Support Coordination: What it is and what it shouldn’t be…
Once your plan has been approved, your Support Coordinator will support you to make the most out of your funds. They are the link that brings you together with people who will support you to achieve your goals.
Support Coordination is broken into 3 major functions:
1. Understand your plan and have intimate knowledge of the best way to use your funding.
Your Support Coordinator will have a very detailed knowledge of the NDIS price guide and support catalogue and will use this information to ensure you get the maximum use out of your funding. They won’t just tell you what the guide says, but will challenge it and be creative in how you will use the funds.
2. Build your capacity to maximise your ability to exercise choice and control.
Support Coordination is designed to be a temporary support wherever possible. Of course there are going to be situations where that is not a reasonable expectation and it is considered that it would be a slow process. One of the roles of your Support Coordinator is to build your skills so that you can take over the management of your plan and coordinate your own supports. This will maximise your choice and control over your plan. Sound scary? Fear not - you will not be left to yourself until and unless you have the capacity to do so and some people will always need support.
3. Link you with staff who will support you to achieve your goals.
Once your Support Coordinator knows how you want to use your funding, they will start researching providers near to you and will link them to you and get them working with you. They will use a Service Agreement that will outline both the support worker and your responsibilities. The relationship is then between you and your Support Worker. If you are unhappy with the service you are getting from your Support Worker you can speak to your Support Coordinator who will give feedback to them in order to change their behaviour, or will find a new Support Worker who will be a better fit for you.
What should a Support Coordinator NOT do?
There are very strict rules governing the scope of the Support Coordinator role. This is done to remove any confusion about the role.
Support Coordinators are not to:
Sign Service Agreements
Make decisions on your behalf
Create or manager rosters
Plan management
Only recommend 1 choice of provider
Still have questions? For more information on the role of the Support Coordinator, get in touch with us here.
