We know participants living in SIL arrangements are at higher health risk during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, due to the SIL environment and other existing health conditions.
The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments have announced a $15 million Worker Mobility Reduction Payment initiative to enable disability residential service providers to limit worker mobility in disability residential settings, where possible to help prevent the spread of infection.
You may also require additional funding to manage the care and support of residents who are diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19).
Two support items are available for participants residing in SIL properties and diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) until 28 February 2021.
Eligibility to access these items has been extended to participants living in SIL who are required to quarantine or self-isolate.
We will continue to monitor the situation and may implement further measures.
The two support items are:
- Cleaning services: a one-off professional deep cleaning service of a residence of an eligible participant.
- Additional supports: to allow for higher intensity support including staffing increase, personal protective equipment (PPE), professional laundering, and any ancillary expenses required by eligible participants.
The NDIS will not cover additional administrative costs, staff sick leave, medical costs associated with a hospital stay or everyday expenses.
Providers can continue to claim usual SIL costs for eligible participants in hospital or isolated in alternative accommodation. Alternative accommodation will also be claimable through the short term accommodation support item.
The new line items are available in the NDIS Price Guide and Support Catalogue.
From 25 October 2020, providers can use a new ‘irregular SIL supports’ claim field in the myplace provider portal when a SIL support is delivered in unexpected or unplanned circumstances. For example, when a participant cannot attend their day program due to illness or if a family stay has been cancelled. Details are in the NDIS Price Guide and the Provider SIL Pack.
If you have a participant residing in SIL who is diagnosed with COVID-19 you must immediately notify the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission .
The Commission will inform the NDIA, and we will update the participant’s plan as quickly as possible to include additional funding against these new items as stated supports.