I could respond rather than simply telling me I hadn't passed.” RM: “It was much more positive than I thought it would be. We had two wonderful auditors and rather than a punitive process looking for faults, it was more about checking we had the systems in place that would ensure we were providing the quality of service that the NDIS requires.” FQD: “We were constantly hearing stories about what other people had experienced and most of the time it was very negative, so I was going into it expecting it to be a negative experience. We were very lucky and had an excellent auditor. She was very thorough and explained the process well. She made it clear the goal was to improve the business model not criticise everything we were doing… We made sure that the auditors had their own office. We had 2 auditors. Both myself and the business manager participated in the audit. One auditor worked with the business manager, they covered the aspect of the audit that were related to the business, and I worked with the one that covered all the clinical aspects of the audit. We had done a lot of preparation prior to the audit. We had looked at every aspect of the audit and made sure we were able to provide examples for each of the policies and procedures. This was put in a folder so it was easy to access for the auditors.” What do you wish you'd known beforehand? RM: “I wish I knew that this would be an opportunity to improve my business. Prior to undergoing the audit it felt like a very punitive and demanding process. After going through it, I feel I understand why the NDIS asks for some of the things they do and that everything we put in place to meet the NDIS standards has helped us improve the service we provide and the business as a whole.” FQD : “It’s not that bad. The goal of the audit is actually to help make your business better going forward and not criticise everything you currently do. It gives you the opportunity to improve your business with the help of someone independent to give you new ideas…If you purchase policies and procedures make sure you understand what each of the policies and procedures mean and how they relate to your business. I think if you put effort into the process you will actually get a lot out of it going forward.” Erin West NDIS and Practice Advisor

The NDIS Provider Standards Rules and the SPA Code of Ethics are closely aligned and interrelated to guide professionals and provide protection to professionals and participants alike. Completing an NDIS audit could involve reflecting on the provider rules and quality indicators with an ethical lens. There are similarities throughout the NDIS provider rules and quality indicators documents, and the SPA Code of Ethics. The ethical values of ‘respect and dignity’ and ‘responsiveness’ are mirrored in the provider registration and practice standards of ‘person-centred supports’ and ‘individual values and beliefs’. Similarly, ‘Freedom from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation or discrimination’ aligns with the ethical principles of ‘beneficence and non- maleficence’. The consistency between these documents reinforces that everyday clinical decisions should be considered ethical decisions. This might be a question as simple as ‘how should I assess this participant?' or ‘how do my policies and procedures reflect my practice?'

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October 2020 | Speak Out