However, as they begin to investigate the pros and cons of becoming an NDIS provider, they start to feel overwhelmed, and often, the idea finishes up in the too hard basket.
There are strict guidelines to becoming certified as an NDIS provider, however if you know what you’re doing, it’s simply a matter of following the process. We will look at this in a moment, but first, let’s have a quick look at some of the benefits of becoming a provider.
As an NDIS provider you are recognised as being committed to a certain level of quality of service and expertise in delivering services to some of our most vulnerable.
The NDIS is a complicated and complex system, ever changing and clients build a trusted relationship with you and rely on you to navigate through the system to access supports.
And most importantly…
There is no limit to the number of NDIS participants you can support.
These are just some of the benefits to become a provider. You can see a more extensive list here.
How to Become an NDIS Provider – The Requirements
As with all things in life, there is an “opportunity cost.” When you decide to become a provider. You’ll get the benefits, but first, you must meet the requirements. These requirements ensure your organisation is operating at a standard that qualifies you as an NDIS provider.
The suitability assessment includes (but not limited to) a review of:
How to Become an NDIS Provider – Getting Started
Prior to being scrutinised by the NDIS Commission, it is important you already have your organisation operating to the required standards. If you don’t meet the requirements set by the NDIS Commission, this will cause delays, and may impact your ability to continue to provide high quality services to the people you support.
This means the best place to begin is by conducting a Business Review. To conduct a Business Review, you’ll need to review all your critical finance and operational areas. This means assessing your key drivers, your systems, your team, your culture, your productivity, your capacity, your cash flow, your risk, and your opportunities.
Once completed, you’ll be able to use your key drivers and unit costs to determine your budgeting requirements and cash flow forecasts.
Next you need to undertake business scenario modelling, which will help you determine the best decisions to make today, so you can qualify for and become an NDIS provider.
Decisions you need to make based on the Organisational Assessment data, may include, changes to your back-office processes, implementation of software to improve efficiency, adjustment of job descriptions and perhaps redefining roles of management.
Other critical things to consider are how to monitor your operations for quality assurance and continuous improvement – critical to become an NDIS provider.
There is quite a bit to be done, to prepare your not-for-profit business to become an NDIS provider. So, if you don’t have the capacity in house, you may consider engaging a Not-for-Profit and NDIS Provider business transformation specialist to assist you.
Preparing not-for-profit organisations for the transition to become an NDIS provider is what we do – every single day.
In addition, using our proprietary CINCH Transformation Program, we have achieved an average7.4% uplift for the Not-for-Profit organisations and NDIS Providers we have worked with.
So, if you are considering becoming an NDIS provider, we invite you to contact us for a confidential discussion.
This report is a great place to begin. The information in this report, will allow you to compare your organisation to industry benchmarks, and help you identify areas performing well, and those needing improvement – the basis of great decision making!
These requirements ensure your organisation is operating at the standard that qualifies you as an NDIS provider.
We look forward to talking with you soon.
Until then, all the best.