Considerations When Choosing A Disability Support Service

Posted on: 7 March 2022

Disability support services are organisations mandated by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to provide care to disabled individuals in Australia. Choosing the right support service goes a long way in determining the quality of care you or your loved one receive. So, how do you select a disability support service? Below are some valuable tips. 

Reputation

The reputation of the disability support service can give critical insights into the quality of services the organisation provides. Typically, examine the organisation's social media pages and contact some of their clients to establish the following.

  • How would they rate the services offered by the organisation? For instance, are the staff friendly to patients? Does the organisation have a 24/7 customer care department?
  • How does the organisation address client concerns? For example, a client might want to work with caregivers who understand their language. Moreover, cultural and religious beliefs could compel some clients to work with caregivers of their sex.
  • How reliable is the organisation? For example, can they promptly respond to emergencies? Besides, do the company's caregivers keep time during appointments?
  • Does the organisation go the extra mile to make its clients feel valued? For instance, some service providers could have specialised disability programs to improve the independence of their clients or impart them with financial skills. 

Experience Of Caregivers 

The rule of thumb is to work with organisations that have highly skilled caregivers. Check the company's website to establish the experience of the caregivers. Ideally, the professionals should have experience and training in managing your condition. Remember, each disability is different. The needs of a person with cerebral palsy differ from those of one with a spinal cord injury. For this reason, you should always consider a specialised caregiver. Consider organisations that encourage their personnel to take post-graduate and continuous professional development courses. It helps improve the quality of care they provide to clients. 

Range Of Services 

Ideally, you should consider disability support services that can tailor their services to meet your needs. For example, although you may require support with housekeeping and personal hygiene, you might have a desire to live independently in the future. In this case, you should examine whether the caregivers can offer some form of training to support your goal. In other instances, you could require temporary respite care if your health is deteriorating. Discuss these options with the disability support service and establish how they can tailor a personalised plan. 

When choosing a disability service provider, examine their reputation, the experience of caregivers and the services provided.   

For more information on disability support services, contact a professional near you.

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