The NDIA has today released a new Psychosocial Disability Recovery-Oriented Framework, supporting participants living with psychosocial disability in their personal recovery to live a meaningful life.
The Recovery Framework, which was developed after extensive consultation with participants, their families and carers, state and territory governments and the sector, draws on evidence and best practice in the field of mental health and recovery-focused support and aims to provide a better experience for NDIS participants with psychosocial disability.
"We are committed to improving the lives of people living with psychosocial disability, and have developed this Framework to better support participants, their families and carers in their recovery journey," NDIA CEO Martin Hoffman said.
"We want to ensure participants with psychosocial disability can increase their independence, and choose supports that improve their social and economic participation."
The Recovery Framework sets out a number of principles, and implementation strategies, these include:
- Implementing service improvements that promote personal recovery
- Updating the current psychosocial recovery coach support item
- Embedding lived experience positions in both policy and operational areas of the NDIA to improve practice and provide leadership on psychosocial disability
- Developing and implementing agreed protocols and improved practices for NDIS and mental health services working better together
- Reviewing procedures for change of circumstances to be more responsive to the episodic and fluctuating nature of psychosocial disability
- Developing specific guides and resources on decision making and evidence-based supports for participants living with psychosocial disability, their families and carers
- Developing and implementing learning and development strategies to deliver psychosocial disability competencies and skills required for NDIA and partner staff.
The NDIA conducted targeted consultation with internal and external stakeholders, including workshops and reference groups.
"The NDIA consulted more than 450 key stakeholders in developing this Framework, including participants, their families and carers, peak bodies, services providers, clinical mental health services, state and territory governments and a number of NDIA staff," Mr Hoffman said.
"These stakeholders expressed strong support for the Framework, and the next step is working with them to ensure effective implementation, and updating the Operational Guidelines to support improved recovery."
Further consultation will be underway in early 2022 to ensure stakeholders are involved in the implementation of the framework.
The Recovery Framework has also been endorsed by the Disability Reform Ministers.
