Duty of care in practice for independent support workers
What duty of care means for independent NDIS support workers: balancing it with dignity of risk and choice, risk assessment, documentation, and when to escalate.
What duty of care actually means
Duty of care vs dignity of risk
Getting the balance right: informed choice
Risk assessment doesn't have to be complicated
Documentation: your quiet protection
When to escalate — and to whom
Bringing it together
Frequently asked questions
What is duty of care in support work?
Duty of care is your responsibility to take reasonable steps to avoid foreseeable harm to the people you support. It flows through the NDIS Code of Conduct's requirement to provide supports safely and competently. The standard is 'reasonable' — acting as a careful, competent worker would — not guaranteeing nothing ever…
Can I stop a participant doing something risky using duty of care?
Usually no. NDIS support respects choice, control and dignity of risk — a participant's right to make their own informed choices, including risky ones. Duty of care means helping make their choice safer, not overriding it. Explain the risks, explore ways to reduce them, then support the person's informed decision.
What is dignity of risk?
Dignity of risk is the principle that people with disability have the same right as anyone to make their own choices, including ones that carry risk. Being disabled doesn't remove that right. Good support helps someone take the risks they choose as safely as reasonably possible, rather than preventing them 'for their…
How do I balance duty of care with a participant's choices?
Use informed choice as the bridge. Make sure the person understands the risk, work with them to reduce it, respect their decision, support them to act on it safely, and document the conversation. This respects their autonomy while still exercising reasonable care — the two work together, not against each other.
Do I need to document duty of care decisions?
Yes, especially for anything risky or unusual. Note the risks you identified, steps you took, dignity-of-risk conversations, any incidents, and anything you escalated. Good, timely, factual notes show you acted reasonably if a decision is ever questioned. Store them securely and in line with privacy obligations.
When should I escalate a concern?
Escalate when something is beyond your role or training, when you notice a decline needing professional attention, or when you see signs of abuse, neglect or exploitation. Depending on the situation, contact the participant's family, support coordinator, GP, emergency services, or the NDIS Commission. For immediate…