Cocoon SDA Care-linked NDIS service provider Crescent Disability Service under investigation

Crescent Disability Services’ director Moaz ‘Jay’ Ibrahim had conceded the NDIS provider is struggling to pay staff and care for clients as several authorities investigate its operations.

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Severely disabled people are being neglected by an NDIS business with ties to disgraced provider Cocoon, according to accusations made to authorities.

Crescent Disability Services is also under investigation for alleged failure to pay wages, this masthead can reveal.

Last month Cocoon was banned from the NDIS for serious misconduct, but shortly before that its management had encouraged clients to move to Crescent — owned by Cocoon’s executive director, Pranay Kumar.

The clients were told in a letter that there would be “continuity in the high standard of care you receive.”

However, on the weekend, accusations were made to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission that Crescent’s service standards are far from high.

Crescent Disability Services sole director Moaz ‘Jay’ Ibrahim. Source: Facebook

The neglect allegations include that NDIS participants have missed medications and been left without support.

Meanwhile accusations have been made to the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) that some Crescent workers haven’t received fortnightly salaries for at least a month – despite getting pay slips indicating their wages were deposited.

“The Fair Work Ombudsman is investigating Crescent Disability Services,” an FWO spokeswoman told this masthead. “It is not appropriate to comment further.”

Crescent’s sole director Moaz ‘Jay’ Ibrahim acknowledged in an internal note sent on Monday that the business hadn’t met obligations to clients or workers.

“Crescent has been under increasing financial pressure in recent months,” Mr Ibrahim’s note, seen by this masthead, said.

“Historic debts, limited access to credit, and delays in (National Disability Insurance Agency) funding have significantly impacted our ability to sustain operations.

“This has, at times, affected our ability to meet payroll and deliver the high-quality support our participants expect and deserve,” Mr Ibrahim said.

Severely disabled people are being neglected by an NDIS business with ties to disgraced provider Cocoon, according to accusations made to authorities.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission said it was “looking into” Crescent “as part of a broader, multi-agency investigation” into all organisations associated with Cocoon’s parent company Horizon SolSolutions.

It didn’t answer specific questions about the allegations of neglect.

The commission said it couldn’t provide more information as the investigation was ongoing.

The NDIA said “we are closely monitoring the actions of companies that are potentially linked to banned provider Horizon SolSolutions/Cocoon SDA Care and where necessary, we have implemented strict manual payment reviews.”

Horizon went into liquidation after Cocoon was banned from the NDIS.

Mr Ibrahim’s internal note went on to say Crescent had been purchased by Dynamic Disability Services.

He wrote: “Dynamic Disability Services … will begin working with many of our existing participants under new service agreements.”

No registered company with that name exists, but it’s understood Mr Ibrahim was referring to Disability Dynamics.

In a statement, Disability Dynamics said it “knows the carers and those being cared for have choice, so Disability Dynamics is committed to being their trusted care provider and employer going forward.”

Ward Sheehan, founder of quality assurance business Ethical Tick, questioned whether Crescent was offering participants “genuine choice to explore alternative providers.

Mr Ibrahim was repeatedly contacted for comment.

The corporate regulator’s register is yet to record the sale of Crescent.

Mr Kumar could not be contacted for comment.