SUPPORT PARTNERSHIP POLICY

Policy area: Support Partnerships 

Document type: Policy and Procedure 

Applicable to : Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd  

Version: 2024-2025 

Date approved: 20 March 2024 

Approved by: Chris Condon – Managing Director 

Next review date: 20 March 2025 

Related policies  

Safeguarding Against Violence, Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation and Discrimination Policy 

Duty of Care Policy  

Client Feedback and Complaints Management Policy 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Policy and Procedure 

Consent Policy 

Conflict of Interest Policy 

Incident Management Policy 

Privacy Policy  

Authority 

NDIS Code of Conduct 

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

Privacy Act 1988 

Corporations Act 2001 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this policy is to explain our organisation’s commitment and approach to sourcing and maintaining our Support Partnerships.  

SCOPE 

This policy applies to all our workers (employees, contractors, and volunteers) and Support Partners. 

DEFINITIONS 

Support Partner 

An organisation, product, service, support, or individual who provides a product, service, support, or type of advice, outside of Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd  

Support Partnership 

Based on the definition of Support Partner above, a Support Partnership is defined as: 

• The agreement between Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd and the organisation, product, service, support, or individual who provides a product, service and / or support, for the purposes of advertising that organisation, product, service, support or individual (only) 

Pre-Screening 

To be eligible, a Support Partner must provide evidence to support some or all the following: 

• Confirmation of relevant qualifications and experience (where applicable)  

• Relevant Professional Body Memberships (where applicable) 

• Relevant regulatory oversight i.e. a NDIS Registered Provider is an Approved Registered NDIS Provider 

• Products have relevant testing / certification and approval for use / sale in Australia 

• Acknowledgement of the NDIS Code of Conduct (via signed agreement) 

• Evidence of Professional Indemnity Insurance 

Cessation of Support Partnership 

• Support Partnership will immediately cease should evidence of Pre-screening on file become unavailable, expired and / or any other relevant information is made available as to why it should cease 

Review Period 

Pre-screening checks will be reviewed annually, or as needed, at the time of becoming aware of relevant information that impacts on this policy 

Gifts and Benefit/s 

Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd may receive gifts and financial benefits from Support Partners, in the form of monthly or annual subscriptions to their directory, to facilitate the marketing of their products, services and / or supports. Or, other benefits, from time to time, such as gifts, purchase of Advocacy Apparel and / or other commercial benefits 

Conflicts of Interest 

Perceived and actual conflicts of interest are proactively managed and documented, including through the development and maintenance of organisational policies and procedures including: 

• Conflicts of Interest Policy 

• Conflicts of Interest Declaration Form 

• Conflicts of Interest Register 

• Transparent Communication with our clients about the nature of Support Partnerships and is provided in the language, mode of communication and terms that is most likely to understand 

NDIS Code of Conduct 

• act with respect for individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination, and decision-making in accordance with relevant laws and conventions 

• respect the privacy of people with disability 

• provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner with care and skill 

• act with integrity, honesty, and transparency 

• promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that might have an impact on the quality and safety of supports provided to people with disability 

• take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse of people with disability 

• take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct  

• without a valid reason, not represent or charge a higher price for goods supplied to a NDIS participant that is higher than the price that would be supplied or charged to a person who is not a NDIS participant 

Foundational Partnership

An agreed time period of advertising and marketing by Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd, without payment by a Support Partner 

Monthly Subscription

A payment made each month to Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd, by a Support Partner, to be advertised and marketed by Tactical Ability Group

Annual Subscription

A payment made each year to Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd, by a Support Partner, to be advertised and marketed by Tactical Ability Group

CONTEXT 

Our organisation recognises and supports the rights of our clients (whether individuals and / or organisations) to access and engage with supports and products of their own choice and control. Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd will only engage with supports, services and products which may be of benefit to people impacted by trauma and disability.  

POLICY STATEMENT 

1. Expectations and Limitations  

• We acknowledge the expectations and limitations of our role and will implement processes to manage risk by clearly indicating to our clients (whether verbally, in writing and / or in the mode of communication which best suits them), what Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd.'s role is and how our clients must make their own decisions to engage with our Support Partners and / or use their products, services, supports and / or advice.  

• We acknowledge the expectations and limitations of our role and will implement processes to manage risk by clearly indicating to our clients (whether verbally, in writing and / or in the mode of communication which best suits them), what pricing structures are for all products, services, supports and advice 

• We acknowledge the expectations and limitations of our role and will implement processes to manage risk by clearly indicating to our clients (whether verbally, in writing and / or in the mode of communication which best suits them), whether a benefit is received from the advertising and marketing of our support partners 

2. Access to alternative supports 

• We do not replace professional medical, legal and / or other services, supports, products and / or advice 

• We will never advise an individual or organisation to ignore their medical, legal and / or other professional advice 

• We recommend consulting directly with medical, legal, financial, and other experts and professionals, in their respective fields of expertise, as Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd does not promote or intend to promote themselves as experts in these fields of expertise 

• We will always support a client’s right to access alternative products, services, supports and / or advice, then those advertised by Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd 

3. Engaging with a Support Partner 

• It is the independent choice and responsibility of our individual clients/family/alternate decision-maker/nominated Advocate’s, on whether they engage with a Support Partner 

• We will ensure the client is aware of their right to find alternative products, services, supports and / or advice, at any time and support them to do this, if requested 

• We will never force any individual and / or organisation to engage with our Support Partners 

4. Acting on Concerns and Resolving Issues 

• We will act promptly to resolve issues, complaints or concerns that arise through our business activities.  

5. Information and Record-keeping 

• We will ensure information and records are accurate and up to date 

• We will ensure we have a signed agreement with every Support Partner on file, before advertising their product, service, support and / or advice  

• We will store the information securely to ensure privacy, dignity, confidentiality, and information security 

• Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd will retain all Support Partnership records for a period of 7 years, from the date of initial signed agreement 

• This period of record retention may be shorter if required by law to dispose of sooner 

• All records will be destroyed upon reaching the end those retention periods 

6. Worker Training and Supervision 

• We will maintain a skilled and trained workforce  

• We will maintain processes to adequately monitor and supervise workers 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS 

Related procedures and forms include:  

• Official Support Partner Agreement 

• Conflict of Interest Register 

• Conflict of Interest Declaration Form 

• Client Feedback and Complaints Management Policy Procedure 

• Safeguarding Against Violence, Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation and Discrimination Procedure 

• Incident Management Procedure 

• Reportable Incident Management Procedure 

• NDIS Code of Conduct 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd - Managing Director is responsible for: 

• maintaining this policy, its related procedures, and associated documents; 

• ensuring the policy is effectively implemented across the service; 

• monitoring workers compliance with the requirements of this policy; and 

• ensuring training and information is provided to workers to carry out this policy. 

All workers are responsible for complying with the requirements of this policy. 

COMPLIANCE 

Deliberate breaches of this policy will be dealt with under relevant misconduct provisions 

SUPPORT PARTNERSHIP PROCEDURE  

Policy area: Support Partnership Referrals 

Document type: Procedure 

Applicable to : Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd 

Version: 2024-2025 

Date approved: 20 March 2024 

Approved by: Chris Condon – Managing Director 

Review date: 20 March 2025 

Policy Sponsor: N/A 

Related policies

Safeguarding Against Violence, Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation and Discrimination Policy 

Duty of Care Policy  

Client Feedback and Complaints Management Policy 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Policy and Procedure 

Consent Policy 

Conflict of Interest Policy 

Incident Management Policy 

Privacy Policy 

Authority 

NDIS Code of Conduct 

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

Privacy Act 1988 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this procedure is to explain how our organisation to sources and maintains our Support Partnerships. 

SCOPE 

This procedure applies to all our workers (employees, contractors, and volunteers). 

CONTEXT 

Our organisation recognises and supports the rights of our clients (whether individuals and / or organisations) to access and engage with supports and products of their own choice and control. Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd will only suggest supports, services and products which may be of benefit, and which may not have been considered. 

PROCEDURES 

1. Expectations and Limitations of Support Partnerships 

1.1 We start from the assumption that an adult has the capacity to research their own information and make their own decisions. 

1.2 If an adult does not have the ability to research and / or decide for themselves, we must be completely satisfied, by evidence, a person or organisation, researching and making decisions for another person, have the legal right to do so.  

1.3 Be aware that the greater the level of involvement with a client, the greater the risk of conflicts of interest, manipulation, and/or undue influence. 

1.4 Implement strategies to minimise risk of perceived conflict of interest, manipulation, and/or undue influence (see Conflicts of Interest Policy and Procedures) 

2. Access to Information 

2.1 Provide new clients/family/alternate decision-maker/nominated Advocate with information about: 

• the role of Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd 

• The Role of our Support Partners 

• The limitations of each 

• The need for new clients/family/alternate decision-maker/nominated Advocate’s to carefully consider all available information, alternative information, and advice, to make their own decisions and take their own actions 

• All new clients/family/alternate decision-maker/nominated Advocates have the right to find alternative products, services, supports and / or advice, should they choose  

2.2 Remind new clients/families/alternate decision-makers of their right to ask for clarification about the relationship between Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd and any perceived or actual conflicts of interest with Support Partners: 

• a perceived or actual conflict of interest (e.g. where Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd receives a benefit for advertising a Support Partner);  

• a concern regarding undue or inappropriate influence or pressure being placed on the client’s decision-making; 

• an issue confronting the client which requires a level of ‘advocacy power’ that might be beyond them or their support network; 

• a concern that the interests of workers or organisational policy conflicts with the interests of the client (e.g. where there is a complaint or grievance which impacts on the client).

1. Where a client and/or their family/alternative decision-maker/advocate requests it, support them to contact an independent advocacy service.  

3. Engaging with a Support Partner 

3.1 Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd takes no responsibility for any client and/or their family/alternative decision-maker/advocate’s decision to engage with a Support Partner and use their products 

3.2 Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd takes no responsibility for the advice and / or actions of support partners and we recommend confirming their advice before using it to make personal, professional and / or business decisions 

3.3  Where a client and/or their family/alternative decision-maker/advocate does not have the capacity to self-advocate, we will not provide any advice, products, or services, without the support of an independent advocacy service involvement 

3.4 Where a client is unable to self-advocate and does not have family or friends to advocate for them, make any further necessary arrangements, which may include: 

• undertaking a needs assessment of the client; 

• appointment of a formal advocate from a recognised Advocacy Service; and/or 

• consulting the relevant state/territory Public Guardian. 

  3.5 If there is a current Public Guardian appointment for the client, we will consult with the Public Guardian  

  3.6 Make sure the client and/or their family/alternative decision-maker/advocate are aware they can find alternative products, services, supports and / or advice at any time. On receipt of a written request (email sufficient) from the client to discontinue with any service provided by Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd, we will cease all communication with the respective parties 

4. Maintenance of Records 

4.1 Document and retain the name and contact details of the Person of Authority for the Support Partner 

4.2 Document and retain evidence of some or all the following: 

• Confirmation of relevant qualifications and experience  

• Relevant Professional Body Memberships (where applicable) 

• Relevant compliance with regulatory oversight i.e. a NDIS Registered Provider is an Approved Registered NDIS Provider – as confirmed by NDIS Provider Search Tool  

• Products have relevant testing / certification and approval for use / sale in Australia 

• Acknowledgement of the NDIS Code of Conduct 

• NDIS Worker Screening (where applicable) 

• Evidence of Professional Indemnity Insurance  

4.3 Documentation is retained for a period of 7 years and then destroyed upon reaching the end those retention periods 

5. Acting on Concerns and Resolving Issues 

5.1 Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd will be alert to:  

• actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest 

• Circumstances, issues and / or complaints raised by any client and/or their family/alternative decision-maker/advocate/s 

• Breaches of the NDIS Code of Conduct 

• Mandatory reporting obligations  

  5.2 Reports of concerns in relation to a Support Partner can be made directly to Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd via email on admin@tacticalability.au.  

  5.3 Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd will take further action, as reasonable and necessary, in the subjective circumstances.  

  5.4 Where the issue cannot be resolved by Tactical Ability Group Pty Ltd, we will be transparent and indicate where any client and/or their family/alternative decision-maker/advocate, can find relevant regulatory information and support 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS 

Related procedures and forms include: 

• Official Support Partner Agreement 

• Conflict of Interest Register 

• Conflict of Interest Declaration Form 

• Client Feedback and Complaints Management Procedure 

• Safeguarding Against Violence, Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation and Discrimination Procedure 

• Incident Management Procedure 

• Reportable Incident Management Procedure 

• NDIS Code of Conduct 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Tactical Ability Group - Managing Director are responsible for: 

• maintaining this procedure and associated documents; 

• ensuring the procedure is effectively implemented across the service; 

• monitoring workers compliance with the requirements of this procedure; and 

• ensuring training and information is provided to workers to carry out this procedure. 

• All workers are responsible for complying with the requirements of this procedure.