SIL registration explained

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is help with daily tasks in a person's home so they can live as independently as possible. It often involves shared supports, overnight support and a high level of trust, which is why it is treated as higher risk.

What that means for registration

Providers delivering SIL are generally assessed through a certification audit — the two-stage process — and are assessed against the SIL Practice Standards in addition to the Core Module.

The Commission has signalled that providers delivering SIL are expected to be registered, with transition arrangements for those already delivering it. Timelines in this area have changed before, so check the Commission's current published information rather than relying on what you have heard. If you are delivering SIL now and have not applied, treat your application as a priority.

The SIL Practice Standards

They are organised around:

• Supported decision-making — people making their own choices about their day, their home, who supports them and who they live with, with support to understand the options
• Safeguarding — recognising and responding to abuse, neglect and exploitation, managing risks between housemates, and making sure people can raise concerns with someone other than the worker involved
• Practice governance — how you oversee the quality of supports across shifts: supervision, handover, monitoring and escalation
• Living arrangements — the home itself: tenancy arrangements, your role in the property, who lives there, shared and individual supports, and the roster of care

What auditors focus on

For a small SIL provider, auditors pay particular attention to what happens when things do not go to plan: an unfilled shift, a conflict between housemates, a worker who has never met the person, or a decision the person makes that carries risk. Being able to describe what you actually do — and show the record — matters more than the length of your procedures.