How To Hire A In-Home Support Worker

How do I find a In-Home Support Worker?

The best way to find a In-Home Support Worker on the Sunshine Coast is to contact a home care support agency to find out if they can service the area of your loved one. By doing this they will be able tell you exactly if there is availability for your needs and how soon they can start. One key thing to do when finding your perfect agency is to ask to speak to the directors or the managing partners, this will show you how close they are to the business and what they are like to deal with rather than just speaking with employees.

Key questions to ask your support worker or support agency that you have selected:

  • Are the workers licensed and insured?
  • How does the agency train, supervise, and monitor their workers?
  • Request that the agency send you a packet of information that describes their services, fees, and a list of references. This will give you an opportunity to review the information before sitting face to face with an agency representative.

    • Benefits of Using a Support Agency

    There are quite a few benefits to using an agency, we will brifely go over them here – however you should read a far more in-depth discussion about them on our previous blog about using a company vs sole trader.
    Pros:

  • Screening, hiring/firing, pay, taxes are handled through the agency Note: Some agencies work as “employment agencies,” and their workers are contractors, not employees of the agency. Be clear on what the agency covers, e.g. payroll, liability insurance, workmen’s compensation insurance, unemployment insurance. Ask for evidence of their insurance.
  • Can offer attendants with a variety of skills and match you with a staff member who can provide the care or help that you need.
  • Able to accommodate variable schedules that might be inconsistent or unpredictable at times.
  • If worker is sick/goes on vacation, agency will provide a substitute.
  • If worker is not the right fit, can send an alternate choice.
  • Can help settle disputes with you/attendant.
  • Often covered by long-term care insurance.

    • Cons of using Private Hire

    Unfortunately cheapest isn’t always best. With such a huge decision it is something that should be thoroughly looked over and all options considered, here we will go over some of the cons of using a sole trade or a private hire. As mentioned above we go into far more detail on a previous blog.
    Cons:

  • If worker is sick, it is your responsibility to find alternate help.
  • You are responsible for all aspects of being an employer: hiring/firing, payroll, taxes, insurance, and employee disputes.
  • May not be covered by long-term care insurance.
  • cannot take on a couple of hours “here and there”.

    • What will it cost?

    Support work varies in price very quickly depending on what is required and what days it is required on. The good thing about being apart of the NDIS is that there is a pricing guide to go off. Most companies & agencies will run off very similar pricing structure. Depending on how long the shift is or how frequently the care occurs you might be able to get a per day rate instead of a per hour rate. This may work out a bit cheaper however you will need to often schedule multiple days at a time.

    Using a Support Company like Shine Disability Care will allow you to pay for things like support work, activities & meals out of your NDIS plan. If you’re unsure how this works or if you have questions about what we charge for various shifts don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our team.

    Want us to contact you to anwser some questions?

    NDIS Funding and How It Can Help You

    Types of support budgets

    Every person living with a disability has different needs. Your NDIS funding is there to provide you with the supports you need for your disability and help you work towards your goals.


    Your funding is based on what is ‘reasonable’ and ‘necessary’ to pursue your goals, in addition to the support provided by family, friends, and other community and government services.

    There are three types of support budgets that may be funded in your NDIS plan.


    Core supports budget

    Your Core budget is the most flexible, and includes four categories of support:


  • Consumables (e.g. purchasing everyday use items such as continence aids)
  • Daily Activities (e.g. assistance with self-care activities during the day or evening)
  • Assistance with Social and Community Participation (e.g. supports to enable you to engage in social or recreational activities)
  • Transport (e.g. if you are unable to use public transport because of your disability).


    The good news is you can generally use Core budget funds allocated against one support category to purchase supports under another support category unless funds have been set aside for a specific purpose such as periodic payments for transport, or any Core budget line item type that is:


  • Compensation
  • Specialised Disability Accommodation i.e. accommodation for participants who require specialist housing solutions due to significant functional impairment and/or very high support needs.
  • In-kind e.g. Government pre-paid supports such as school transport or some therapy supports.
  • Stated item (including Quotes for certain items) e.g. assistance in a shared living arrangement.


    In these cases the funds within a category must only be used for that specific purpose. For details about your Core supports please refer to your NDIS plan.

    Capacity Building budget
    The Capacity Building funding is allocated across eight support sub-categories, each matched with the goals in your plan. You can choose how to spend these funds to purchase any approved individual support within its category, but won’t be able to move funding from one category to another.


    The Capacity Building support categories include:

  • Choice and Control e.g. training in planning and plan management.
  • Daily Activity e.g. therapy aimed at building your capacity to participate.
  • Employment e.g. employment related assessment and counselling.
  • Home Living e.g. support to obtain/retain appropriate accommodation.
  • Lifelong Learning e.g. assistance moving from school to further education.
  • Relationships e.g. positive behavioural support strategies to reduce behaviours of concern.
  • Social and Community Participation e.g. Individual life skills development and training including public transport training and support, developing skills for community, social and recreational participation.


    Support Coordination (if required) is included in the Capacity Building budget. This is a fixed amount for strengthening participant’s abilities to coordinate and implement supports in their plans and to participate more fully in the community.


    Capital Support budget

    The Capital Support budget relates to supports such as assistive technology or modifications to your home and as such depends on quotes from suppliers. Funds within this budget can only be used for their specific purpose (e.g. a rail in the bathroom or a wheelchair) and cannot be used to fund other items.


    The Capital Support budget has two support categories:


  • Assistive Technology – includes equipment items for mobility, personal care, communication and recreational inclusion (e.g. wheelchairs or vehicle modifications)
  • Home Modifications (e.g. rail in the bathroom).


    Starting your plan

    The NDIS can work with you to put your plan into action, and depending on your situation there are a range of people who can help you implement your plan and support you to start receiving supports.

    These would have been discussed with you during your planning process and may be a Local Area Coordinator or an ECEI Coordinator. Some people may also have a Support Coordinator funded in their plan to help them get started.

    Aside from getting funding you should also look at how to maximize it so that you know what to do when the time comes.

    You can start your plan by yourself if you are self-managed.

    Further information can be found on the NDIS’s website

    • Changing NDIS Service Providers

    Changing NDIS Service Providers

    Shine Disability Care has recently been receiving many calls about wehther they can change to our NDIS services. Most people do not know where to start, although they know that they are not happy with their current service provider and would like to consider others. We would like to share the key points of this process with you.

    Your Rights When Changing Providers

    Firstly, it is important for you to know that as an NDIS participant (or the nominee of a participant), you have numerous rights as the client of a service provider. One of these is that it is your right to change NDIS service providers at any time.

    How Do I Change Providers?

    To change a service provider, the first thing you need to do is to end the service agreement with your current service provider. This must occur before you can change to a new service provider. It is advisable to end this agreement in writing, such as in an email, so that there is a written record of the date you requested it. In some cases, people have contacted us and indicated that there is no service agreement with their current provider. This is disappointing, because it is a requirement of being an NDIS-registered provider that there is a service agreement. It is also advisable to have a service agreement even if you are managing the funds yourself, or you are accessing the services of a plan manager. A service agreement is very important in protecting your rights, especially in situations such as changing service providers. If there is no service agreement is it still advisable to formally end the verbal agreement that you have with that service provider.

    You should also check the terms and conditions of any service agreement you have with the provider. In some cases, the termination of the agreement will be effective immediately. In other cases, the service provider may include a statement that termination becomes effective after a period of time (e.g. two weeks) from the date that you notify them that you wish to end the agreement. When you are requesting that a service agreement cease, it is also helpful if you can request an acknowledgement of your request in writing.


    Top Tips For Changing Providers

  • Have a written service agreement with your services providers.
  • Understand the termination times in your service agreements.
  • Request in writing to end your service agreement with the current service provider.
  • Request an acknowlegement of your request in writing.
  • For Agency managed funds, check the MyPlace Portal after 14 days to see if the service booking has been cancelled.
  • If the service booking has not been cancelled, call the NDIA and ask the NDIA to end the serivce booking.
  • Only disclose why you wish to change the service providers if you choose to.


    Agency Mananged Participants

    If the NDIS funding is agency managed, there is another critical step that must occur. The former service provider must end their service booking on the MyPlace portal, so ensure that you also request this of them. A service booking can only end a minimum 14 days after the date that the service provider makes a request in the MyPlace portal (so that the service provider has time to make claims for any outstanding services that have been provided). Therefore, the request by the service provider to end the service booking must been completed as soon as practicable. If it is not, your new service provider cannot create their own service booking. Some service providers do not ensure that they end service bookings when requested, and on several occasions we have had to call the NDIA and request that the NDIA end the service booking.

    The transition between service providers can be smooth if all these steps are followed. Please note that you are not required to disclose to the former service provider why you wish to change service providers. It is entirely up to you if you choose to disclose your reasons for changing NDIS service providers.

    If you’re not happy with your current situation feel free to reach out annomously to Shine Disability Care via email or on our contact page

    • Sunshine Coast Disability Support

    Shine Disability Care is a Sunshine Coast disability support agency that specializes in providing the highest quality of care and services to people living with disabilities. We are a well-established organization that has been around for many years, allowing us to create lasting relationships with our clients. Our team consists of experienced support workers who work one on one with individuals so they can provide them all the necessary care and services they need for their individual needs.


    Hello!

    Hi, I’m Chris. I’m a Shine Disability Care Director.

    I help people of all ages, genders & disabilities live a life that they want. This is done through group activities, 1 on 1 in-home care, community access, sports and many more. Our services are available all over the Sunshine Coast from Beach to Bush.

    Shine Disability Care is a well-established Sunshine Coast Disability Support Agency servicing the regions from Caloundra, Maroochydore, Nambour & Noosa. Our team is comprised of experienced disability support workers who work one on one with individuals to provide them all the necessary care and services needed for their individual needs. You can rely on us when it comes to disability support services! We have extensive experience providing support, you can trust that you can count on us to do everything we can to help you achieve what you set out to achieve.


    Supporting People with Disabilities

    There are a number of services available to help people with disabilities, which range from support care, group activities, yard maintenance and specialists through the NDIS. The NDIS is a new system here in QLD and is under 2 years old at the time of writing this. The NDIS is fantastic to allow people with a disability access help that they wouldn’t normally be able to afford themselves or receive through government funding.

    You can apply to the NDIS via their website: www.ndis.gov.au or by calling 1800 800 110 or speaking to an organisation who can assist you such as ourselves here at Shine Disability Care.


    We are here for you! If you or someone you know is living with a disability and needs support, do not hesitate to contact us and speak with our team. Having access to services that are designed specifically for people living with disabilities is paramount in helping them live their life as close to normal as possible.

    DSA – Disability Sports Australia

    When you think of disability sports, what comes to mind?

    If you’re like most people, it’s probably something like wheelchair basketball or the Paralympics. But there are so many other sports that people with disabilities can participate in. These include achery, boccia, cycling (adapted and non-adapted), equestrian, fencing, goalball, judo, powerlifting, shooting, sitting volleyball and swimming to name just a few.

    Disability Sports Australia is a national disability sport organisation that promotes the development of disabled people through sport, recreation and social activities. The organisation was founded in 1985 as the Australian Paralympic Committee before changing its name to Disability Sports Australia in 1990.

    The organisation hosts the Australian Open Wheelchair Championships every year. This is one of the top wheelchair tennis tournaments in the world. It also holds other events like a beach volleyball tournament held on Bondi Beach.

    They are dedicated to providing opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport. The DSA supports athletes who want to compete internationally by helping them train and compete at their best. It also provides support for young athletes aged between 12 and 18 through programs like “Young Achievers”. This encourages kids to get involved in activities that are fun but also build confidence and self-esteem.

    D.S.A is an organisation that aims to empower people with disabilities through participation in sport. They provide information about different types of disability and how they affect participation in physical activity. Provide information about training programs available around Australia. They also encourage participation from all ages & help connect people with other clubs across Australia.

    If you’re interested or know of someone who might be interested in this opportunity it would be a great idea to check out https://www.sports.org.au/ for more information on how to apply.

    Gaining Confidence Through Personalised Support

    Disability Confidence Support Service

    Achieving confidence is a journey, not a destination. You may have achieved some level of confidence at different points throughout your life. If you want to achieve true personal confidence, then you need to work towards it consistently over time. The best, most efficient way to achieve this is through Disability Confidence Support by Shine Disability Care.


    Your confidence levels will fluctuate depending on many factors. How well you sleep, what you eat, how much exercise you get, whether you’re feeling stressed, and how you feel about yourself physically. If you’re constantly feeling low, then it’s likely you won’t experience any improvement in your confidence levels until you address these issues.


    The team at Shine Disability Care has a vast amount of experience in confidence training from both personal growth & helping participants set goals.


    Here are three things that you can do to improve your confidence levels in your own time:

    a) Get enough rest. Sleep is the best way to recharge your body and mind after a long day. When you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll find that you’re less able to focus, make decisions, and perform tasks effectively.

    b) Eat well. Eating a balanced diet full of nutritious foods will help you stay energized and focused throughout the day.

    c) Exercise regularly. Regular physical activity helps to keep your body fit and strong, which means you’ll be able to deal with everyday stresses and challenges better.

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    Once you’ve identified the root causes of your lack of confidence, you should try to change them. By doing this, you’ll be helping to create a positive mindset to build confidence and become happier.


    Try These Actions to Gain Confidence

    a) Spend time alone – Spending time alone gives you the opportunity to reflect on your thoughts and feelings without being distracted by others.

    b) Listen to music – Music can help to calm your nerves and lift your mood.

    c) Do something nice for someone else – Doing something kind for someone else will give you a sense of satisfaction and happiness.

    d) Try yoga – Yoga is great for increasing flexibility and balance, both of which are important for maintaining good posture.

    e) Read books – Reading is a great way to expand your knowledge base and learn new skills.

    f) Take a break – Taking a break from stressful situations will allow you to relax and regain your composure.

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    Gaining confidence isn’t always easy, but it’s nice when people make it easier. Shine Disability Care is helping people to gain confidence. The NDIS recognises that these support services are beneficial and they are continuing to be developed. The important thing to remember is that people with disabilities are not defined by their disability. They can have full, active and fulfilling lives that may include personalised support from Shine Disability Care.



    If this is a support service that you think you can benefit from, please don’t hesitate to reach out via email, phone or our contact page.

    NDIS – We want you to be heard

    The Minister for NDIS Bill Shorten has come out stating that they are putting NDIS participants back in the driver seat and want to hear from participants in regards to their personal experiences and feedback. The Review submission process is based around co-design and is fully accessible so all people with disability can take part and have their say, including online, on the phone, via video or by writing in. The complete article can be found here. 

    If you want to talk to us at Shine Disability Care to talk about how we can help you reach your goals or have a chat please feel free to contact us.

    It’s Important to Keep Active

    There are many reasons to maintain an active lifestyle. This doesn’t mean you have to go and complete a marathon or workout for hours a day in the gym. Keeping active can be something as simple as getting out and about with friends for a walk on the beach, playing mini golf or even playing chess for mental stimulation.


    Being active is an integral part of overall wellbeing. Being active can:

     – Help stamina and muscle strength

     – Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression

     – Improve mood

     – Promote general feelings of wellbeing

     – Decrease the risk of or prevent secondary health conditions such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity.


    If you’re living with disability, exercise can have additional benefits in day-to-day life, such as:

     – Assisting with limiting or reducing muscle wastage due to difficulty with moving certain parts of the body

     – Improving any imbalance between overused and underused muscle groups

     – Improving balance problems caused by weak muscles, which can help with doing everyday movements

     – Helping to control joint swelling and pain

    Training with a disability can be challenging. Below are some tips given by disabilitysupportguide.com.au :

     – Don’t focus on your lack of mobility or health issues. Instead of worrying about the activities you can’t do or enjoy, concentrate on        finding activities that you can enjoy and do.

     – Stop exercising if you experience any pain, discomfort, nausea, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Listening to your body is the best way to avoid injury.

     – Find someone to train with, as having a partner to train with or do an activity with can motivate you.

     – Be proud when you make the effort to exercise. Some days can be harder than others when it comes to getting the motivation to go to the gym.

     – Be creative. Depending on the type of disability you have, you may need to be creative in the type of exercises or activities that you do.

    If you would like to have a chat about how Shine Disability Care can help you to achieve your goals, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We love to co-ordinate with our clients to ensure we are pursuing your personal goals and not offering a generic support plan.

    Improved Livability Through Employment

    How employment improves the lives of people with a disability.

    Finding the right job can often be difficult and if you have a disability this can make your job search even more difficult. Thankfully at Shine Disability Care, we have created a pathway for job seekers to gain more experience in areas which they have a passion for but don’t have experience in.


    Firstly, let’s look at the major benefits of finding employment for people who live with a disability.

    – Gaining employment often will allow you to enhance skills you already have or gain new skills that can assist you in areas of both life and work that you didn’t have. This then gives you more self-confidence and more self-worth.

    – While at work, it gives you social interaction with work mates and customers that will allow you to grow confidence when going into new social environments.

    – It teaches you to be efficient with your time.

    – It provides you with more financial freedom.

    – Working can give you a more positive outlook on life and provide you with new stimulation both physically and mentally.


    As you can see there are many benefits of gaining employment. Often the hardest thing is to gain experience so that you have a basic understanding of some of the skills that may be needed for a job. Shine Disability Care now offers clients work experience in a retail environment where we will teach you day to day operations and present you with a certificate as well as references from the store manager and if required a list of tasks that have been completed.


    This will allow prospective employers to gauge your ability to ensure that you are suitable for the job and that they don’t put you in a position that makes you uncomfortable. We feel that this is important as we wouldn’t want your employer to be unsatisfied because we weren’t honest about your ability and more importantly, we wouldn’t want you to lose confidence and miss out on all the benefits of gaining employment.

    If this is something that you would like to gain access to, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are currently looking to start in early Jan 2023.

    Work Experience Form and Info

    Cognitive Remediation

    Cognitive remediation in adults living with psychosocial disability

    People living with psychosocial disabilities often experience difficulties in memory, concentration or other cognitive abilities. Cognitive impairment is extremely common, generally unresponsive to medications, and has pervasive effects on everyday functioning, wellbeing and recovery. The most common evidence-based intervention is cognitive remediation, defined as “a behavioural training intervention targeting cognitive deficit (attention, memory, executive function, social cognition, or metacognition), using scientific principles of learning, with the ultimate goal of improving functional outcomes”. Given its strong recovery focus, cognitive remediation has been previously identified as a potential capacity building support in the NDIS. 1 The linked brief report summarises the most recent evidence for cognitive remediation, with a focus on key factors that appear to be essential for supporting high-quality cognitive remediation for NDIS participants. Linked report can be found here If you would like to talk to us about our support services please don’t hesitate to contact us