Support coordination is a type of NDIS-funded support that helps you understand and use your NDIS Plan. It’s part of the Capacity Building budget category, which means it aims to build your skills and confidence so you can manage your supports more independently in the future.
Here at Leap in!, many of our Members find that they can get even more out of their funding with the right guidance. Let’s explore what the role of a support coordinator is and how you may benefit from working with one!
What is the role of a support coordinator?
Support coordinators guide you through the NDIS, helping you understand your plan and make informed decisions about the supports you need. They’re there to simplify the process, address any challenges along the way and build your confidence in managing your own services. They can help you:
- Understand your NDIS Plan
- Make the most of your funding
- Access community and mainstream services
- Build your independence
- Involve family, friends and carers
- Connect with providers
- Help you decide how and when to access supports.
Top tip: Support coordination is a ‘stated support’, meaning it is specifically included in your NDIS Plan and the budget for it is a fixed amount. Because it’s funded as part of your plan, you don’t pay out of pocket for support coordination services.
Helping you understand your NDIS Plan.
Support coordinators understand NDIS budgets, how they can be used and how to plan the use of your supports in a way that suits you. Your support coordinator will work with you to help you understand your NDIS Plan, including:
- The kinds of supports you can use your funding for
- What can or cannot be claimed and how much can be claimed
- How your funding is managed (plan managed, self managed or NDIA managed)
- What other requirements need to be met to access supports such as quotes or assessments
- Help you connect your goals and your NDIS Plan
- How you are tracking towards your goals
- Making adjustments along the way to suit your development and life stages.
Connecting you with the right providers.
Support coordinators are well connected which means they can help you find local providers, services and supports to meet your needs and goals. They can also connect you with non-NDIS supports such as community groups or mainstream supports.
You can work with your support coordinator to:
- Decide how you’d like your supports and services delivered
- Set up a service schedule that matches your goals and needs
- Find and try out different providers to see who’s the best fit for you.
What is a Service Agreement?
A Service Agreement is a written document that outlines the supports to be provided and their cost. The agreement also outlines the relationship between you and a provider and ensures you and your provider understand your rights and responsibilities.
Your support coordinator can help you set up Service Agreements and service bookings with each of your providers.
Setting up and tracking your supports.
By regularly checking in with you and your providers, your support coordinator can help you stay on track and make sure you get the most from your supports. To maintain your supports, you can get help from your support coordinator to:
- Check how your current supports are working
- Plan for unexpected changes, like a provider cancelling a service
- Sort out any concerns with your providers
Find new providers or help you switch providers if the need arises.
Building your skills and independence.
A support coordinator’s goal is to help you build the skills and confidence you need to manage your own plan over time. They’ll help you explore different ways you can exercise choice and control, find providers that suit your needs and communicate how you’d like your supports delivered.
Your support coordinator won’t make decisions for you. Instead, they’ll give you the information and options you need to decide what’s right for you. By gradually building your independence, you’ll feel more confident and empowered to manage your plan and supports in the future.
Want to know more about support coordination?
Download our FREE ebook Navigating the NDIS with Support Coordination for more information about what support coordination is, how it works and how you can find the right support coordinator for you.
