Report Writing for NDIS Plan Reassessments for Exercise Physiologists

Participants are going to read your reports in the end, so why not bring them on board early?

Many parts of a report can be written with the help of the individual, and is a great opportunity for some capacity building and inclusive practice. Here are some examples of how to include people:

• Goals. You must include the person's goals in most reports, but you should also agree on how to break the big goals down into targets to achieve within therapy sessions for the year. 

• Outcomes. You will need to report on whether the person has achieved their goals (including whether there has been partial goal attainment) and whether there has been any change in their function. Be sure to translate therapy assessment results into NDIS language:  Has there been an increase or decrease in function in a particular domain or area? Why? Is there any risk associated with the person's current function and level of support requirements? Are any changes needed to the goal statements for the next plan period? 

• Challenges. Most allied health professionals are trained to report from a strengths-based perspective. However, for NDIS planning purposes, it is often necessary to look at the challenges and barriers a person faces. This can make the reports quite confronting for the participant, and it is important to warn them about that. Work with the person to consider how you can frame any challenges the person has faced in a way they're happy with. Work with the person to consider how you can frame any challenges the person has faced in a way they're happy with, and be sure to link any ongoing barriers to goal outcomes to funding recommendations. 

How can you involve people in report writing? 

The obvious answer is to talk about the report with them. But you could also consider giving them 'homework' - maybe a sheet of paper with some questions asking them to reflect on the past year and what they want to get out of the next year. You should also think about ways to work with family or other informal supports.

Sharing the report with the participant

Sometimes, it may be appropriate to share a draft of the report with the participant to gather their feedback. You do not necessarily have to take all their suggestions on board, but they might draw your attention to information that you may have missed. In situations where you do not know the person very well, it can also be a great way to ensure factual accuracy. 

Discussing reports with participants is also a great way to build capacity and translate and explain the NDIS, its language, and its processes.