Questions to Ask About High-Intensity Support (Training, Safety & Evidence)
The high intensity support questions that matter: training, competency evidence, nurse oversight, safety and escalation, and what to ask first.
When a support carries clinical risk — bowel care, tube feeding, catheter care, injections, seizure response — the person delivering it needs to be more than kind and experienced. They need to be trained and assessed for your exact task, with a nurse behind them. This guide gives you the questions to ask before support starts, so you can tell a genuinely prepared worker apart from one who is…
Why the right questions matter
Questions about training and competency
Questions about the plan they'll follow
Questions about nurse oversight and escalation
Questions about safety checks and records
Questions about backup and continuity
Red-flag answers to watch for
Where to go next
Frequently asked questions
What questions should I ask before high-intensity support starts?
Ask how the worker was trained and assessed for your specific task, which registered nurse oversees them, what written plan they will follow, how they record care, and what they would do in an emergency. Good answers are specific and documented; vague reassurance is a warning sign.
How do I know a support worker is actually competent for a high-risk task?
Competency means they have been formally assessed as able to perform your exact task safely, mapped to the NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors, not just that they have done it before. Ask who signed off their competency, for which task, and when it was last reviewed.
What does registered-nurse oversight actually mean?
It means a registered nurse assesses the worker's competency, sets up or reviews the task-specific plan, and is available to guide, check and escalate care. The worker delivers the day-to-day support, but the clinical responsibility and troubleshooting sit with the nurse behind them.
What should I do if a worker seems unsure about a high-intensity task?
A safe worker stops, follows the plan, and contacts the supervising nurse rather than improvising. If a worker regularly guesses, skips steps, or will not involve the nurse, that is a serious red flag; raise it with the provider and, if needed, the NDIS Commission.
What written plans should be in place for high-intensity support?
There should be a task-specific plan written by the right clinician, such as a bowel management, mealtime, seizure, or manual handling plan, that your worker follows every time. It should be current, easy to find, and reviewed whenever your needs change.
Related guides
- High-Intensity Supports on the NDIS: A Participant & Family Guide
- NDIS Community Nursing: How to Get Nursing Care at Home
- How to Get Community Nursing Funded in Your NDIS Plan
- Registered Nurse, Delegated Care or Support Worker: Who Can Do What
- Diabetes Management on the NDIS: Support at Home
- How the NDIS Funds Insulin & Blood Glucose Support