So you have funding for the Coordinator of Supports? You have funds for the support coordinator, then. The best location to learn more is right here!
If your initial NDIS plan included funds for “coordination of support,” but you’re not sure what that implies, you’ve come to the correct spot! To help you enter your plan with confidence, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of the disability assistance coordinator in this blog.
Coordinator of NDIS support for people with disabilities is done by a support coordinator.
NDIS money for support coordinators is given on a case-by-case basis, frequently only for brief periods when you initially begin your plan or experience a substantial change in circumstances.
What does a support coordinator do?
The primary role of the NDIS support coordinator is to help you understand how your NDIS plan works and implement your support.
The ideal person to discuss your plan with is a support coordinator, since they are knowledgeable about NDIS planning. Their job is to make your plan as easy to understand as possible and to match you with service providers to provide the support you need in a way that works for you.
A support coordinator’s job is to provide you with the knowledge and abilities you need to comprehend your plan and make decisions about it, not to take away your autonomy. Having assistance from a support coordinator can help you become more independent and realise your long-term objectives.
Another role that a support coordinator plays is helping to connect you with the right disability support services in your local area. This is a crucial position since they can ensure that you receive the appropriate disability support services for your needs.
How do I know it’s right for me?
There are many benefits to receiving personal support from a qualified NDIS support coordinator. If you have been allocated funding for coordination of supports (support coordination) under your NDIS plan, this means that your local area coordinator or NDIA representative considers this support important to help you achieve your goals.
An experienced team believes that everyone has the right to make decisions about their own lives. Our experienced and qualified NDIS Support Coordinators care about connecting you with the best disability support services and providing support throughout your NDIS journey.
Our support coordinator will help get you closer to achieving your goals by ensuring you communicate with your service providers, prepare you for upcoming plan reviews, and assist you when you need it.
You must be able to comprehend your NDIS plan in order to benefit the most from it. So the support coordinator will communicate with you in a language that you understand, so that you can decide on your plan.
There are nine things that your support coordinator wants you to know.
Our funds may be used for a variety of things, and a support coordinator’s responsibility is to help us understand the NDIS, connect with support services, and do that.
Support coordinators come in different funding levels.
You may have funding for a support coordinator in your NDIS plan. If you do, it would fall under the “capacity building” financing area. When it comes to funding the coordinator, there are three levels:
Level 1: Support Coordinator
This kind of support coordinator concentrates on connecting you with support, as the name would imply. They may also assist you in comprehending your strategy and putting up the necessary papers for the NDIA.
Level 2: Coordinator of Support
This level focuses on supporting participants to direct their lives, not just their services. This is done by helping you develop and maintain your formal and informal support.
This level includes all the support from Level 1, but can also help you design methods of support, help with crisis support, and build capacity and resilience.
Therefore, whether you are more of a “DIY” person or already have a support coordinator, we spoke to various support coordinators who provided their best advice for navigating the NDIS.
Level 3: Expert Support Coordinator
This level is used when the participant’s needs are complex or there is a high level of risk. Any support coordinator working at this level is an expert in their field.
The NDIS is there to help.
The first thing any good support coordinator would like to tell you is that the NDIS is nothing to be afraid of. It exists to make people’s lives better. Though it is still fairly new, attempting to understand it might be scary.
Please ask questions.
There is no limit to the number of questions you can ask. You must understand your plan and the options available to you so that you can make the right decision. If you use your money carefully, you can get the most out of your NDIS plan. Even if you are visually or hard of hearing, or have an intellectual disability that affects your understanding, a support coordinator should be able to answer your questions in a way that you can understand.
Choose the right person to represent you and ensure they are registered as your nominee. A person called a “nominee” can act on your behalf to negotiate your NDIS funding plan.
Whether it is your mother, father, uncle, sister, or anyone else you choose, they need to complete the proper paperwork to become your registered nominee. To do this, they can fill out a form on the NDIS website.
You are not locked into your NDIS plan.
Once you have received your NDIS plan, it is not a signed, sealed, or delivered contract. There are many ways to ask for reviews and request changes. The more information and evidence you have at your review meeting, the stronger your chances of approval for additional funding or support changes. Talk to your relevant doctor and request their expert opinion in a report format. If they don’t help you make your case, get a second opinion. Then make sure to make it easy for your reviewer by mapping everything out and keeping it as concise as possible.
A good support coordinator can help you put together a case for making the change.
Flexibility in how you use your funding
The NDIS funding categories have been designed in a way that allows for some flexibility. Sure, they’re not flexible, but you might be surprised by some of the different ways your funds can be used. It’s your support coordinator’s job to make sure you’re getting the most out of your funding, and they’re often the best people to help you with this.
Choose the best provider for you.
Before you choose a new service provider, it is good to get recommendations or research whether they are reputable and have a legitimate reason to be in the industry. Also, don’t feel locked out if you sign a service agreement. Remember who you’re in control of and who you want to use?
You and your funds are safe.
The NDIS Safety and Quality Commission is a neutral body where you can report fraud and abuse or lodge a complaint about a provider. They offer some great resources for participants and can give you advice if you have any concerns about how your funds are being used.
Take advantage of support coordinator services.
Working with a support coordinator gives you the benefit of their knowledge. They can help you get the most out of your plan and choose the best providers to help you. It is powerful to have someone who knows how the NDIS works. Who can advocate on your behalf and who understands your specific support needs and life aspirations? They may be the best person to help you review your plan, as your needs are always changing to get the most out of your NDIS funds.
