Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Handbook

Inclusive Housing Australia (IHA) is an innovative provider of specialist disability accommodation, with a vision to transform the lives of people with disability by building, managing and attracting investment in quality disability housing.

Transforming Lives

Overview 5

What is SDA and SIL? 6

Communication 9

Your rights and responsibilities 11

Inclusive Housing Australia responsibilities 12

Rental payments 14

Ending your SDA Agreement 17

Maintenance 19

Support providers 20

Emergencies 22

Privacy 22

Policies 23

Feedback & complaints 23

Contents

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About Inclusive Housing Australia

Achieve Australia has entered in to a joint venture with Leftfield Social Housing to create Inclusive Housing Australia (IHA). As a dedicated provider of SDA, and backed by more than 65 years of experience in the disability sector and a socially focussed investment group, IHA will build and manage accommodation for people with disability to transform lives.

Statement of values

The primary purpose of IHA is to provide quality accommodation solutions for people with disability.

IHA intends to be the market leader in the supply of Specialist Disability Accommodation under the NDIS.

Using the skills and experience of Achieve Australia and Leftfield Social Housing to reach this position of market leadership.

Overview

This Handbook has been developed to accompany your Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Service Agreement and to provide you with an overview of the roles and responsibilities for individuals, families, carers and your provider.

SDA does not refer to the disability support services a person receives, but to the homes in which these services are delivered. SDA may include specialist designs for people with very high support needs or may have a specific location or features to provide more complex or costly supports to help maintain independent living.

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What is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) refers to accommodation for people with disability who require specialist housing solutions to assist with the delivery of supports for extreme functional impairment and/or very high support needs. IHA is an Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Provider.

What is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is help with and/or supervision of daily tasks to develop the skills of an individual to live as independently as possible. These are the supports provided to people with disability in their home, regardless of property ownership, and can be in a shared or individual living arrangement. Achieve Australia is a Supported Independent Living (SIL) provider.

What is SDA and SIL? The difference between SDA and SIL

SDA is the home an individual lives in, while SIL is the disability supports delivered

in that home to help maintain independent living.

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ContactsInclusive Housing Australia

a Suite 8.02, 333 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000

p 1800 IHA SDA (1800 442 732)

e info@inclusivehousing.com.au

w inclusivehousing.com.au

Please provide these details to your other support providers.

Accommodation portalInclusive Housing Australia will supply access to an online accommodation portal to provide you with:

n A digital copy of your accommodation agreement

n Your contact details

n Online rental balances

n Maintenance requests

n Any other payments made by you to Inclusive Housing Australia

Your support & contactsThrough Inclusive Housing Australia’s Accommodation Portal you will be able to update your contacts for people such as:

n Supported Independent Living service provider

n Support Coordinator

n Guardian

n Financial Manager

n NDIS Plan Nominee

n NDIS Correspondence Nominee

Communication

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Everyone has a role to play in ensuring you have safe and secure housing at all times. Here we have outlined some key areas for Inclusive Housing Australia, participants, families and carers.

You

n Rental payments must be made on time to Inclusive Housing Australia.

n SDA payments must be made on time to Inclusive Housing Australia.

n You must ensure that SDA funding remains in your NDIS plan.

n It is your responsibility to notify Inclusive Housing Australia if you have any holidays or other absences planned.

n All Inclusive Housing Australia properties must only be used for residential purposes.

n You must not intentionally damage any part of the property including your own room.

n You must respect the privacy and comfort of other participants and show courtesy to everyone at all times.

Your rights and responsibilities

n Any cancellation of services or agreements must be given in the required notice period as stated in this Handbook.

n Inclusive Housing Australia and the support provider will work with you and your family to help ensure all available bedrooms are occupied in the property.

Your Financial Manager

If you have a Financial Manager, they must ensure your rental payments are made on time.

Your NDIS Plan Nominee

If you have an NDIS Plan Nominee, they must ensure that the correct level of SDA funding is included in your plan and available to Inclusive Housing Australia.

Participants, families and friends

All participants, families, carers and visitors must treat all staff and contractors with courtesy and respect at all times. Violent or aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated.

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Inclusive Housing Australia will:

n Maintain the property in a good state of repair to ensure the property is safe and secure at all times.

n Take all reasonable steps to ensure you have peace and comfort in your property.

n Treat you and your family with courtesy and respect at all times and listen to any feedback or complaints you may have.

n Provide solutions quickly to any problems or issues that may arise.

n Respond in a timely manner to requests for maintenance.

n Ensure the property is fitted with adequate locks and security features.

n Ensure the property is enrolled with the NDIA as SDA.

n Ensure that tenancy related notices are adhered to and you are made aware of your right to seek a review of a decision.

Inclusive Housing Australia responsibilities

n Take all necessary steps to fulfil our obligations to workers and other people at the property under Work Health and Safety regulations.

n If there is a need to replace the SIL provider at the property, Inclusive Housing Australia will assist you in the process as outlined in this Handbook.

n Provide the required notice if we need to end your SDA Agreement.

n Protect your privacy and confidential information at all times and contact you within five business days if our contact details change.

n Will consult with you to obtain a good match of co-residents when there is a vacancy to be filled at your residential location.

n Will consult with you and work with your SIL provider if there are behaviours of concern at your residential location that are interfering in your quality of life.

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How is SDA paid for?

Your accommodation is paid for from two sources:

1. SDA payments from the NDIA.

2. Reasonable Rent Contribution (RRC) is paid by you.

What is the Reasonable Rent Contribution?

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Terms of Business set out what is known as the Reasonable Rent Contribution. This is the amount you are expected to contribute to the cost of your housing. The NDIA makes an additional payment known as SDA to cover the costs associated with providing your accommodation beyond the Reasonable Rent Contribution.

How much is my rent?

If the participant receives the Disability Support Pension (DSP), the RRC to be paid by a participant must not exceed an amount that is:

Rental payments

n 25 per cent of basic rate of the Disability Support Pension;

- Plus: if the participant receives a pension supplement - 25 per cent of the Pension Supplement received;

- Plus: if the participant receives a Youth Disability Supplement - 25 per cent of the Youth Disability Supplement received;

- Plus: if the participant receives Commonwealth Rent Assistance - 100 per cent of Commonwealth Rent Assistance received.

If the participant does not receive the Disability Support Pension – the RRC must not exceed an amount which is:

n 25 per cent of basic rate of the Disability Support Pension (see below);

n Plus 100 per cent of any Commonwealth Rent Assistance received by the participant.

Note: The basic rate of the DSP is the amount under the Social Security Act 1991 that is the maximum basic rate for a person who is not under 21 and not a member of a couple.

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SDA payments

You and your NDIS Plan Nominee, if you have one, are responsible for ensuring that SDA funding is included in your NDIS plan at all times. Inclusive Housing Australia will work with you to ensure the correct level of SDA is available in your plan.

Inclusive Housing Australia will provide you with invoice statements that cover both RRC and SDA payments.

Rental increases

Rent increases may occur twice per year on 20 March and 20 September aligned with any changes to the DSP. Inclusive Housing Australia will provide 14 days’ notice of any increases that will occur in your rental payments.

Rental bond

No rental bond is required for SDA.

Other payments

Other payments which may be required include:

n Board payments or other payments associated with living expenses are not collected by Inclusive Housing Australia.

n Utilities will be organised and paid by either yourself or by your support provider.

n Inclusive Housing Australia will organise and charge water usage to either yourself or your support provider.

n Payment for your living expenses will be collected as part of your agreement with your SIL support provider.

What if I go on holidays?

If you go on holiday or if you are temporarily absent from the property for a period of time, up to a maximum of 60 days, you are required to tell Inclusive Housing Australia and are still required to make your agreed rental payments.

If you are absent from the property for more than 60 days, your SDA Agreement will terminate from the date your accommodation payments and any other required payments under your agreement are due but not paid by the relevant due date.

How do I make my rent payments?

Rental payments can be made through:

n The New South Wales Trustee & Guardian, if the you are under Financial Management;

n A self-managed direct debit payment system;

n Direct deposit by your family or guardian into the Inclusive Housing Australia account; or

n CentrePay.

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What if I want to move out?

If at any time you would like to leave the property, Inclusive Housing Australia requires 60 days’ notice in writing of your intention to vacate. Any rental payments will be required until the end of the notice period unless otherwise agreed. All belongings must be removed from the property once your SDA Agreement ends.

What if Inclusive Housing Australia needs to end your Agreement?

If Inclusive Housing Australia is required to end your SDA Agreement for any reason, we will arrange a meeting with you, your family or carer, the property’s SIL provider and any other supporters you require. Inclusive Housing Australia will provide you with a minimum of 90 days’ written notice and work with you to find a new property and SIL provider. Reasons Inclusive Housing may end your SDA Agreement include, but are not limited to, Inclusive Housing Australia has developed new accommodation

Ending your SDA Agreement

for you to move to, the accommodation no longer meets your support needs, you no longer require Specialist Disability Accommodation, or the dwelling is longer able to be used as Specialist Disability Accommodation.

If you are using the property for an illegal purpose, have not paid your required rental payment following overdue notices, are no longer funded for Specialist Disability Accommodation, or cannot be supported at the property without causing serious risk of harm to others, Inclusive Housing Australia may be required to end your SDA Agreement by providing you with 30 days’ notice in writing.

Vacating the property

n When you leave the property, you are responsible for:

- Moving your furniture out of the property

- Cleaning the property

- Ensuring all accounts are up to date and paid

- Disconnection of utilities

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How do I request property repairs or alterations?

A repair or alteration can be requested by email, via the website or by calling Inclusive Housing Australia. You may also notify the SIL provider on site. If the alteration is for your personal use and Inclusive Housing Australia approves your request, you may be required to pay the costs for making these alterations.

Phone: 1800 IHA SDA (1800 442 732)

Email: maintenance@inclusivehousing.com.au

Website: inclusivehousing.com.au

How long will repairs take?

Each repair or alteration request will be assessed on an individual basis and take into account the health, safety and wellbeing of all participants.

Maintenance

What if I damage the property?

If you intentionally damage or destroy any part of the property, you must contribute to the cost of repairs.

Inspections and property access

Inclusive Housing Australia can visit and inspect the shared areas of the property at any reasonable time. Repairs, cleaning, maintenance, upgrades and renovations of the shared areas can be done by the Inclusive Housing Australia at any reasonable time.

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Inclusive Housing Australia will work with you to assist in your choice of support provider. We will not restrict your choice of support provider, however Inclusive Housing Australia will expect the following matters are decided between all parties:

n Supports are fully funded by the NDIA or other funding body

n Responsibilities are clear between all parties, including:

- Duty of care

- Work Health and Safety (WHS)

- Governance framework is established

- Emergency evacuations

IHA has service level agreements in place with SIL providers to ensure that each providers responsibilities are clear and delivered seamlessly.

Support providers

Inclusive Housing Australia must be notified if you wish to end a Service Agreement with a service provider who is providing SIL or Continuity of Support (COS) services at the property.

A service provider may be changed at any time if:

n the service provider is de-registered by the NDIA;

n the service provider becomes insolvent; or

n Inclusive Housing Australia has terminated its agreement with the service provider and the service provider can no longer access the property.

Inclusive House Australia will guide you through a step-by-step process if you wish to change the SIL provider. The process will involve obtaining proposals from other providers, house meetings, voting and nominations for the new provider to be chosen.

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Inclusive Housing Australia aims to provide a safe home for all residents. This also includes a range of safety items in the home. Both you and your support provider will be briefed on the available safety features, which will be maintained and certified on an ongoing basis. For example, if you are in a bushfire risk area Inclusive Housing Australia will undertake bushfire preparation activities and have in place an Annual Fire Safety Statement to reduce the risk of the impact of a potential bushfire.

In the event of an emergency evacuation, your support provider must have plans in place including a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. The support provider will also report to Inclusive Housing Australia on any fire drills that occur in the home. During a bushfire or flood event, it is the support provider’s responsibility to assist with evacuating the home.

Inclusive Housing Australia agrees to comply with all relevant Privacy Laws in the way it holds, uses and shares your personal and health information, including your NDIS or COS plan.

Inclusive Housing Australia may ask that you sign a written consent which allows Inclusive Housing Australia to share your personal and health information with the SIL provider or another person/entity. You do not have to sign this consent form. If you do choose to sign this form, you can always withdraw your consent later at any time.

If you do not provide your consent to share your personal and health information, it does not mean that Inclusive Housing Australia can’t share your personal and health information, but without your consent, they must comply with the relevant Privacy Laws before they share your information.

Emergencies Privacy

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Inclusive Housing Australia will give you a copy of a detailed feedback and complaints policy at the time you sign your SDA Accommodation Agreement. Please refer to this information to lodge feedback to Inclusive Housing Australia.

To provide feedback to your SIL provider, request repairs or maintenance, if you have a dispute with another resident in the property, or for any other matters, contact the Tenancy Coordinator.

Tenancy Coordinator(02) 9034 1642info@inclusivehousing.com.au

Plan feedback

If you have an NDIS plan and need to provide feedback or make a complaint, contact the NDIA by calling 1800 800 110, visiting one of their offices in person, or visit ndis.gov.au for further information. Or contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission at ndiscommission.gov.au/about/complaints.

If you have a COS plan, contact the Commonwealth Department of Health by calling 1800 020 103 or visit agedcare.health.gov.au for further information.

Feedback & complaints

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Policies

Should you require access to IHA’s policies on any of the matters within this Handbook please contact:

p 1800 IHA SDA (1800 442 732) e info@inclusivehousing.com.au

a Suite 8.02, 333 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 p 1800 IHA SDA (1800 442 732) e info@inclusivehousing.com.au w inclusivehousing.com.au