You may have already considered becoming a Support Coordinator if you are considering a career as a caregiver or changing your role in this rewarding industry. You may also have heard of the role from people who are already receiving care or perhaps even met a Support Coordinator. This role is multifaceted. Many institutions have different views of the Support Coordinator, their duties and responsibilities, and how a typical day might look for them.
We’ll be taking a closer look at this rewarding and multifaceted job role. This will help both NDIS caregivers and recipients to understand the role better.
What does a Support Coordinator do? What are the responsibilities of a Support Coordinator?
The Support Coordinator’s role is relatively new. Training for new employees is a relatively new role. For new Support Coordinators, this can be a problem as they may not know how to set boundaries and could end up doing tasks that aren’t within their job description. This can lead to burnout and compromise the quality of the services they offer.
Let’s now take a closer look into the roles and responsibilities of NDIS Support Coordinator Providers.
The NDIS Price guide provides a useful overview of Support Coordinators’ roles. The following are the roles of Support Coordinators as defined in this guide:
Connection
The participant’s Support Coordinator acts as their point of contact. They assist participants with their knowledge and experiences, as well as help them to make connections in their local community. They can also refer participants to other support systems and assist them in obtaining referrals.
Support Design
Participants may find it difficult to understand Plan Funding. Participants will be assisted by a Support Coordinator to help them better understand the Plan Funding and its implications. They help participants to understand their abilities, confidence, and skills and to determine what support services they need. After gaining a solid understanding of the participants’ needs, they can design and implement support solutions to help them achieve their goals.
Establish Support
A Support Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that participants are aware of all available options. They help participants connect to NDIS and other support options. It is also the job of the Support Coordinator to help participants implement their support and action plans to their satisfaction if it is possible.
Crisis Resolution
As well as helping to resolve crises, support coordinators can also help participants build a resilient support network.
Coach, Refine, and Reflect
Participants are guided by a Support Coordinator who reviews their progress and reports on the outcomes. This allows participants to reflect on their NDIS journey and plan for their future.
That’s a lot, as you can see.
Is it possible for our Support Coordinators to cover everything? As with most NDIS support staff, the Support Coordinators get paid hourly as needed. This is for as long as participants have funding. Most participants don’t have enough funding to cover all the above. Participants’ funding ends and there is no obligation to support them again unless it is a breach of the duty of care.
A good strategy for new Support coordinators is to take some time at the start of a plan and honestly and openly discuss their goals regarding their funding allocation. This keeps participants’ expectations realistic while ensuring they receive the best possible support.
Once they have established this, participants and support coordinators can collaborate to determine which outcomes and services are most important to them. They will also be able to establish clear expectations.
Pro-tip for new Support Coordinators
It’s a good idea to spend some time in the bank, whenever possible, to support participants as they prepare for their plan review. This will allow participants to continue receiving support after the relationship ends with the Support Coordinator.
Remember that not all participants will have funding for support coordination after the Plan Review. Or at the very minimum, it could be significantly less. This is the role of Support Coordinators, who ensure that participants feel supported and empowered after they have to part ways.
As long as they are invited, Support Coordinators may attend planning meetings.
What does a Support Coordinator do?
Support Coordinators are passionate, obliging professionals who truly care about providing the best possible care for their patients. The Support Coordinator role is still fairly new, so there may be some ambiguities about the duties that Support Coordinators can and cannot perform under NDIS guidelines. It doesn’t matter if you are thinking about becoming one, or if you think you might need one, it is worth learning what they can and cannot do.
Direct supports
Just that is what Support Coordination funds do. Support Coordination. They cannot provide the same level of support as core budgets.
Signing service agreement
Participants can ask Support Coordinators for assistance in signing service agreements. This is not something they should or can do. If a service agreement is signed by someone not legally authorized to do so, it is invalid. However, support coordinators can play an important role in reviewing service contracts and ensuring they meet the participants’ goals and needs.
Plan Management
Support Coordinators who work for providers that also offer Plan Management need to clearly define the roles. This will ensure that the Support Coordinator’s time is used properly. They are not allowed to perform administrative tasks such as invoice processing that are covered by Plan Management fees.
Intake processes and Rosters
Many organizations offer both direct support and coordination to participants. Remember to use the Support Coordinators’ hours responsibly. This does not include the administration of support, rostering, or intake.
Can I receive support coordination?
A Support Coordinator can make a huge difference to participants of all ages. You may be wondering if you’re eligible for Support Coordination if you are a participant.
Anybody can apply for Support Coordination. It is included in your NDIS package if it is considered “reasonable” and necessary. It is best to speak to your NDIS provider to determine if you are eligible. Your NDIS goals and plan objectives will be used to determine the final decision. If you have more complex or severe needs, specialist support coordinators may be available.
We recommend speaking to your care provider if you believe you could benefit from this service. Get in touch with us if you are an NDIS care provider to discuss Support Coordination.
What can I expect from a Support Coordinator?
Expectations are essential. Expectations management is important for participants, Support Coordinators, and anyone who wants to become a Support coordinator.
Participants should be aware of the qualities they should look for in both a Support Coordinator ( ) and a home care provider. Some providers, as well as Support Coordinators, may not be familiar with what to expect from them because Support Coordination is still a new discipline. Let’s take a look at what participants can expect from their NDIS Plan Coordinator.
Strong professional relationships
As we have discussed, the Support Coordinator is responsible for advising participants about the best services and helping them to plan their time effectively with them to get the results that are most important to them. Participants need to build a strong relationship with their Support Coordinators. They should feel passionate about providing the support they require. You have limited time so it is important to feel like they are always looking out for you and that they care about your success.
An objective outlook
The job of a Support Coordinator is to help participants choose the best services for them. These services may not be available to participants’ employers. This is about creating a larger network of support that allows you easy access to all the services you need, regardless of who provides them.
You need to make sure that there are adequate checks and balances to ensure that Support coordinators don’t recommend their services at the expense or inconvenience of other people.
While support is essential, participants need more than just to be supported in the day-to-day. Participants need support that is proactive and results-oriented. This will allow them to live happier and more autonomously in their communities. NDIS’s main focus is to assist participants in building their capacity, charting a pathway to independence, and learning new skills and coping strategies.
Good Support Coordinators will not only focus on providing value for money and making the most of each hour but also on linking your interactions to the outcomes outlined in your plan. They should spend the time to get to know you and help you identify ways to move forward.
Participants should outline how the support they receive will help them achieve their goals when they first meet with a Support Coordinator.
Local experience
Participants are not an island. They must be aware of the resources available in their area to maximize their participation in the community.
A Support Coordinator must have a deep understanding of the disability as well as the community sectors in the area they work in. They should also be able to provide better recommendations and meet the individual needs of each participant.
Putting participants into the driver’s seat
Participation should not be passive. Participation should not be passive. The best Support Coordinators are as attentive to listening as they are to talking. Participants can take control of the planning process by being in the driver’s seat. This is their legal right. Furthermore, no one understands participants’ goals, needs, and concerns as well as anyone else.
They should encourage participation in planning and listen to their ideas.
Learn more about the role and responsibilities of a Support Coordinator.
This post should help you better understand the role of a Support Coordinator. This will help you, whether you are a participant or a friend, or a family member. This will also help you to understand what participants can expect from you if you are interested in becoming a support coordinator.
You can still contact us if you have any questions about the Support Coordinator role or how to apply to Support Coordination.