Understanding the Role of NDIS Support Coordinators

NDIS Support Coordinators have the role to ensure NDIS participants can access all facilities without facing any difficulties.  

Support coordination connects participants with NDIS support providers and other resources, such as local community services and government assistance programs. 

In this blog, we will discuss specialist support coordinator and their role in NDIS support services. So, read on!

What is NDIS Support Coordination?

NDIS support coordination is a capacity-building service designed to help participants access a range of support services effectively. The primary objective is to assist participants in understanding their NDIS plans and using them to achieve their goals. 

Additionally, it aims to build participants' skills and confidence in navigating the NDIS support system, empowering them to make informed decisions and maximise the benefits of NDIS plans. By fostering these connections and enhancing participants' capabilities, NDIS support coordination plays a crucial role in helping individuals lead more independent and fulfilling lives.

What is NDIS Specialist Support Coordination?

The NDIS offers three levels of support coordination in NDIS plans: support connection, support coordination, and specialist support coordination.

• Support connection aids participants in developing the skills necessary to link with support to achieve their goals.

• Support coordination provides a higher level of assistance, helping participants comprehend and utilise their NDIS plan. Support coordinators work closely with participants to ensure they access a range of supports.

• Specialist support coordination, the highest level, is designed for participants who encounter significant barriers in accessing and maintaining their support. Specialist support coordinators ensure continuous support delivery and assist participants in navigating the challenges within their support environment.

NDIS Specialist Support Coordinator: What They Do?

A specialist support coordinator's role is varied, encompassing a wide range of duties as outlined by the NDIS. 

• Primarily, specialist support coordinators help participants understand their NDIS plans and work with them to plan and coordinate their support. This includes connecting participants with supports and services, establishing and maintaining these supports, and setting up service agreements and service bookings.

  
  

• Support coordinators must also understand what support providers can and cannot charge for, anticipate barriers to accessing support, and create plans to address these barriers.

   

• They coach participants on accessing supports, provide reports to the NDIA, and coordinate with participants, their support workers, and family members to help participants exercise choice over their supports. 

  
  

• They support participants in finding ways to be more independent and plan for unexpected events such as moving homes, changes in family support levels, and unexpected hospital visits. 

  
  

• Creating plans to avoid or mitigate crises and submitting requests for plan reassessments are also critical aspects of their role. Importantly, support coordinators use the participant's preferred language and communication method. 

  
  

• Participants are encouraged to actively participate in their own support coordination, with the coordinator’s role being to empower them to express their preferences and make decisions. NDIS support services provide a good NDIS support coordinator who understands that their purpose is to facilitate participants' agency, not to make decisions on their behalf.

What Additional Responsibilities Does They Have?

Specialist support coordinators have duties similar to standard support coordinators, such as helping participants access informal and funded support and reviewing service agreements. However, they also assist with addressing complex barriers by understanding the challenges participants face, finding solutions, and setting up processes to overcome them. 

The NDIS emphasises that specialist support coordinators are not disability advocates; instead, they should connect participants with formal advocacy services. Additionally, specialist support coordinators help design service plans tailored to participants' specific needs, working with participants, their families, and support workers to ensure clear communication and cooperation to achieve the participants' goals.

Final Words

Specialist support coordinators play a vital role in assisting participants with complex barriers, ensuring they access necessary support and services. While not advocates, they connect participants with advocacy services and design tailored plans, fostering collaboration among participants, families, and support workers to help achieve their goals and enhance independence.

On this note, contact KC3 Supports where you will get trusted NDIS support coordinators in Western Australia. Contact us and explore how the personalised support coordinators will help you and provide excellent coordination that makes your life easy.