LEISURE NETWORKS COVID-19 Update – 30 March 2020
With the latest announcements from the state and federal governments around COVID-19, I am updating you with Leisure Networks current position and current capacity in this challenging and uncertain time in relation to COVID-19.
The health and safety of our customers, staff and communities is our priority and is the single most important issue when making decisions at Leisure Networks.
It is our duty of care to provide a safe, health promoting work environment that minimises risks of exposure to COVID-19.
We know that many people we support and their families are needing important supports at this challenging time. We are doing everything we can to continue supporting all our customers.
Supports we can provide to help keep customers healthy, safe and connected
- Supporting people in their home or single night 1:1 respite services outside the home
- Assisting with house cleaning, gardening and meal preparation
- Taking people to appointments or early morning shopping
- One to one supports for safe outdoor activities
- Picking up medicines, shopping or other essentials
- Conducting online learning and research as part of SLES or other NDIS goals
Support Coordination Services
Support coordinators continue to provide important support at this time. Our staff are working from home and all communication is being conducted via online conferencing or telephone. This means we can keep delivering the excellent quality of support our customers are used to receiving from Leisure Networks.
With the recent changes the NDIA has made to all participant plans in response to COVID-19 pandemic, you can now access this service through your Core budget so that you can have a coordinated and planned approach to accessing the supports you require throughout this time.
We have highly experienced Support Coordinators here and ready to help you!
If you think you need this assistance please call us on (03) 5222 3911
Financial Plan Management
We have increased our staffing to support you.
We will:
- Deliver continuity of service for customers and providers
- Make payments within 3 business days of receiving invoices, wherever possible
- Ensure cash flow for providers is not compromised through delays
- Prioritise safe working conditions for our staff
Important Information about Pricing under the NDIS:
- The NDIS has a cap on the amount that can be charged per hour for a range of services.
- We are unable to pay providers from a participant’s plan for services chargedhigher than the NDIS set rate.
- These rates are also GST exclusive. If your standard rates are above the NDIS rate, you will need to either reduce your rate or charge the participant separately for any gap in the fee.
- For more information on NDIS rates please refer to the NDIS website. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/price-guides-and-information
We are still here and open for new business– so please don’t hesitate to contact us
We have a small team based at our Geelong Head Office.
- We are continuing to on-board new customers and have established a telephone-based onboarding process, along with the use of recorded approvals and follow up documents.
- Leisure Networks has a highly skilled, flexible and trusted workforce available to continue supporting those most vulnerable in our community.
- We will continue as we have done in the past to recruit to meet demand and monitor this daily.
The best way to contact us during office hours (8.30am – 5.00pm) is to call our Customer Engagement Team on phone 5222 3911.
Over the last 30 years Leisure Networks has been supporting people with disabilities to be independent and connected in their community – in this very uncertain time, we want to continue ensuring our customers are safe and still feel connected – we have an incredibly skilled team that can assist with making this happen
While I appreciate this is an uncertain time, we are taking advice from the key agencies to ensure we are up to date with the latest information to ensure the health and safety of all our customers and staff.
Stay safe and take care everyone,
Libby
CEO Leisure Networks
RESOURCES
Leisure Networks Leadership team has established a COVID-19 working group which meet daily to share information and respond to any incidents and issues and discuss actions for the day.
We continue to update business continuity plans regularly based on the latest advice from the both the State and Federal Governments with the aim of ensuring a safe workplace for our people and to enable our customers to be supported.
The Australian Government has enacted the Coronavirus Emergency Response Plan and the NDIA is taking necessary steps and providing regular updates: https://www.ndis.gov.au/coronavirus#latest
A trusted source of information is the dedicated page set up by the Australian Government’s Department of Health.
The Department of Health and Human Services has established a hotline where any member of the public can call to seek information on COVID-19 on 1800 675 398.
The DHHS website is: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
For further health information the number for Victoria’s ‘Nurse on Call’ is 1300 60 60 24
Smartraveller is monitoring closely the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its implications for overseas travel. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/coronavirus-covid-1