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Support Coordination Services
The role of a Support Coordinator
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Support coordination is a capacity building function to implement all supports in a participant’s plan, including informal, mainstream, community and funded supports.
What activities does a support coordinator usually undertake?
Support coordinators work creatively and resourcefully with participants in how they utilise their support budgets to achieve their goals.
This is likely to include supporting the participant to:
assess a number of mainstream, community, informal and provider options
choose preferred options or providers
negotiate services to be provided and their prices, develop service agreements and create service bookings with preferred providers
negotiate services and prices as part of any quotable supports
arrange any assessments required to determine the nature and type of funding required (eg assessment to determine the type of complex home modifications required)
decide the budget for each support type and advise any relevant plan manager of the breakdown of funds
liaise with any plan manager to establish the appropriate claim categories and attribute the correct amount of funds
link to mainstream or community services (i.e. housing, education, transport, health)
strengthen and enhance the participant’s capacity to coordinate supports, self-direct and manage supports and participate in the community, including providing participants with assistance to:
resolve problems or issues that arise
understand their responsibilities under service agreements
change or end a service agreement
Are there other activities a support coordinator might undertake?
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Support coordinators may also undertake some specialist activities including:
assisting the participant get ready for their plan review by helping them:
assess whether they have achieved their goals and got value for money for their plan
identify solutions to problems experienced in implementing the plan
consider new goals
helping participants decide on what actions to take to achieve goals in relation to exploring housing options and life transition planning.
SCCC and its contractors will always ensure that Participants are made aware of their right and the processes to access COVID vaccination.
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What activities doesn’t a support coordinator provide?
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Support coordinators optimise the flexibility in core supports to implement the plan and do not make a judgement about the adequacy of the plan and do not make requests for an unscheduled plan review on behalf of participants.
For most participants, the need for support coordination is expected to decrease as capacity is increased. For this reason, support coordinators are not funded to provide:
participant transport
plan administration
plan management
support rostering
advocacy
disability supports
handling participant monies
managing medication
mealtime support
waste management
How are support coordinators engaged?
The planner will send a request for service to support coordinator(s) the participant has identified. The request includes details of what supports the participant requires. Support coordination providers consider the request and inform the planner whether it is accepted. A plan handover is then arranged between the planner and support coordinator.
What is expected of support coordinators?
Support coordinators are expected to:
contact the participant as soon as possible after the handover with the planner, ideally within two days and meet with the participant within the next five days
understand the role of the mainstream service system
understand the NDIS legislation and rules including provisions relating to reasonable and necessary supports
understand the NDIS Price Guide and flexibility within budgets
be registered providers
manage any perceived or real conflict of interest in accordance with the NDIA’s Terms of Business
provide the NDIA with reports on specific goals, outcomes and success indicators within the agreed reporting frequency
What outcomes do support coordinators deliver for participants?
Support coordination enables participants to:
maximise the value for money they receive from their supports
genuinely exercise their choice and control
implement their plan
increase their capacity to manage/direct their own supports
have greater opportunities to explore and connect with community and alternative support options
better coordinate multiple supports and services
have the capacity of their informal support network strengthened
be better able to use the NDIS Participant Portal myplace.