# Group Support Services Complete guide to managing group services and day programs in Comm.care. ## Overview ### [Group Support](../../Group%20Support.md) End-to-end guide for managing and reporting group services and supports **Topics:** Setup, delivery, documentation, reporting --- ## Setup ### [Set Up Group Services](../../setup-and-configuration/services-configuration/group-services.md) Configure group services in your organisation ### [Setting Up Your Organisation for Group of Supports](../../setup-and-configuration/services-configuration/group-supports-setup.md) Comprehensive group support configuration ### [Add Group Support Services to Roadmap - Day Programs](../../features/circle-of-care/adding-group-services-roadmap.md) Adding group services to participant roadmaps --- ## Service Delivery ### [Creating Group Appointments](../../features/scheduling-rostering/group-appointments.md) Scheduling services for multiple participants at once **Key features:** Bulk participant assignment, recurring schedules ### [Documenting Group Progress Notes](../../features/progress-notes/group-services.md) Recording service delivery for group activities ### [Using Templates for Daily Activity Services](../../setup-and-configuration/services-configuration/daily-activity-templates.md) Streamline documentation with templates --- ## Key Concepts **Group Support** = Services delivered to multiple participants simultaneously **Examples:** Day programs, social groups, life skills workshops, community outings **Individual vs Group:** - **Individual Service:** One staff member, one participant - **Group Service:** One or more staff, multiple participants at once **NDIS Group Categories:** - **Group-Based Activities** (Core) - **Centre-Based Activities** (Core) - **Life Skills Development** (Capacity Building - Group) **Ratio:** Staff-to-participant ratio (affects pricing) **Common ratios:** 1:5, 1:10, 1:15 --- ## Group Support Workflow ### 1. Organisation Setup - Create group service types - Define typical activities (art class, community outing, social group) - Set staff ratios - Configure pricing (NDIS group rates) ### 2. Participant Setup - Add group service to participant roadmaps - Assign to specific program days - Set individual participant start/end dates ### 3. Scheduling - Create **group appointments** with multiple participants - Assign staff based on ratio requirements - Set up recurring schedules (e.g., every Monday) - Specify location and activity details ### 4. Service Delivery - Staff facilitate group activity - Note individual participant engagement - Document goals progress for each participant - Track attendance ### 5. Documentation - Create **group progress notes** covering all participants - Include individual observations for each participant - Document activity delivered - Record outcomes and engagement ### 6. Invoicing - Generate claims for each participant - NDIS group rates apply (lower than individual) - Claims based on attendance and hours - Export to accounting --- ## Types of Group Services ### Day Programs **Description:** Regular programs for participants during the day **Examples:** Life skills development, social participation, therapeutic activities **Frequency:** Daily or weekly **NDIS Category:** Group-Based Activities, Centre-Based Activities ### Community Outings **Description:** Group excursions and community participation **Examples:** Shopping trips, museum visits, recreational activities **Frequency:** Ad hoc or regular **NDIS Category:** Participation in Community, Social & Civic Activities ### Life Skills Workshops **Description:** Skill-building programs for multiple participants **Examples:** Cooking classes, computer skills, money management **Frequency:** Workshop series or ongoing programs **NDIS Category:** Group-Based Training - Life Skills ### Social Groups **Description:** Social interaction and peer support **Examples:** Social clubs, hobby groups, peer support meetings **Frequency:** Weekly or fortnightly **NDIS Category:** Social & Community Participation --- ## NDIS Group Service Pricing **Key Principle:** Group services have lower per-participant rates than individual services **Factors Affecting Price:** - **Ratio:** More participants = lower rate per person - **Service type:** Different categories have different price limits - **Location:** Metropolitan vs regional vs remote - **Day/time:** Weekday, evening, weekend, public holiday **Example (indicative only):** - Individual community participation: $62.17/hour - Group 1:5 ratio community participation: ~$12.44/hour per participant - Group 1:10 ratio: Even lower per participant **Always check current NDIS Price Guide for accurate rates** --- ## Attendance Tracking **Importance:** Only invoice for participants who actually attended **Best Practice:** 1. Create appointment with all enrolled participants 2. During service delivery, note who attended 3. When creating progress notes, document attendance 4. Only claim for attended participants 5. Keep attendance records for audit **In Comm.care:** - Group appointments show all assigned participants - Progress notes indicate which participants were present - Invoice only reflects attended services --- ## Documentation Requirements ### Group Progress Notes Must Include: ✅ Activity delivered (what the group did) ✅ Individual participant observations (how each person engaged) ✅ Goals progress for each participant ✅ Staff members who facilitated ✅ Attendance (who was present) ✅ Duration and location ✅ Any incidents or noteworthy events **Template Benefits:** - Consistent structure across sessions - Prompts for individual observations - Efficient documentation - Audit-ready format --- ## Staffing Considerations ### Staff-to-Participant Ratios: - **1:5 ratio:** Higher intensity support, more individual attention - **1:10 ratio:** Moderate support, structured activities - **1:15+ ratio:** Lower support needs, social activities **Factors Determining Ratio:** - Participant support needs - Activity complexity and risk - NDIS plan specifications - Organizational policy - Regulatory requirements **In Comm.care:** - Assign appropriate number of staff to group appointments - Track actual staff present in progress notes - Monitor staff allocation for capacity planning --- ## Common Challenges & Solutions **Challenge:** Participants have different goals **Solution:** Document individual observations within group note showing how activity addresses each person's goals **Challenge:** Variable attendance **Solution:** Only invoice for participants who attended; maintain waitlist for openings **Challenge:** Complex scheduling **Solution:** Use recurring group appointments; adjust individual participants as needed **Challenge:** Staff rostering for groups **Solution:** Assign staff to group appointments based on qualifications and ratio requirements --- ## Compliance & Audit ### Required Documentation: - Service agreements specifying group participation - Attendance records - Individual participant progress within group context - Staff qualifications and ratios met - Incident reports (if applicable) ### NDIS Requirements: - Correct group pricing applied - Evidence of participant choice (opted into group program) - Individual goals addressed - Appropriate supervision and support --- ## Benefits of Group Services **For Participants:** - Social connection and peer support - Skill development in group settings - Community participation - Often more affordable than individual support **For Providers:** - Efficient use of staff time - Ability to serve more participants - Specialized programs and facilities - Community building **For Outcomes:** - Social skills development - Reduced isolation - Skill generalization (learning with peers) - Community inclusion --- ## Related Topics - [Creating Group Appointments](../../features/scheduling-rostering/) - [Documenting Group Progress Notes](../../features/progress-notes/) - [NDIS Services](../ndis/) - Group service pricing - [Scheduling & Rostering](../../features/scheduling-rostering/) --- [Need to raise a request? 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