Policy Information Sheet
Non-Recurrent funds when establishing a New Individual Option
Preamble
In recent years, consultation with disability sector organisations (DSOs), individuals
with disability, their families and carers identified a common need for person-centred,
flexible and responsive service delivery strategies. In line with the Delivering
Community Services in Partnership Policy and the Commission’s Individualised
Funding Policy, program parameters have been abolished to facilitate flexibility in
service design and improved individual outcomes.
Integral to contemporary disability approaches is the need to undertake individual
planning to identify someone’s goals and needs and develop strategies to enable
them to reach their goals. Plans are reviewed regularly and changed as required to
meet people’s changed needs and aspirations. The strategies identified are likely to
combine informal and formal support, some of which will require funding and others
not. Funding will be allocated according to what is reasonable and necessary and
directly related to the additional cost of the impact of the person’s disability on their
life. This may require one-off or non-recurrent funding, which is the subject of this
policy.
Disability Services Commission
Non-recurrent Funds when Establishing a New Individual Option
1. Keywords
Non-recurrent funds, one-off funds and individual option.
2. Policy Statement
The policy is to inform the principles and criteria for allocating non-recurrent funding
to establish individual options and guide disability sector organisations when making
such a request.
This policy does not include WA NDIS My Way.1
3. Principles
Non-recurrent funds may be allocated to disability sector organisations when
establishing a new individual option for a person with disability who has a Disability
Services Commission (the Commission) individual funding package or sometimes
when an individual transfers from an existing option to another disability sector
organisation. The following principles apply:
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1
The requirement for non-recurrent funding is identified in a person’s individual
plan.
The request for non-recurrent funding provides a clear rationale and budget
breakdown.
Quotes are provided as required.
The individual has not moved multiple times between disability service
organisations within a short time period.
The item(s) requested:
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have not already been factored into the unit price of the strategies to be
delivered
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are not items considered to be the responsibility of the individual, for
example personal items
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cannot be funded by another source, such as Lotterywest
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are not for a motor vehicle or modification. (Refer to the Funding to
Purchase Motor Vehicles for Funded External Service Providers Policy)
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are not to purchase capital items when first establishing a shared
accommodation option for people with disability, where these would be
shared communal items.
The Commission has funds available within its budget.
Refer to WA NDIS My Way Policy on Funded supports in plan – reasonable and necessary
4. Definitions
Not applicable.
5. Background
Since September 2006, the Commission has had a Set-up Costs for Individual
Funding policy. This policy provides for disability sector organisations to request
funds for one-off costs associated with establishing a new option for an individual or
if/when they transfer service provider. Under this policy, funding for one-off costs is
available across a range of areas with benchmark rates in place.
Under the Delivering Community Services in Partnership policy, government is
committed to paying the full cost of service delivery. The Commission began
implementing this in 2013-14 through the establishment of new Service Agreements
with disability sector organisations following a tender process to be on the Panel
Contract for Individually Funded Services. In the tenders organisations offered the
full cost to deliver a specified strategy.
This policy replaces the Set-up Costs for Individual Funding Policy 2006 that is
referred to in the Service Agreement.
The Commission recognises however, that:
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there may be some one-off costs incurred with establishing a new individual
option or transferring an existing option that have not been factored into the
disability sector organisation’s strategy and
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at this time most, although not all disability sector organisations have submitted
their prices through a tender to be in the panel contract under the Delivering
Community Services in Partnership policy. (These organisations are still on
‘old’ Service Agreements).
Requests for one-off funding will be considered on a case by case basis in
accordance with the aforementioned principles.
6. Consultation
This policy has been developed in consultation with:
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The Commission’s Funding Directorate Executive and Managers
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The Procurement Review Steering Committee.
7. Implementation
This policy applies from 1 January 2014 to all Service Agreements that the
Commission has with disability sector organisations.
The type of Service Agreement the Commission has with a disability sector
organisation will determine the consideration given and how requests can be made.
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For disability sector organisations on the panel contract for Individually Funded
Services the request for non-recurrent funds must identified in the Service
Section of the Individual Commission Funding and Service Section (ICFaSS).
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For disability sector organisations not on the panel contract for Individually
Funded Services (i.e. prequalified organisations) non-recurrent funds should be
identified in the section of the funding plan previously known as set-up costs.
8. Funding or Resource Implications
Dependent on funding availability.
9. Related Policies and Guidelines
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Funding to Purchase Motor Vehicles for Funded External Service Providers
Policy.
Policy on Funding Non-Recurrent Accommodation Set-Up Costs through
Accommodation Support Funding.
Individualised Funding Policy 2013.
10. Communication
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All Funding Directorate staff will be informed of the policy.
All disability sector organisations will be informed of and provided with a copy of
the policy.
The policy will be posted on the intranet site.
11. Training
Not applicable.
12. Evaluation and Review
The policy will be reviewed in 24 months as part of the Director General’s Policy
Tracking System review process.