Group Supports and Programs of Support

When several participants are supported at the same time, the claiming rules change. This lesson explains how the maximum price is shared between the participants in a group, how worker to participant ratios affect each claim, when more than one worker can be claimed, and the extra centre capital cost that can apply when a group support is delivered in a centre. Key points: the maximum price for each participant is the applicable limit divided by the number of people in the group, each participant is claimed for the total time of the support, and extra workers can only be claimed when they directly supported that participant.

Group claims are only as accurate as the records behind them. This lesson explains what to record for each group session, how the number of participants on the day affects claims, and how short notice cancellations work in group supports under the current claiming guidance. Key points: record attendance, arrival and departure times, the worker to participant ratio and any changes during the session, claim using the actual group size, if a participant cancels at short notice and the place cannot be filled they may be billed their agreed rate while others are billed as if all attended, and always check the current guidance.

A program of support is an agreement for a participant to attend a series of group supports, often working towards a particular outcome, such as a twelve week cooking skills course. This lesson explains which supports can be delivered as a program, how claiming works differently from ordinary group supports, and why the program agreement matters. Key points: programs can be offered in shared living, community participation and capacity building supports, the provider claims for each instance as though agreed participants attended as long as the support was available, short notice cancellation rules do not apply, and nothing can be claimed before each session is delivered.

Because programs allow claims when a participant is absent, they come with protections for participants. This lesson explains the rules in the current claiming guidance on program length, review, leaving a program and unplanned exits, and what the program agreement must include. Key points: programs can generally run for no more than six months, programs longer than twelve weeks must give regular opportunities to review, participants can leave without cost with no more than two weeks notice, if a participant stops attending without notice claims can continue for no more than four consecutive weeks, and the agreement must set out the length, exit rules and intended outcomes.

Groups bring together people with different needs, preferences and risks. This lesson explains how to plan and run group activities that are safe and inclusive: knowing each participant's support plan, checking venues and activities, keeping track of everyone, supporting communication and choice, and responding to incidents. Key points: plan around each person's needs, including mealtime, medication and behaviour support plans, keep ratios to what each participant needs, do regular headcounts, respect dignity of risk and choice, make activities accessible, and report incidents straight away using our procedures.

Participants join groups for their own reasons, and a group should help each person work towards their own goals. This lesson explains how to learn each participant's goals, adapt group activities so everyone can progress, and record individual progress rather than writing one note for the whole group. Key points: every participant in a group has their own goals and support needs, activities can be adjusted so each person is challenged at the right level, individual notes show the value of the support and help plan reviews, and participants should be asked regularly whether the group still suits them. The lesson ends with a course summary and your final assessment.

This case study follows Kelly, a team leader who runs a Wednesday life skills group at our community centre. On the day, the group does not go to plan: one participant arrives late, another leaves early with a headache, and an extra worker joins to support one person. The lesson shows how accurate session records support fair claims across several plans, how centre capital costs fit in, and why the real group matters more than the roster. Key points: record what actually happened, individual notes for everyone, and check before claiming.

This case study follows Ravi, a young man with autism enrolled in a twelve week program of support to build job ready skills. After six weeks he suddenly stops attending. The lesson shows how the program rules protect him, why workers should reach out early rather than letting claims continue, and how a respectful conversation uncovers what went wrong. We also look at adjusting the program to suit him. Key points: notice falling attendance, reach out with care, know the four week limit, and adapt to the person.