the hub carer handbook · the independent living skills program includes interactive activities and...

The Hub Carer Handbook

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Current at April 2020 Uncontrolled if printed 1

Carers ACT Disability Program



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Contents About The Hub Disability Program ...................................................................................................................... 3

Carer Support Process for The Hub ..................................................................................................................... 5

Initial Contact & Bookings ................................................................................................................................... 6

Care Plan & Review ............................................................................................................................................. 7

Keep Us Updated ................................................................................................................................................. 7

Guardianship ....................................................................................................................................................... 8

Health and Wellbeing .......................................................................................................................................... 9

When Things Go Wrong .................................................................................................................................... 14

Service Delivery ................................................................................................................................................. 18

Eligibility & Fees................................................................................................................................................. 22

Ceasing/Transition of Service ............................................................................................................................ 24

Carers ACT Services ........................................................................................................................................... 24

Definitions ......................................................................................................................................................... 26

Appendix 1 ......................................................................................................................................................... 28

Image on Front Cover: ‘RHS Wisley - Oct 2011 - Caring Candid – Sharing a Joke’ by Gareth Williams available at

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gareth1953/6235050671 under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0. Full terms at

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

https://www.carersact.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Disability-Program-Participant-Handbook.pdf

http://www.webstercare.com.au/products.html


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About The Hub Disability Program This program aims to enhance each person’s social and life skills, to develop interests and abilities

and to participate in the community.

Who

The Independent Living Skills Program is available to people between the ages of 18 and 40 with a

mild to moderate cognitive disability.

When

The service operates Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm at Carers ACT in Holt, offering both full

and half day programs incorporating a range of skill development and engaging activities.

What

The activities are interactive and adapted to the participant’s abilities and interests and include

activities such as growing and cooking your own ingredients, music, yoga, community skills, dance,

gym, walking, art and all aspects of the conversation raft.

Contact Us

Phone 6296 9909 or 0413 997 466 to contact The Hub Disability Program directly.

Use this number to speak with or enquire about participants.

Address 2/80 Beaurepaire Crescent HOLT

Open 8:30-5:00 Monday to Friday


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This Handbook

This handbook contains information for carers about The Hub Disability Program and should be read

in conjunction with our Carers ACT Client Services Policies.

Please note that in this handbook we use “you” to refer to you, the carer and we use “participant”

or “client” to refer to the person you care for. We acknowledge that not all carers care for family

members or relatives, however, the vast majority do, or consider their cared for person as a member

of the family.

The registration process described in this handbook refers to a non-urgent situation. In the case of

emergency, we will put services in place with whatever information we are able to obtain. We

recommend all carers have an emergency care plan so that in the event of an emergency this can be

referred to when services are put in place. An emergency care plan form is available on our website.

This handbook is also available in Easy Read format. Download it from our website, or contact us to

receive by email.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gareth1953/6235050671

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0


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Carer Support Process for The Hub

Initial Contact You can call 6296 9909 or

0413 997 466

Intake and Assessment Our Staff member takes your details and

assesses the needs of you and the person you care for

Meet & Greet / Trial Will be arranged

Care Plan & Service Agreement Written with your input, for the person

you care for

Service Delivery

Participate in agreed service/s

Review

We will reassess the person’s needs and services at least once a year

Repeat Services

Contact us on 6296 9909

Ceasing Service

as required


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Initial Contact & Bookings All requests for bookings at The Hub Disability Program are through 6296 9909 or 0413 997 466.

What happens when you first contact us

During this first point of contact (either over phone or email) we will talk about your loved one’s care

needs and their suitability for the program. This enables both of us to understand how we can best

support them whilst in our care. We don’t provide in home supports to people living on their own.

We may discuss the following with you:

• Health conditions and support needs for you and participants

• Available days

• Fees, transport options

• Overview of our program and its service functions

We also assess your eligibility to access our services and fee subsidies.

Meet & Greet

For many people who are accessing The Hub Disability Program for the first time, it can be a worrying

time. To help you decide if The Hub Disability Program is right for you, we believe it is important that

you and participants, visit The Hub, meet our staff and see what we do. So, before we book

attendance dates we will invite you, participants and any other family members or friends to come

and meet with us. We will show you around and explain how our service operates.

Bookings

Once you are feeling comfortable and ready to proceed, we will make a booking for participants to

join The Hub Disability Program.

Service Agreements

A Service Agreement is a document required by the NDIS. It sets out the agreement we have made

with you, about the service we will provide to your participant.

It includes the agreed service to be provided and how much, as well as containing information about

making complaints or ceasing service.

Read more about service agreements here.

https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/working-providers/making-service-agreement


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Care Plan & Review If it is the first time you are using The Hub Disability Program, we will need to develop a Care Plan.

We spend time talking with you and the participant about their care needs, interests and preferences.

We record this information so that our staff can get to know the person they are caring for and we

use this information to provide individualised care. We also ask you how we can help support

participants to increase their independence and meet their goals.

Review

We consider the Care Plan is a living document that changes as care needs change. The Care Plan is

reviewed when needed or at minimum every 12 months.

Keep Us Updated It’s important that you keep us up to date with what’s happening in the person’s life. This helps us to

best support them to meet their changing needs.

What affects each person is different, but these are some things it’s good to update us about:

• Change in living arrangements

o An extended period in respite

o Someone has moved in or out

o New home

• Change in relationships or key people

o A relationship breakdown (note, we don’t need details, just to know there’s a change)

o New support worker

• Health or wellbeing issue for the person or their immediate family

o A medication change for them

o A parent having chronic illness

o A grandparent having an emergency or extended hospital stay

Rest assured that this information will remain confidential and will be used only to support the

person.


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Guardianship Carers ACT recognise your rights as a legal guardian.

You are responsible for supplying us with a copy of the guardianship order for each person you care

for, and ensuring they are updated as required. We are not able to recognise guardianship without

this evidence. This may affect decision making, consent and planning for the person. We will only

recognise guardianship for the issues identified in the order – medication, legal, finances and so on.

Read more about

Please see your Carers ACT Client Service Policies, to read more about:

• Client Rights and Responsibilities

• Access to services

• Intake and Assessment

• Assisting Carers to have a break

• Attendance at group activities

• Fees and Donations

• Using an Advocate

• Feedback and Complaints

• Health and Wellbeing

• Privacy and Confidentiality

• Guardianship

• Health and Wellbeing

• Privacy & Confidentiality

• Ceasing Service

For your copy of this handbook please download from our website, or contact us

https://www.carersact.org.au/contact-us/


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Health and Wellbeing

Incidents and Injuries

All injuries, incidents and accidents must be recorded and reported to the management team. This

could happen to anyone, including a client, staff member or visitor, and might include:

• A fall

• An injury, or a near miss or potential risk

• Property damage etc

If an incident occurs, we will

• Call 000 Emergency Services, as required

• perform any first aid necessary

• contact the carer / guardian

• complete an Incident Report and any other paperwork required and contact Carers ACT

Management to advise

Illness in the Hub

We understand that making alternate arrangements might be difficult, but for the sake of all

participants and staff we ask that you keep home participants who are unwell.

Refusal of entry / Requesting pick up

If a participant is visibly unwell, or a risk of infection identified, Carers ACT may refuse to accept them

into the program. In this case we will ask you to take them home as soon as possible. Some conditions

have an exclusion period and cannot attend – this is outlined in Appendix 1.

For more information please read When things go wrong - Illness while attending The Hub Disability

Program; - Pick Up and Late Fees

Infection control and infectious Diseases

Carers ACT is dedicated to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for its Care

Recipients, staff and other people working in the area. In order to maintain this environment, the

staff actively follow an infection control policy that we currently have in place. For a copy of the policy

click here

https://carersau-my.sharepoint.com/personal/kim_bool_carersact_org_au/Documents/Desktop/Infection%20Control-The%20Hub-%202020.pdf


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Medication

Participants may need to take medications while attending The Hub Disability Program.

We will ensure that Carers ACT staff are trained to assist with self-administration of medications

where necessary. Carers ACT staff are not medically trained, and staff can only:

• prompt and assist participants to take medications, not administer them

• check how many medications are given, not recognition of which

• dispense medications from the Webster Pak as provided, and

• keep records of medication given.

If you have any question about medication, you can speak to our staff.

Your Responsibilities in Relation to Medications

We ask that you:

• provide us with all relevant medication information

• inform us of legal guardianship responsibilities for medication

• provide medications (including prescription medication, over the counter medication, herbal

therapies and natural therapies) in pharmacist packed Webster Paks

• Provide pharmacist signing sheet with the Webster Paks

• Provide creams and ointments, labelled and authorised by the prescribing doctor

Upon arrival, please ensure that you give our staff ALL the medication and any relevant

information or instructions. Staff will sign in the medication and lock it away in the office.

If you bring medications or supplements not in a Webster Pak

If a participant comes to The Hub with medication not packed in the Webster Pak, we are unable to

give it to them.

We will:

• when possible, ask you to take it home

• if not, it will be locked up with the other medications

• you will be given the option of visiting to dispense it

If you bring medications without a Pharmacist signing sheet

We are unable to give medications without a signing sheet from the pharmacist who dispensed the

Webster Pak. In this case we will:


https://www.webstercare.com.au/webster-pak-medication-packs/


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• when possible, ask you to call the pharmacist to arrange the form

• if not, it will be locked up with the other medications

• you will be given the option of visiting to dispense it

Self-Administration:

Carers ACT staff are not able to administer medication, so if the participant is unable to self-

administer, you will need to arrange support for them at each scheduled dose.

Refusal of Medications and Medical Interventions:

Participants have the right to refuse prescribed and other medications. They also have the right to

refuse medical interventions such as first aid or emergency services.

Clients who are their own guardians have the right to provide informed consent over these decisions.

Where guardianship is in place in this area, consent must come from the guardian.

When a client refuses medication or medical intervention while at The Hub Disability Program, staff

may follow these steps:

• contact you for advice, or to visit and provide support

• in the case of medication refusal:

o contact the person’s GP or pharmacy for advice

o administer first aid or call emergency services as required

• notify and discuss with their supervisor

• contact you for the person to be taken home, if necessary

• record all steps taken in the client notes

Medication dispensed from the Webster Pak and consequently refused, will be disposed of safely.

S8 Medications

We are unable to assist with S8 medications.

If participants need to take S8 medications while attending a Carers ACT program, you will need to:

• request the pharmacist packs them separately to other medications

• attend, or arrange a trusted person to attend to administer them each time necessary

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pharmaceutical/Pages/drugs-of-addiction-sch8.aspx


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Storage of Medication:

Carers ACT recognise the need for safe storage of medication, and at The Hub Disability Program we

will:

• lock all medication away at all times, to meet legislation

• keep medications that require refrigeration in a separate fridge. This fridge will be:

o temperature controlled

o audited daily

o in a locked area

o with medications kept in accordance with the instruction on the labelling displayed on

the container

• return home all unused medications after each service, regardless of regular bookings

• safely destroy any medications left at The Hub Disability Program

Other Medical Information

Medical Management Plans:

Where a client has additional medical needs such as Epilepsy, Diabetes, Asthma, or Allergies with risk

of Anaphylaxis, we will need to assess the client care needs and may require a medical management

plan from the Doctor so that we can manage this condition when at The Hub Disability Program.

Safety at The Hub Disability Program

The safety of participants is very important. Our staff make regular safety checks of The Hub

Disability Program and ensure that The Hub Disability Program is well maintained. We also have a

safety professional complete an annual safety check and we arrange for all electrical goods to be

tested and tagged.

Our fire equipment, including smoke alarms, is checked and tested regularly and our staff are trained

in emergency procedures and practise evacuations or fire drills from time to time. Our Easy Read

Participant Handbook contains information you might like to share with your participant, to ready

them for this practice.

Despite our vigilance, it is possible that you might notice something of concern, and we ask that you

let us know so that we can fix it.


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Smoking

There is no smoking in or near The Hub Disability Program including verandas.

Smokers must move away from the buildings to smoke. We are unable to accompany them to smoke,

so they will need support from another trusted person if they wish to smoke.

Clients who want to quit smoking will be encouraged and supported by our staff. We recommend

clients visit the QuitNow website for information.

https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/smoking-and-tobacco/how-to-quit-smoking


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When Things Go Wrong

No Show

Occasionally a client may not arrive at The Hub Disability Program despite being booked in. Hopefully

this is just an error or oversight, but we need to make sure nothing has gone wrong. If this happens,

our staff will:

• report the situation to their supervisor

• attempt to contact you via all known contact numbers, up to 3 separate times

• attempt to contact the emergency contact person

• where there is no response the police may be called to make a welfare check

• note all actions on the client file

Illness while attending The Hub Disability Program

We request that clients do not attend when sick (e.g. with colds, flu or stomach bugs). We follow

government advice on which conditions are excluded from attending the Hub – see Appendix 1. We

may insist on a medical clearance before the participant returns.

If a client attending The Hub Disability Program becomes unwell, we may follow these steps:

• contact you and arrange for your participant to return home to avoid the spread of illness

• help arrange transport if required

• call an ambulance, if required.

For more information please read Health & Wellbeing - Illness in The Hub; - Pick Up and Late Fees

Hospital Transfer

If a client attending The Hub Disability Program has a medical incident that requires an ambulance to

be called and transfer to hospital, the following will happen:

• you (carer / guardian) will be notified

• if we can’t reach you we will try to contact nominated emergency contacts

• supervisor will be notified

• an information sheet and medication details, will be given to paramedics

• all actions taken will be noted on the client file


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Participant goes missing

Rarely, a participant might go missing from our program. This may be at The Hub, or in the

community. If this happens, staff will follow a procedure that includes:

• doing a search of the area

• contacting you or the participant’s emergency contact person

• reporting the person missing to their supervisor and other relevant people

• Police may be called, if the supervisor thinks it’s necessary

Death at The Hub Disability Program

It is possible that a person might die during their attendance at The Hub Disability Program. If this

happens, staff will ensure that the situation is handled with dignity and that your wellbeing and that

of other clients is considered.

If a client dies while at The Hub Disability Program, Carers ACT will:

• call for ambulance and police attendance – a doctor is required to attend

• perform emergency first aid and CPR

• contact a supervisor

• contact you (carer / guardian)

• ensure other clients are kept away and kept calm

• offer you and clients other supports such as access to counselling

Death of a Carer

It is also possible that a carer might die whilst their family member is attending The Hub Disability

Program. If this happens, we will assist with care and support of participants. We may be able to

help by:

• arranging for care for in their home or other replacement care

• carer counselling

• other emergency support identified at the time.

Abuse, Injury or Neglect

Abuse is any form of harm or injury, or threats of harm to a person. Neglect is the failure to care for

a person. Neglect may be unintentional, or intentional. In either case, our staff must act if they

suspect any form of abuse or neglect is taking place to you or the person you care for.


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Staff will follow a set procedure, including gathering more information and reporting to their

supervisor. The decision to take a report further is made at our executive level.

Pick Up and Late Fees

Late to usual pick up

If you are late picking up your participant from the program you will be contacted by Carers ACT staff

on your listed contact number. If the first phone number is unavailable or there is no answer, staff

will go down the list of Emergency contacts you have nominated to attempt communication.

We will ensure a staff member remains with your participant until they are picked up but will charge

per hour - billed directly to the participant. The hourly charge will be as per NDIS Price Guide,

description below:

Assistance to access community based social and recreational activities – complex needs

04_104_0125_6_1_TTP Support ratio 1:1.

Pick up request due to illness

If your participant becomes unwell during their attendance in the program you will be contacted by

Carers ACT staff on your listed contact number. If the first phone number is unavailable or there is

no answer, staff will go down the list of Emergency contacts you have nominated to attempt

communication.

Once contact has been made, you will be requested to organise your participant to be picked up from

the program within 1 hour of notification.

If you are unable to pick up or make arrangements for your participant to picked up within the hour,

we will either:

• Call an ambulance, if required (see below)

• Arrange for them to have a 1:1 support worker while they wait.

If your participant has not been collected within 1 hour we will charge per hour for a staff member

to stay with them - billed directly to the participant. The hourly charge will be as per NDIS Price Guide,

description below:


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04_104_0125_6_1_TTP. Support ratio 1:1.

If we need to call an ambulance, we will:

• Continue to attempt contact will all listed Emergency contacts until close of business hours at

5:00pm.

• If there is no communication or contact made (no answer or return of phone call) Carers ACT

staff will send a text message to all the listed mobile numbers with the details and location of

the participant.

• Contact the hospital social worker if we are unable to contact you or the emergency contacts.

• Provide the Emergency transfer information sheet with all your participants information to

the paramedics.

• Provide 1:1 support at the hospital if required – this would be billed as above.


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Service Delivery

Our Staff

Our staff are experienced and qualified in disability service delivery. We provide regular professional

development opportunities for staff, ensuring their knowledge and skills are kept up to date. We also

conduct background checks such as Working with Vulnerable People on all staff and volunteers.

We have both male and female staff.

Our Program

The Independent Living Skills Program includes interactive activities and is adapted to the

participant’s abilities and interests. It includes pre-planned activities such as growing and cooking

your own ingredients, music, yoga, photography, dance, gym, walking, art and craft. There is also the

opportunity for participants to select other activities according to their interests, needs and abilities.

These plans are made every month by the participants themselves. The staff conduct monthly

planning meetings where each participant is supported to input their ideas based on their NDIS goals

and skills they wish to work on or activities they wish to take part in. This schedule is then emailed

out to parents and carers every month and a hard copy sent home with each participant.

Activities and Outings

Our daily program provides a framework for our program, but participants are asked for input into

activities and outings included.

Relief Staff

Note that relief staff have a set program for the day, to be used if there are no Carers ACT staff

present. They have a limited number of options for activities, to reduce stress for both staff and

participants.

Nut Free

The Hub is strictly nut free.

Please ask The Hub’s supervisor for a copy of our Nut Warning System and refer to it. This warning

system applies to all who attend The Hub

At least two of our current participants are anaphylactic to nuts.

This means that nuts may be fatal to them, whether they have eaten the nuts, or just been near

them, or to someone eating them.


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All food brought into the disability program must be free from all nuts.

If a participant brings in a food containing nuts, the following process will be followed:

• The food will be thrown away

• A replacement lunch may be offered, in this case you will be contacted

• We will give you and the participant a reminder of our rules

• We may need to suspend service, or send the participant home, if nuts are sent in repeatedly

Meal Times

Everyone at The Hub Disability Program is encouraged and supported to participate in mealtimes as

independently as possible. We promote respect for them by ensuring any supports necessary are

discreet, and mealtimes are relaxed social occasions.

We encourage participants to eat healthy foods they have prepared themselves. We can provide

support for participants to prepare simple meals at The Hub, please discuss with us.

Cooking at The Hub

We do cook as a regular activity at The Hub.

In planning and preparing meals to cook, we accommodate client preferences and dietary

requirements, and may have meals that are cultural specialities of staff or clients.

We support informed decisions for healthy eating by:

• Teaching participants about nutrition, healthy eating guidelines and portion sizes

• Cooking healthy recipes and limiting tasting to 2 tablespoons per person (not spoiling their

appetite for dinner)

Personal Care

Our staff will provide help or can stand by for assistance as needed, during tasks such as:

• Toileting

• Washing hands

• Dressing

They will also support in a way that respects the person’s privacy and dignity and offer individual

choice of when and if personal care will be done. If your participant requires regular personal care

please speak with the Supervisor.


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Appointments

If you have arranged for participants to attend an appointment it is important that you tell us who

will be taking them and give us the contact details as well as letting us know when / if they will return.

Challenging Behaviour

We see that most ‘challenging behaviour’ is a form of communication. Participants are trying to tell

us something about how they feel, or what they need or want. If a participant has ‘challenging

behaviours’, we will:

• Ensure everyone is safe

• Consider what the person might be trying to communicate

• Communicate with you as required

• Keep records to try to identify patterns and triggers

• We will also trial alternate supports and processes

• We may also request a formal Behaviour Management Plan (usually created by a psychologist

familiar with the person you care for)

Communication Aids

We welcome the use of suitable communication aids with each participant. Please let us know which

communication aids your participant prefers and how we can best use them.

Staff / Client Relationships

Working in the human services, it can be common for staff and clients (both carers and participants)

to become fond of each other. Carers ACT is a service provider, and we expect our staff to remain

professional at all times. This can include:

• Avoiding developing a personal relationship, including on social media (Facebook etc)

• Avoiding personal gain – so we ask them not to purchase products or services from you

• Never sharing personal contact information such as their mobile number, or highly sensitive

personal information

• Not accepting gifts, or passing gifts received on to their supervisor

We appreciate your support in respecting these boundaries.


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SoSAFE!

Many of our staff are trained in the SoSAFE! Program and we use it for all participants at The Hub.

SoSAFE! is designed to educate people with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities, and autism,

in protective behaviours and understanding appropriate relationships. This training enables us to

support our participants in their right to intimacy and sexual expression.

Read more on SoSAFE!, or ask our staff.

https://sosafeprogram.com/


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Eligibility & Fees We operate The Hub Disability Program to enable carers of people with disabilities to have a short

break. The Hub Disability Program is a low care needs service.

The Independent Living Skills Program is available to people between the ages of 18 and 40 with a

mild to moderate cognitive disability.

Fees apply; however, they are dependent on the individual’s NDIS plan. Please contact our staff on

6296 9909 or 0413 997 466 for an individual assessment. If the individual is not in receipt of an NDIS

plan, please call our advisers to enquire about possible options.

Fees for clients accessing under NDIS

Our fees are based on the current NDIS Price Guide and each individual’s plan. Fees will be discussed

with you and included in the Service Agreement.

Current NDIS Price Guides

What if they don’t have NDIS?

If participants don’t meet the criteria above, they may still be eligible to stay using funding from:

• Carer Respite funding accessed through Carers ACT

• you may be able to pay privately

Please contact us to discuss. Our fees are based on the NDIS Price Guide and will be provided after

discussion with you.

GST

The fees above do not include GST and in most cases GST will not apply. GST will be applied in

accordance with section 38-B of the GST Act. Services provided under NDIS are GST free. GST will be

added to fees in business to business transactions related to Home Care Packages.

Changes to fees

Fees will increase in line with changes to the NDIS Price Guide, usually each June / July.

Cancellations

Please let us know as soon as possible if the person you care for is unwell and not attending.

If the person is planning to take time away from the program, ie: for a holiday or medical procedure

etc, please let us know as soon as possible.

https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/price-guides-and-pricing

https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/price-guides-and-pricing



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A cancellation is a short notice cancellation if the participant:

• does not show up for a scheduled support within a reasonable time, or is not present at the

agreed place and within a reasonable time when the provider is travelling to deliver the support; or

• has given less than two (2) clear business days’ notice for a support that meets both of the

following conditions:

o the support is less than 8 hours continuous duration; AND

o the agreed total price for the support is less than $1000; or

• has given less than five (5) clear business days’ notice for any other support

Fees for unplanned 1:1 time

If we need to provide 1:1 support to your participant, because:

• They are unwell and have not been collected within 1 hour of contact, or

• They are taken to the Emergency Department by ambulance, or Carers ACT transport, and

require support

An additional charge per hour will be billed directly to the participant. Please see description below:


04_104_0125_6_1_TTP Support ratio 1:1.

Note that in some cases you may not be able to use NDIS funding to pay for this time.

Paying Your Bill

We will either:

• Claim directly from the NDIS, or

• Send an invoice every fortnight to you or the Plan Manager.

We expect payment within 2 weeks. Unpaid fees may mean that we cancel your participant’s

booking. Please contact us as soon as possible if you are having problems paying.


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Ceasing/Transition of Service We recognise that care needs change, and you may no longer require the support provided at The

Hub Disability Program. If we’re no longer able to meet your needs, we will work with you to

transition to other support and provide all information to make informed decisions.

Clients will receive information and support through the process of transition or exit from the

organisations services. Transition strategies and exit planning will be documented in the person’s

individual service plan.

The exit plan will include information regarding the needs of the client and which goals they will be

seeking and will include:

• What are future Goals

• Service Provider Options

• Timeframe

• Review

• Finalisation of exit.

After a client exists from the service, Carers ACT will continue to liaise with the new provider to

ensure the client has transitioned, prior to finalising.

We ask that you give us 2 weeks notice that your participant will be leaving our service.

You are welcome to use our services in the future. If you would like to discuss a possible transition,

contact the supervisor or manager for the service you use, or Contact Us

Carers ACT Services Carers ACT has a wide range of services available to carers of all ages, and the people they care for.

Services include:

• Information and linkage

• Services that assist carers to manage their caring role, including to have a break

• Counselling, support groups, workshops and social activities

• NDIS Support Coordination

• Advocacy for carers



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• Support for young carers; mental health carers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers

• Living skills and community access program for people with disabilities

To find out more about any of our services, please visit our website or Contact Us on 6296 9900.



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Definitions

care plan Created, based on the information we get from you, the Care

Plan helps our staff to best support and meet the needs of the

person during their stay at The Hub Disability Program

eligibility The conditions you need to meet to use our services. Usually

determined by our funding agreements.

fee schedule Document explaining costs of using The Hub Disability Program.

Provided to you at intake, and available on our website

intake and assessment When you first contact us, we will ask questions to decide if you

are eligible for our services. We will also ask questions to assess

what your needs are.

medical intervention Any form of medical care, including first aid, doctor or

emergency services.

medical management

plan

Completed by the GP, a Medical Management Plan is used for

diagnosed conditions including:

• Allergy and anaphylaxis

• Asthma

• Diabetes

• Epilepsy, etc

The plan will contain information to help staff support the

person if needed.



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meet & greet When you and your family member visit The Hub Disability

Program for the first time. This gives us all a chance to see if our

service is a good fit for the person.

NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme is a government program

designed to help people with disabilities under 65 to access

supports to live an ordinary life. NDIS funding may be able to pay

for a stay at The Hub Disability Program.

personal care Having someone else help with personal hygiene – cleaning

yourself, toileting, dressing and so on

S8 medications A government term for a group of drugs also known as “drugs of

addiction”. These medications require specific authority to be

prescribed. Staff at The Hub Disability Program are unable to

assist with S8 medications due to associated legislation. Also

known as “Schedule 8”

webster pak Webster Pak are provided by most pharmacies for a small fee.

The Webster Pak contains all the medications a person takes,

packed by the pharmacist into the required doses, at the correct

times. Use of Webster Paks make taking medications while at

The Hub Disability Program much safer

https://www.ndis.gov.au/



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Appendix 1

Exclusion periods Note: This includes participants and staff

Taken from Infectious Diseases – Outbreak Procedures and Exclusion Periods Policy

Condition Exclusion period for person with the infection

Cold or flu Minimum of 3 days exclusion, all symptoms must be clear before returning to the program. A medical clearance may be requested.

Hand Foot and Mouth disease -Minimum of 7 days exclusion. -All blisters have dried-up, and any rash (if present) has gone and any fever has settled. -Medical clearance required.

Viral gastroenteritis (Gastro) Exclusion for a minimum of 3 days. Medical clearance required and all signs are clear.

Herpes (cold sores Exclude persons unable to comply with good hygiene practices while the lesion is weeping. Lesion to be covered by a dressing in all cases, if possible.

Impetigo Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced and sores on exposed surfaces are covered with a watertight dressing.

German Measles (Rubella) 14-21 days Medical clearance required

Diarrhea Exclude until diarrhea ceases. Medical clearance required.

Conjunctivitis (acute infection)

Exclude for a minimum of 3 days and until discharge from eyes ceases

*Meningococcal infection Exclude until adequate carrier eradication therapy has been completed

Meningitis (bacterial Until appropriate antibiotic course is finished.

Chicken Pox (varicella and herpes zoster)

10 to 21 days Medical clearance required

*Mumps 16-25 days Medical clearance required

Ringworm, scabies, pediculosis (lice), trachoma

Exclude until effective treatment has commenced. Scabies- 2-6 weeks and documentation of appropriate treatment has begun.

https://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/School-and-Corporate-Policies/wellbeing/health/infectious-diseases-policy/infectious-diseases-outbreak-procedures-and-exclusion-periods-policy


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Condition Exclusion period for person with the infection

Active Tuberculosis Latent Tuberculosis

Exclude until full medical clearance has been provided.

Exclude until appropriate scans have been taken and preventative treatment/antibiotics have been taken for a minimum of 2 weeks. Person will need to provide evidence the appropriate treatment has commenced.

Whooping Cough Exclude for 21 days from start of cough, or for at least 5 days after starting a course of antibiotics recommended by a Medical Practitioner. Documentation of this treatment will be required.

Bronchitis or croup Minimum of 7 days or until well.

Glandular Fever 4-6 weeks

Hepatitis A 2-4 weeks or medical clearance / consultation with Program Supervisor

Measles 10 to 12 days until first symptoms, and 14 days until the rash develops.