Closed setting SIL homes – Policy Position Statement by the Summer Foundation
Tags: for policy makers, Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Description:
The Summer Foundation has released a position statement about the model of housing and support known as, closed setting supported independent living (SIL) homes. This is where the SIL provider owns or head leases a property and is responsible for tenancy management as well as SIL support delivery within the home. The closed setting SIL home model is outdated and does not resemble a contemporary approach to independent living but it is currently responding to demand for housing from NDIS participants who have been deemed ineligible for SDA or are facing SDA approval issues. The model brings risk to NDIS participant safety, compromises housing security and removes a participants right to exercise genuine choice and control.
The Summer Foundation believes that the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission must undertake a quality audit of existing closed-setting SIL homes and implement a regulatory framework as an interim measure, supporting SIL providers to conform to contemporary standards that uphold NDIS participants’ legal rights.
The NDIA must ensure SDA eligible participants do not live in, or are not reliant on, closed setting SIL homes.
The Summer Foundation welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA, Agency) consultation into Home and Living and the focus on person-centred supports, flexible funding and an ordinary life in the community. Our submission responds to the key themes in the consultation paper and makes recommendations to uphold human rights, increase participant choice and control, and build capability among people with disability, families and the disability sector.The proposed Home and Living Policy is a significant step towards securing better outcomes for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS, Scheme) participants. A flexible and responsive Home and Living Policy is essential to stop younger people with disability being forced into Residential Aged Care (RAC) and to meet the outcomes outlined in the Younger People in Residential Aged Care ActionPlan.
The Summer Foundation is hopeful that the recommendations in this consultation paper will support the National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA)Home and Living Policy to ensure participants are at the centre of their plans and are supported to live an ordinary life.