26 Nov What Is Support Coordination and How Can It Benefit Your NDIS Plan?
What Is Support Coordination and How Can It Benefit Your NDIS Plan?
NDIS participants may have access to a support coordinator as part of their NDIS plan. If you have funding within your plan for a support coordinator, you may be wondering what a support coordinator is and how they can help.
Whether you’re new to NDIS, or your situation has changed – a support coordinator can be a valuable tool in making the most of your NDIS plan.
Here we answer the question: what is support coordination and how it can help you better engage with your supports, community and achieve your goals.
What is a support coordinator?
A support coordinator is a person who can assist you with the organisation and planning of your NDIS supports. They assist NDIS participants to get set up with their supports and ensure you understand the ins and outs of your plan. Essentially, support coordination is a type of support within your plan and is allocated to NDIS participants on a needs basis. This means not everyone will have funding for support coordination.
What does a support coordinator do?
A support coordinator has three main levels of support which can be provided to those who need it. Here’s a breakdown:
- Support Connection
This support is to build your ability to connect with informal, community and funded supports enabling you to get the most out of your plan and pursue your goals. (This level can also be provided by an LAC) - Support Coordination
coordination of supports: This support will assist you to build the skills you need to understand and use your plan. A support coordinator will work with you to ensure a mix of supports are used to increase your capacity to maintain relationships, manage service delivery tasks, live more independently and be included in your community. - Specialist Support Coordination –This is a higher level of support coordination. It is for people whose situations are more complex and who need specialist support. A specialist Support Coordinator will assist you to manage challenges in your support environment and ensuring consistent delivery of service.
How can a support coordinator help me?
As an NDIS participant, you always have a say in the types of supports you receive, including when and how they are received. A support coordinator can assist you in choosing which supports you need and help you understand ways to make the most of these supports. Here’s what you can expect them to do:
- Help you understand your plan
Support coordinators are there to help you understand how your plan works – what services are provided and exactly how they will be delivered. - Support you in building skills and connecting with others
Support coordinators can assist you to gain skills to help you reach your goals and interact with family, friends, and others in the community. - Negotiate with providers to get a good deal
Support coordinators can help you negotiate with service providers to make the most of the services they provide and the ways you receive them. This is especially good if you’re new to NDIS, or just getting started with your plan. - Ensure the smooth running of your plan
Support coordinators are here to make sure all agreements and contracts are fulfilled and honoured. They also check that you’re getting the right level and quality of supports from your NDIS plan. They will also help you plan and prepare for your plan review.
Is a support coordinator different from a plan manager?
Yes. A support coordinator’s role is different from that of an NDIS Plan Manager. A plan manager will focus primarily on the financial side of your plan – as well as ensuring that service providers are paid on time, monthly reporting, and budgeting. They are one of the 4 ways you can choose to run the financial side of your plan. The other three options you have are self-managed, NDIS managed, or a combination of the two.
A support coordinator is there to help you primarily with your service providers and unlike plan managers who can assist anyone within the NDIS, support coordinators are only made available to people who it is deemed reasonable and necessary depending on the situation or disability.
When is support coordination funding made available in an NDIS plan?
How do I choose an NDIS support coordinator?
There are a number of ways you can find a support coordinator:
- Your LAC may suggest a few potential providers
- Your planner or LAC may send a Request for Service to a Support Coordination service provider who is registered with the NDIS
- You can search Provider Finder on the NDIS website.
How do I get started with NDIS?
If you’re completely new here and wondering how to get started, don’t worry, you’re in the right place. Registering for the first time with the NDIS is easy and can be done through the NDIS website here. If you would like to know more about how to register for the NDIS whether you’re eligible, find out more in our article for how do I register for the NDIS?
Budgeting and reporting not your cup of tea? Try NDIS plan management.
Support coordinators are incredibly important in helping you get set up with the right supports. Here at Onboard Supports, as plan managers, we help you with the financial side of your plan. This involves paying your providers on time, helping you access different supports in your plan and budget, and planning on your behalf.
If you think that’s something you could benefit from or you have plan management services included in your NDIS plan, give our friendly team a call now on 0405139143.