When it comes to navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), support coordinators play an important role in helping participants and families make the most of their plans. These professionals can assist you in understanding, implementing, and managing your plans effectively, ensuring that you receive the disability support needed to help achieve goals and improve your quality of life.
What Is NDIS Support Coordination?
NDIS Support Coordination is a service designed to help you get the most out of your NDIS plans. Funding for support coordination is allocated depending on the support required and is divided into three levels which can be used to cover:
- Support Connection – This support is designed to help you connect with informal, community and funded supports to get the most out of your plan and pursue your goals.
- Coordination of Supports – At this level, support coordinators assist you with building the skills to understand and use your plan. They’ll work with you to ensure a variety of supports are used to increase your capacity to manage relationships, and service delivery and be more involved in the community.
- Specialist Support Coordination – This is a higher level of support coordination for participants with more complex situations and need specialist support. A specialist support coordinator will help with managing challenges in your environment and ensure consistent service delivery.
The main goals of support coordination include capacity building, connecting participants to necessary services, and empowering them to manage their supports independently in the future.
What Services Can I Purchase With My Funding?
The funding allocated for support coordination in your NDIS plan can be used to cover a variety of services, including:
- Assistance in understanding and implementing your NDIS plan.
- Connection to informal, community, and funded supports.
- Coordination of supports to achieve your goals.
- Crisis support and service coordination.
- Capacity building for greater independence.
The Responsibilities Of An NDIS Support Coordinator
Support coordinators perform a variety of tasks to help you utilise your NDIS plans effectively. Their responsibilities include:
- Helping you understand your NDIS plan and the purpose behind each support.
- Assisting with identifying your goals with the services available.
- Facilitating connections with various service providers to meet your needs.
- Empowering you to manage your own supports and develop independence.
- Providing help during crises to ensure that you receive consistent and appropriate support.
- Keeping track of your funding and helping prepare you for NDIS reviews.
Am I Eligible For Coordination Of Supports
Eligibility for support coordination is determined by the NDIS based on participant needs. This is typically applicable for situations in which participants require assistance in managing their NDIS plan and coordinating multiple supports. Where reasonable and necessary, support coordination can be included as part of your Capacity Building budget to be used by the coordinator in helping you use your plan. It is essential to discuss your needs with your NDIS planner to determine if support coordination is required.
Maximising Your NDIS Plan
An NDIS support coordinator is important for helping participants understand and implement their NDIS plans, connect with necessary services and build their capacity. They can enable participants to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life with personalised support and guidance. If you’re eligible for support coordination and want to make the most of your plan, reach out to your local NDIS planner for help with navigating your disability support journey.