It can be very stressful for people living with disabilities to traverse through the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), as it can be truly overwhelming due to the long and tedious process. That is exactly why many people rely on professionals like support coordinators. These professionals play an important role in making the participants of NDIS understand the benefits of NDIS and help them plan through the process efficiently. They help beneficiaries in multiple ways by connecting them with the right services, managing funding, and building their independence to help them get the most out of their NDIS plans. Let’s explore the role of a support coordinator in the NDIS process to help you get the right support for your requirements.
Understanding NDIS Support Coordination
NDIS Support Coordination can help the participants of the NDIS scheme get the most out of their funding by forming a bridge between people living with disabilities and the providers of NDIS services. This helps the participants get the kind of care and support that they are looking for in a personalised manner. Support coordination is not usually connected to an NDIS plan, as everything depends on the necessary personal condition and situation of a participant and the level of support they need.
What is NDIS Support Coordination?
NDIS Support Coordination, in essence, is a capacity-building service, that helps NDIS participants get a clear understanding of the plans. The objective of NDIS support is to provide adequate guidance and support when it comes to helping a person living with disabilities make informed decisions regarding the kind of care and services they need. There are three stages or levels of support coordination. It starts with a support connection, which involves short-term assistance, and then support coordination provides detailed service. If you’re looking for expert guidance, a Support Coordinator in Newcastle can help you navigate the process effectively. Specialist support coordination helps participants in the higher levels where they provide barrier resolution services.
What Does a Support Coordinator Do?
A support coordinator provides personalised assistance to NDIS participants on the basis of their targets and requirements. The core objective is to ensure that the NDIS funding is used properly.
Responsibilities of a Support Coordinator
The support coordinator is primarily engaged in making the participants get detailed information about the NDIS funding and support options. They connect the participants with the right service providers. They also make sure that all the support services work together to handle the needs of the participant comprehensively. They also help in building the capacity of the participants and handle all kinds of crises by adjusting the services.
Funding & Access to Support Coordination
Support Coordination is one of the additional services which can be integrated through an NDIS plan. Complementary services like support coordination can truly help participants find a path to the right kind of services based on their unique requirements. These services are designed to assist individuals with disabilities who find it difficult to maintain their policies on their own.
Does the NDIS Cover Support Coordination?
Yes, for certain eligible participants, NDIS does cover support coordination, even though it is not included in a default manner in every plan. Support Coordination funds fall under the category of capacity building and are assigned after considering the individual’s requirement level. To get the right kind of funding for support coordination, the NDIS participant must showcase that they need assistance for plan management, multiple provider coordinating or overcoming barriers to access the right kinds of services. Once you showcase your specific requirements thoroughly, it becomes easy to get access to support coordination funds.
How to Include Support Coordination in Your NDIS Plan?
If you think you will require the assistance of support coordination, you can ask for it during your NDIS plan meeting or when your NDIS plan is being reviewed. Here’s how you can do so:
Explain why you need support coordination. You can do so by reflecting on the obstacles you’re facing while attempting to manage your NDIS plans and services. Additionally, you can provide documents in support of the demand you’re making by getting reports from healthcare professionals as evidence. Explain how support coordination can help in achieving your desired goals under the NDIS scheme and if your current plan does not include support coordination, you can request a review of your plan to get it integrated into your service plans.
Specialist Support Coordination vs. Standard Support Coordination
As we have discussed earlier, there are various types of support coordination and it is important to learn the difference to be able to judge which one is right for you.
Differences Between a Support Coordinator & a Specialist Support Coordinator
While a support coordinator assists in managing a plan generally and helps in connecting the NDIS participant with the right kind of services, a specialist support coordinator works with individuals who have unique needs that are complex in nature. A specialist support coordinator usually works with those individuals who have multiple disabilities and mental health challenges or difficulties in terms of housing and, therefore, require a higher level of support. These coordinators create a bridge between the individual and the allied health professionals, government agencies, crisis intervention services and other institutions to ensure that all the issues are handled in a comprehensive and integrated manner. Therefore, if an individual faces such issues and requires greater assistance, they must reach out to a specialist support coordinator.
Additional Responsibilities of a Specialist Support Coordinator
Along with the basic responsibilities, a Specialist Support Coordinator can have additional responsibilities such as:
Help the participants overcome complex barriers and obstacles such as homelessness or legal conflicts. They can keep coordination between various agencies such as healthcare service providers, allied health professionals, social work organisations, and more. In cases of emergencies that the participants may face, specialist support coordinators can come up with crisis management plans to deal with them effectively. They also ensure that high-risk and vulnerable cases are handled with care in cases where there are multiple disabilities.
Accessing Support Coordination Services
It is extremely important to find the right support coordinator to ensure that the NDIS plan is managed effectively without any stress or hassle. While selecting a support coordinator, you must look for multiple things. One of the first and most important considerations is the experience and qualification of the support coordinator. They must also have a specialisation in dealing with the specific disabilities you are dealing with so that they can understand you better and create a meticulously personalised plan for you. You can also go through the reviews and feedback from other participants who have worked with the said support coordinator.
How Victorian Home & Community Care Can Assist with Support Coordination
Our team at Victorian Home and Community Care is trained to handle all kinds of NDIS Support Coordination services to ensure that the individuals dealing with disabilities under the NDIS scheme manage their plans efficiently. We provide personalised support due to the unique needs of the individuals and their struggles. We also help you connect with the right service providers who understand your needs and provide you with appropriate support. We also provide you with the right advice regarding managing your NDIS funds in an effective manner. We provide advocacy and crisis support to all our participants. We are here to assist you at every step.
