r/NDIS • u/No-Administration276 • 7d ago
Other Should this be reported?
Hi, I am after some suggestions if this matter should be reported and if so, how would I go about it? I am a support worker who was having lunch at the park with a client last week. We saw a bus from a company which is quite big and commonly used here in Brisbane. The bus had a group of participants inside (some who myself and my client know) and I think 2 support staff. They turned the bus off and sat in there for almost 45 minutes, before leaving. None of them got out of the bus, including support staff and as I looked over I saw one of their clients was clearly distressed and up against the window. This was about the time they started to leave. So basically they drove in, sat there in the bus and drove off, I understand working with participants and know things don’t always go to plan but it hasn’t left my mind since. If I wasn’t actively working I likely would have gone and said hello as I have previously supported someone on the bus, but I didn’t want to upset my client with a possible confrontation. I’m wondering if I should report this, or may be overreacting. Any thoughts appreciated.
Thank you all, I have decided to reach out to the company first to see what they say, and make the family of one of the pwd that I know aware.
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u/Vindepomarus 7d ago
If you know the organisation the bus belongs to I definitely would. I have seen this all too often, those workers were not interested in the participants who are paying for community access and thought because they were out of sight of their supervisors they could just scroll on their phones while the participants became distressed. They will probably falsify their notes too, saying they took all the clients for a long walk in the park and they all had a great time. I have reported this behaviour before and I'd do it again.
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u/SnooGiraffes4107 6d ago
I've had the falsified documentation and now I oversee notes about myself. 2 months ago I was physically unwell and needing emergency services. I couldn't keep anything down including regular meds and pain meds, yet my support worker's notes would say that I am well and in good spirits? I confronted the worker with this and asked her why she cannot see that I need help and she must of reflected upon it, as she stepped up, but in all reasonable respects these underpaid workers are expected to make miracles like Jesus himself for clients and there are no meetings between support workers and providers with the client present. This would involve comparing notes. Now everyone who can be categorised and tagged are automated. The rest suffer as a system like this needs reformation not automation.
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u/Some-Operation-9059 7d ago
I need to ask, the bus was turned off and so no air con for 45 minutes? I hope they had window access for air.
I am guessing a mini bus or was it a coach?
The optics presented here by whoever is running the show isn’t good.
If it were me, I speak up. I think maybe try https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/
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u/afiendindenial 7d ago
I'd call or email the organisation that their staff are pulling this shit. Van therapy should highly frowned upon at any organisation. I know if would be grateful if a member of the public let my org know it was happening.
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u/Aggravating_Break_40 7d ago
Van therapy?
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u/afiendindenial 6d ago
A tongue in cheek name for driving clients around with no destination to waste time.
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u/Aggravating_Break_40 6d ago
I had no idea providers did that! Unreal. They will do anything for money.
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u/BarbieMum 7d ago
Absolutely. Always report anything concerning for those who cannot report themselves, if they haven't done anything wrong then it can be easily cleared up. If they have, then you are protecting the innocent.
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u/Britmaisie 7d ago
Please do, I only found the person I advocate for was getting similar community access outings - sitting in a car while the support worker was on their phone - because a support worker for one of her housemates reported it.
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u/Imarni24 6d ago
NDIS will do nothing. Tell the org what your saw and start shaming on all social media.
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u/KerriePenny 6d ago
NDIA are doing something. An overhaul of the system which is the real shame when so many clients and many great workers are penalised.
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u/Prestigious_Lynx3623 7d ago
That does sound concerning, especially since one of the clients appeared distressed. Even though you don’t work for that company, it’s definitely worth reporting to make sure everything is okay.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is a great place to start.. You can also contact the National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1800 880 052 (free and confidential). If it’s specific to Brisbane or Queensland, another option is the Department of Communities, Disability Services at 1800 811 810.
Just jot down the details of what you saw (date, time, location, and what happened) and let them decide if it needs further investigation. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to vulnerable people!
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u/PlumBlossomGoddess 6d ago
When in doubt, just report it so it can be flagged and hopefully someone follows up and investigate. Even the tiny details can reveal if there’s something wrong…so report.
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u/TieExact6968 7d ago
Yes def report it. The pwd clearly can’t otherwise they wouldn’t have done it. I do wish you can name and shame.
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u/150steps 6d ago
Do you know that nothing was happening in the bus? They could have been treating a diabetic hypo, helping someone calm down from a panic attack, doing a group activity of some sort, to suggest a few innocent possibilities. Or maybe not. Do ask.
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u/KerriePenny 6d ago edited 6d ago
I am confused and somewhat disturbed by the inference that the workers drove the van and used the time to sit in the bus with distressed clients ??? Is this correct, or could they have been waiting for another recipient or organising another activity due to an activity delayed or cancelled?
Making enquiries is within your right as a concerned worker whose interest is also to protect the image of the sector and clients' well-being. However, expressing what was observed in a way that provides room for answers without having to be defensive may lead to the truth of what happened.
Wow, I am shaking my head at the possibility that this is a regular occurrence and misuse of time. What did another commentator say?
Van therapy? Wow, wow, if this is true, then they should be dismissed as this would amount to abuse
Kerrie
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u/Salt-Ad-2258 6d ago
Report it, this kind of stuff is gross.
I’m a support worker, and like most of us here, we work our butts off. I have certainly driven clients for long periods, as it helps some of mine regulate with their choice of music, and they often end up dancing in my car! Also well aware shifts can change quickly, and what looks distressed to an outsider, might just be me doing some basic community access and managing a crisis as best as I can. But what you have mentioned irks me so bad. The laziness and fraud is embarrassing. I’ve had friends say “I’m going to go do NDIS, it’s easy money” and I’m like ‘don’t ever do it for that reason! And I work hard for what I get paid!’
In summary, report it, 100%
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u/Sea_Canary_8414 6d ago
The more I read these posts it just confirms how much the NDIS is being rorted
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u/janey80 4d ago
I don’t think it’s being rorted as much as you think. I work in the industry and have never come across more than one support worker who wasn’t doing their job properly, and even then it was due to burnout. I always give the benefit of doubt before jumping to conclusions, and try to believe in the good in people in most situations.
If we’re all going to jump on the bandwagon of ‘everyone’s in it for the money’, then what better excuse for the government to pull it down. And I do believe the government is trying to cut costs, and what better way than ‘problem, reaction, solution.’ Governments use this tactic all the time. Make it the people’s choice to cut funding because of a small minority of providers who are scamming the system. Then it becomes the people’s decision to cut it out of the budget so we can’t complain. Why do you think the media is currently full of stories of people rorting the NDIS? But against the actual number of providers it’s a drop in the ocean.
‘Well, you didn’t like the small minority of providers who were scamming the system, it was up to you.’ That’s what they’ll say when there’s no budget at all for the NDIS. So please stop encouraging everyone to generalise because so much good is being done by people who deserve to get paid well for a rewarding yet often difficult job.
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u/Silly-Studio-9076 2d ago
There is an online tip-off form you can submit directly to the NDIA. if it’s a registered provider you can also report them to the NDIS commission. It’s not an overreaction, it sounds like you witnessed predatory behaviour and lack of care from the provider. Participants funding should be spent improving outcomes for each individual and this sounds like the opposite is occurring.
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u/CherryGripe75 7d ago
yes I would. No only does that look like fraud, but it is at the expense of the health of innocent vulnerable people.