Frequently Asked Questions

Accredited Social Workers are allied health professionals who provide therapy supports, capacity building, assessment, reporting and support planning that considers the person within their everyday environment.

Support may focus on emotional wellbeing, social participation, relationships, self-advocacy, routines, service navigation, functional capacity and NDIS evidence.

Social work therapy can include counselling-based support, but it also considers the person’s broader environment, relationships, support systems, practical needs and community participation.

The focus is not only on emotional and social wellbeing, but also on the real-life systems and barriers that affect daily functioning, participation and capacity.

Yes. Social work reports can support NDIS access, plan reviews and reassessments by explaining disability-related support needs, functional impacts, psychosocial factors, environmental context, current supports, support gaps and recommendations for therapy or capacity building.

Respond Therapeutic Services can provide social work assessments to support therapy, support planning, NDIS access, plan reviews, reassessments and care team planning.

Assessments may include biopsychosocial assessment, social work functional assessment, functional capacity and functional impact assessment, and the use of structured tools where appropriate, such as the WHODAS 2.0, World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, and LSP-16, Life Skills Profile 16.

Assessment considers the person’s strengths, goals, support needs, disability-related impacts, routines, relationships, environment, informal supports, risks, service systems and participation in everyday life.

A social work functional capacity assessment looks at how a person’s disability affects their everyday life, participation and capacity, with a focus on the social, emotional, relational and environmental factors that shape daily functioning.

This may include emotional wellbeing, psychosocial capacity, social participation, relationships, communication, self-management, routines, safety, community access, informal supports, service gaps and barriers within the person’s environment.

The aim is to provide clear evidence about how disability impacts the person’s day-to-day life and what supports may be needed to strengthen capacity, participation and wellbeing.

Reports are informed by assessment, therapeutic engagement and relevant information from the person and, where appropriate, their support network or care team.

Reporting is not treated as stand-alone data collection. It is used to translate the person’s broader context, goals and disability-related support needs into clear evidence.

Yes. With consent, Respond Therapeutic Services can communicate with Support Coordinators, allied health providers, family members, carers, support workers and other care team members to support coordinated planning and clearer goals.

Therapy may focus on emotional regulation, coping strategies, adjustment, grief and loss, identity, self-advocacy, decision-making, relationships, communication, social connection, routines, executive functioning, crisis prevention and participation in meaningful activities.

Referrals may come from participants or people seeking NDIS access, family members, carers, Support Coordinators, plan nominees, health professionals or other service providers.

People can also contact Respond directly to ask whether the service may be suitable.

Yes. Respond offers a free 10-minute phone consultation to discuss what you are looking for, your current situation and whether the service may be the right fit.

Respond Therapeutic Services is currently only available to self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants.