Forensic Disability Services in the NDIS: Hope Circle’s Specialist Assistance
NDIS Forensic Services: the Need
As Hope Circle has grown, it has built the capability and a reputation for delivering complex supports for NDIS participants who are also engaging with corrections and the criminal justice system.
Whilst the data isn’t as reliable as we might like, it is clear from the Disability Royal Commission that “people with disability, particularly those with cognitive disabilities, are significantly over-represented at all stages of the criminal justice system”, and “the over-representation of First Nations people with cognitive disability in custody, particularly in youth detention, is a largely hidden national crisis.”
Navigating the complexities of the justice system can be difficult enough – but for individuals with a disability, this is even more challenging. For those with a disability and First Nations background, it is near impossible to manage. This is where Hope Circle’s forensic services can step in to support NDIS participants, whether it is through SIL or in-home and community supports.
Hope Circle staff
Our support starts from having disability support worker staff who are experienced and understand the individual needs of our clients with complex care requirements. Our disability support workers are backed up and supervised by a Service Coordinator who provides a point of contact, collaborating with the various stakeholders supporting the client.
Further on-call 24/7 rostering and supervision support provides the disability support worker with a means to escalate when situations evolve out of hours. Our Compliance Officer and Chief Operating Officer provide further oversight and bring specialist knowledge to complex issues and incidents.
At Hope Circle, our disability support workers have the training and experience to provide supports and services for NDIS participants who are subject to community corrections orders, home detention (ankle monitoring), parole orders and supervised treatment orders, as well as those with co-occurring disorders.
Our staff appreciate that there are different priorities to manage in the supports provided to participants with forensic histories. They are equipped to support that participant’s individual goals as well as navigate the complexities of additional stakeholders such as corrections services, lawyers, mental health and behaviour support professionals.
Hope Circle forensic services
While supporting the NDIS participant with daily living, our disability support services extend to include behaviour management, coordination with legal & corrections, and therapeutic interventions.
Forensic services require different priorities in supporting the client, which our systems and processes capture. This includes flexibility with the ability to rapidly update rosters; to capture behaviour support plans and strategies to minimize & report restrictive practices.
Similarly, community participation is different for a participant under home detention or looking to re-engage in community after time in prison.
For First Nations clients, connection back with community is even more challenging after incarceration and our staff provide empathetic support to find solutions amongst those challenges.
Our role involves working alongside the myriad stakeholders including: mental health and forensic mental health professionals, correctional services, support coordinators, allied health providers, family/guardian and others to provide tailored supports to participants.
Where possible, we focus on reducing and eliminating restrictive practices, working in collaboration with the stakeholders and NDIS participant to put effective strategies in place.
As a technology-forward organization, our CRM is built around these processes to enable efficient service delivery. We are continually working to improve these technology systems to streamline our recruitment and staff training.
Conclusion
At Hope Circle, we understand the unique needs faced by individuals with complex forensic or mental health histories, and we have past experience knowing how the NDIS interfaces with the justice system.
As well as providing normal NDIS supports to SIL and in-home & community support, our team can support you with the additional forensic supports needed.
Want more?
Hope Circle is a registered NDIS provider specialising in providing SIL and in-home & community support to individuals with complex disabilities.
If you are leading a support coordination or positive behaviour support business, we’d be happy to join a team meeting and provide a complimentary 10-20 minute presentation on NDIS forensic services for clients involved in the justice system to support your staff professional development.
Our team has extensive experience working with NDIS participants who have corrections or forensic histories, mental health and physical disabilities.
For more information regarding our services in Adelaide or Perth, please contact us here.