Justice for Ann-Marie as Integrity Care is banned

Integrity Care (SA) has officially been banned by the NDIS commission following the harrowing death of care recipient Ms Ann-Marie Smith.

In April of this year, it was found that Ms Smith, a 54 year old South Australian woman with cerebral palsy, had been left in inhumane conditions despite receiving constant in-home care. When paramedics conducted a welfare check in her home, she was found malnourished and covered in bed sores, despite being the recipient of full-time care, six hours a day, seven days a week.

Having been moved from the state based Disability SA, to Integrity Care in 2018 with the introduction of the NDIS, it is believed that at the time she was found, she had been sitting in the same woven chair for over a year. As public outcry mounted, the NDIS Commission mounted an investigation into Integrity Care and have made the decision to ban them from operating any further.

“Integrity Care was advised in early June 2020 of the intention to revoke the organisation’s registration and to ban it from operating, and was given an opportunity to respond,” said Mr Graeme Head, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner.

“There are very clear requirements under the NDIS Act as to how the NDIS Commission takes compliance actions, so that decisions are made with due process. This includes giving ample opportunity for the party subject to these actions to respond.”

Since the tragic death of Ms Smith, and the commencement of the investigation into Integrity Care, the NDIS Commission issued a compliance notice to Integrity Care which required them to conduct physical welfare checks on all NDIS participants they support, employing “independant, suitably qualified health professional(s)”.

Once the banning order comes into effect, Integrity Care will no longer be allowed to provide NDIS-funded support or services to anyone in the NDIS.

As of August 14th, Integrity Care had their NDIS registration revoked, and from August 21st, the banning order will come into full effect. In the meantime, the NDIS and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will be working together to support any NDIS participants who were receiving care through Integrity Care, and assist in finding and securing alternative care arrangements.

Photo Credit- SA Police