CareSouth Disability Services

The National Disability Insurance Scheme changes the way that services are delivered to people living with a disability in Australia.  People will have an individual plan that allocates them funding to spend on the services they need with the people they want to receive them from.

A CareSouth NDIS working group has spent the past year preparing how to best meet the needs of individual clients as the new Disability Support Services model rolls out across NSW and the ACT.

In June the working group spent two days with Disability Services Consulting to determine the future direction of the sector and how CareSouth is placed to deliver the NDIS to our clients living with a disability and their families and carers.

CareSouth is in a strong position to begin the roll-out of the NDIS because we are driven by what our clients need and we have the flexibility and creativity to identify and meet existing needs in the community.

CareSouth currently provides Disability Services Support to children, young people and adults through our existing Residential and Drop-In Support programs so they can live full and meaningful lives. These programs include Supported Accommodation Programs, Disabilities Out-of-Home Care Residential, Leaving Care Alternative Family Placement and Leaving Care/Drop-In Support.

CareSouth also offers a Family Choices program in our southern and western regions. This program helps families access ongoing specialist, respite or in-home support services. Family Choices caseworkers work in co-operation with families and build rewarding long-term relationships with clients, their families and carers.

Our staff working in direct service delivery have generated the best ideas for how we can provide excellent services to people with disabilities under the NDIS scheme and will continue to do so as the roll-out progresses.

At CareSouth we focus on the person, not the disability and promote a culture of empathy and open-mindedness and social inclusion for all.

Everyday Maintenance

CareSouth Disability Support Worker Ofer Engel loves his job. Each day he makes a difference in the lives of the clients he supports, particularly 46 year-old Steven, a Nan Bishop House resident and CareSouth Disabilities client whose passion is mowing lawns.

In January Ofer, his manager Tony Briggs and CareSouth’s Corporate Services Supervisor Rob Strickland rolled out an innovative project called Everyday Maintenance to provide supported and meaningful employment for Steven to maintain several CareSouth buildings and gardens.

When Ofer became Steven’s Support Worker three years ago he recognised his talent and it evolved into a supported employment program which aligns directly with CareSouth’s vision for our Disability clients; to ensure they are accepted, recognised for their strengths and supported to achieve their hopes and dreams.

“We focus on the person, not the disability,” said Ofer. “We are able to generate meaningful work for clients who are doing something they love. It’s a win-win situation. We are harnessing their skills with the client’s wishes.”

“It makes me happy,” said Steven when asked what he loves about his job.

On rainy days when Steven was unable to mow lawns he would become frustrated so Ofer began teaching him how to do basic handyman jobs so Steven could continue to work regardless of the weather. The pair now use these skills to maintain CareSouth properties.

“I enjoy mentoring my clients and teaching them everyday skills,” said Ofer, who migrated to Australia in 2000 and describes himself as a “humble plumber from Israel”.

In the six months since the program began Steven has increased the hours he works each week from five to eight and the maintenance and lawn mowing carried out by Steven and Ofer at various properties has saved CareSouth $5000 in outsourcing labour costs.

But most importantly the program has given Steven a purpose and sense of self-worth. Ofer said the Everyday Maintenance program allowed Steven to constantly engage with the community in a safe, supported way.

“We go to the hardware store to get supplies and he is interacting with the staff. This boosts his self-esteem and improves his social skills,” said Ofer. “We are not isolated from the community, Steven is out there living in it and making a meaningful contribution. He looks forward to doing work.”

When Ofer migrated to Australia he had to generate his own employment and began working as a handyman. So he understands how important it is to create meaningful employment opportunities for CareSouth’s Disability clients.

It is this empathy and open-mindedness, along with an ability to tailor programs to clients’ needs and promote social inclusion which has made Everyday Maintenance a successful Disability Support program.