Generally, an audit is challenging for service providers preparing for the NDIS audit. Those who were unprepared or did not know what to expect about an NDIS audit have experienced the nightmare of this period. NDIS consultants or Auditors typically ask different questions during the audit to determine if providers meet the quality and safety standards needed to provide services to NDIS participants.
This article will break down some of the common questions auditors ask providers during the audit process and provide practical tips on preparation. Understanding what auditors look for and adequately preparing in advance increases the chance of a successful audit, ensuring that providers continue to deliver quality services to NDIS participants. Providers undergoing NDIS audits can expect to be asked some of these common questions by the auditor:
1. What Strategies Do You Employ to Gauge and Understand Your Client’s Needs?
The NDIS advisor needs to know how providers identify their clients’ requirements and serve them accordingly. Auditors often ask for information about the strategies used to get insights into clients’ preferences, goals, or challenges.
2. How Do You Ensure Compliance with NDIS Standards?
Auditors of the NDIS pay special attention to compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards. Therefore, it is essential for service providers to stay updated on any changes that may affect service delivery. Internal policies and procedures shall always be updated to ensure they respond to the industry’s modern legal requirements.
3. Can You Provide Evidence of Participant Feedback?
NDIS consultants might ask you to demonstrate that participant feedback is genuine and that your services meet their needs. They can collect various types of document forms, such as completed surveys, interview notes, and regular check-ins with the participant. This process of systematic collection ensures that people have proof that you meet their needs.
4. What Training and Qualifications Do Your Staff Have?
Auditors focus on knowing if your staff have had any training or qualifications that can show their skills and expertise in delivering quality services. According to the NDIS, you should provide clear evidence of qualifications, especially certifications, degrees, and licenses of your staff. Your qualification might be social work, nursing, or any other qualification that relates to disability support services.
5. How Do You Manage Risk and Safety?
Auditors want to understand how you will manage the risks and ensure your organisation’s safety to provide a safe NDIS environment. This will be achieved through a sound risk management framework. Processes should, therefore, exist to identify risks and reduce them.
6. Can You Show Financial Accountability?
When auditors ask about financial accountability, they want to ensure that your organisation manages its finances responsibly and transparently. Financial accountability includes detailed bookkeeping that tracks income, expenses, and funding received from the NDIS. Moreover, NDIS internal audit helps improve financial reports’ accountability by having the process in place. Performing some checks and balances during the year will enable one to cross-check the books of account and also oversee that all the legal requirements have been met.
7. How Do You Monitor and Evaluate Service Effectiveness?
When auditors ask how you monitor and evaluate the service effectiveness, they try to understand your processes for achieving the deliverables NDIS participants require.
8. What Is Your Plan for Continuous Improvement?
In asking for your improvement plan, NDIS consultants want to know how your organisation works towards enhancing service quality and participant outcomes. A good plan begins with a regular selfassessment of current practices using participant, staff, and stakeholder feedback. Holding review meetings helps to assess progress and gives room for correction when the performance is not up to standard.
9. How Do You Prepare for NDIS Audits?
Providers ask you how to prepare for NDIS audits because they know that proper preparation plays a very crucial role in presenting compliance with standard requirements and regulations. In this respect, with an understanding of the NDIS Practice Standards, providers know exactly what the auditors are looking for.
10. Can You Show That Your Services Are Delivered In a Culturally Sensitive and Respectful Way?
NDIS auditors focus on ensuring that providers offer culturally responsive services and sensitive service provision in response to the needs of diverse communities. They may request evidence of cultural competency training for staff, as well as examples of engagement with local communities.
Read More: New NDIS Registration Rules: What Non-Registered Providers Need to Know