Preparing Yarra Ranges Council for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

⁠⁠⁠Yarra Ranges Shire Council ('The Client') invites submissions from suitably experienced parties (‘Respondents/Consultants’) to undertake and complete the following assessments:

* the Client’s current functions that under the NDIS will move to the Consumer Directed Care model;
* financial and other implications for the Client should it continue to provide Personal and Respite services under the Consumer Directed Care Model;
* the suitability for the Client to continue to provide disability services to the community under NDIS. This assessment is to include an evaluation of the levels, skills, experience and qualifications of the Client’s Officers currently providing services that will move to the Consumer Directed Care model. Commentary on whether greater skills development and diversification from Client Officers will be required and the associated costs to the Client to do so;
* exploring the opportunity for the Client to consider registering as a provider under NDIS in order to “grandfather” existing participants receiving services and preferring to remain with the Client. Examination will be needed to ascertain whether or not NDIS sees this as an option for providers;
* the Client opting out of registering as a provider under NDIS and advice on timing of such a decision and its impact on current and future users and transition planning for exit;
* the number of other providers that offer personal and respite care in the municipality and the likely risk of there being inadequate coverage to the more remote areas of the municipality (Valley and Hills); and
* key considerations for a future business model should the Client chose to register as an NDIS provider and be competitive on both quality and cost.

The consultants will be required to –
* hold a workshop with key staff within the Aged & Disability Services Department (and other areas to be identified) regarding findings including proposed Options for consideration and discussion (Future Directions); and
* produce a draft report that makes findings and recommendations based on the above assessments and discussions. This draft report shall then be presented to senior officers for final discussion prior to the final report being delivered.

This service must be completed by the end of November 2015.