Frequently Asked Questions
Complex care refers to disability support services for NDIS participants whose needs involve significant medical, physical, behavioural, or cognitive complexity that requires support workers with specialised training and skills beyond standard disability support. Participants who may require complex care include those with acquired brain injury, high-level spinal cord injury, degenerative neurological conditions, complex epilepsy, ventilator dependency, tracheostomy, enteral feeding needs, complex behaviour support requirements, dual diagnoses, or combinations of these conditions. Complex care is funded through multiple NDIS budget categories depending on the nature of the supports required and is typically assessed at a higher funding level than standard daily living support.
Before accepting any complex care arrangement, Grace Care conducts a comprehensive multi-dimensional assessment involving the participant, their family or guardian, their support coordinator, and relevant health and allied health professionals. This assessment covers the participant’s medical conditions, functional capacity, clinical care requirements, behavioural support needs, communication profile, and living environment. If Grace Care determines it can meet the participant’s needs safely and to the required standard, we proceed with support plan development and team assembly. We do not accept complex care arrangements unless we are confident we have the right people, training, and systems in place to deliver them safely.
Grace Care’s complex care support workers hold relevant base qualifications in disability or individual support and complete additional specialist training specific to each participant’s complex care requirements. Depending on the participant’s needs, this may include training in tracheostomy management, PEG feeding, ventilator support, epilepsy management, positive behaviour support plan implementation, spinal cord injury care, acquired brain injury support, and other clinical or specialist skill areas. All complex care workers hold current NDIS Worker Screening Clearances and are subject to ongoing supervision and competency review throughout their engagement.
Clinical coordination is a core component of Grace Care’s complex care service. With participant consent, we establish direct communication channels with the participant’s GP, specialist physicians, allied health providers, and other relevant clinicians. We implement all clinical recommendations within the support plan promptly, flag any changes in the participant’s condition or functioning to the appropriate health professionals without delay, and participate in multidisciplinary care meetings where required. Our complex care support plans are reviewed and updated whenever clinical recommendations change to ensure support practice remains current and appropriate.
Yes. Grace Care provides complex care support across a range of living arrangements including participants living alone in private homes or rentals, participants in supported independent living arrangements, and participants living with family carers. The support plan is adapted to the participant’s specific living arrangement and the level of complexity management required within that setting. For participants in SIL arrangements, complex care requirements are integrated into the overall SIL support structure with appropriate staffing, training, and supervision.
Grace Care’s complex care arrangements include formal review processes designed to identify and respond to changes in participant needs proactively. If a participant’s needs escalate unexpectedly, our complex care coordinators respond immediately, reassessing the support plan, adjusting staffing and training as required, and communicating with the participant’s medical team and NDIS support coordinator to ensure funding and arrangements are updated appropriately. We do not wait for a scheduled review when an urgent change in need is identified. Responsiveness in complex care is not optional. It is a fundamental quality and safety requirement.
Call us on 1300 069 338 or email info@grace-care.com.au to arrange a comprehensive complex care assessment consultation. We will review the participant’s current NDIS plan, discuss their specific complex care needs in detail, assess our capability to meet those needs safely, and begin the process of developing a specialist support plan and assembling the right care team. We understand the urgency that often accompanies complex care needs and we prioritise new complex care enquiries accordingly. Please reach out as soon as possible and we will respond promptly.