What to expect from your NDIS Support Coordinator

January 1, 2021

If you’re new to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or have undergone a recent change in circumstances that has led you to receive funding for NDIS Coordination of Supports (Support Coordination) for the first time, you’re likely wondering what it’s all about.

Just like many other supports you receive as part of your NDIS plan, support coordination plays an important role in capacity building and helping you work towards achieving your goals.

In this blog we’ll cover some of the most common questions surrounding NDIS support coordination so you can head into your first meeting with confidence.

What does a NDIS Support Coordinator do?

The role of a Support Coordinator can be varied and requires skills in relationship building, crisis and issues management experience and a thorough understanding of the NDIS.

Your Support Coordinators role is primarily to connect you with service providers in the community that are best suited to deliver the supports you need within your plan. 

In addition to building these connections, your Support Coordinator will also assist with any conflicts or issues that may arise with your service providers, acting as a liaison on your behalf to resolve any concerns including ending relationships with providers if required. 

Their role also involved a degree of education and training. To ensure you understand how your plan and supports work, your Support Coordinator will take the time to go through the NDIS areas of support that are relevant for you.

Due to the role’s varied and specialised nature, NDIS Support Coordinator qualifications often include fields such as allied health or certifications in disability support, welfare work or similar.

How does a Support Coordinator differ from a Plan Manager?

Although both roles ultimately provide you with NDIS support services that work towards achieving your goals, the ways in which these services are delivered is quite different.

Plan management is all about how you choose to look after the financial aspect of your NDIS plan funds, and support coordination is assisting putting your plan into action with the right services providers and managing ongoing relationships with providers.

Here is a comparison of the main duties of each role:

As you can see, there are some similarities between the roles however where a Plan Manager is focused on managing your plan funds, a Support Coordinator helps you to get the best possible results from your plan through relationships the right service providers.

Finding the right NDIS Support Coordinator for you

Much like many of your other NDIS funded supports, part of what makes your disability supports beneficial to achieving your goals is the relationships you build with your service providers.

If you engage a Support Coordinator who understands your needs, takes the time to listen to what you want and is pleasant to work with, you’re much more likely to enjoy the service you receive from them.

If you aren’t completely satisfied with the service you get from your Support Coordinator, or you’re still on the hunt for someone suitable, here are some things to consider:

• What aspects are important to you? If your disability makes it difficult to travel far to meet with your Support Coordinator or you find it difficult to work within their schedule, it may be best to consider finding someone more suitable in the location closer to you. Alternatively, you may prefer to work with someone who has lived experience with your particular disability to better establish mutual understanding and improve communication. 

• What type of relationship do you feel most comfortable with? Everyone has different preferences for their relationships with service providers so it’s best to establish this understanding early on and find out what you’re comfortable with. If shared interests are important to you when developing a relationship with your service providers, we recommend engaging someone who you get along with on a personal level. This is a great way to build trust.

• How is their knowledge of the NDIS pertaining to your disability and needs? Depending on how much experience each Support Coordinator has within their role and with different types of disabilities and NDIS plans, some people may be more suitable to assist you than others. It’s worth asking about previous experience, qualifications and skills. 

• What success have you had with other clients? If you’re looking for a Support Coordinator who has previous experience achieving great outcomes for clients, it’s a great idea to ask for some examples of how they have helped others to achieve their goals. This is also a good way to see how creative and/or hard working your Support Coordinator is with their clients!

If you’re based in South-east Queensland and are looking for a NDIS Support Coordinator that will take the time to understand your needs and work hard to reach your goals, get in touch with the team at Disability Plan Services today!