The National Disability Insurance Scheme explains Support Coordination as assistance to support a participant to understand and implement the funded supports in their NDIS plan as well as support to link to community, mainstream and other government services.
There are three levels of support coordination that can be included in your plan:
- Support connection – This support is to build your ability to connect with informal, community and funded supports enabling you to get the most out of your plan and achieve your goals.
- Support coordination – coordination of supports: This support will assist you to build the skills you need to understand, implement and use your plan. A support coordinator will work with you to ensure a mix of supports are used to increase your capacity to maintain relationships, manage service delivery tasks, live more independently and be included in your community
- Specialist support coordination – This is a higher level of support coordination. It is for people whose situations are more complex and who need specialist support. A specialist Support Coordinator will assist you to manage challenges in your support environment and ensuring consistent delivery of service.
But what does on the ground, day to day Support Coordination look like in a business? Amergin’s Senior Consultant, Hannah Taylor-Watkins spoke with Sally-Anne Brunton (Support Coordinator with Alliance Community) to get a better understanding about the role of a Support Coordinator.
Question 1: What does a day in the life of a Support Coordinator look like?
Sally-Anne: Starting work at 8am with some housekeeping, greeting colleagues and talking about the day ahead. Time management is crucial, you spend a lot of time on the phone connecting with participants, providers and external organisations. This sometimes means calling during business hours and often emailing after hours. Setting tasks for the next day is helpful.
Question 2: On average, how many hours of Support Coordination do NDIS Participants get in their plans?
Sally-Anne: A participant on average receives 48 hours. These hours also include report writing, which is around 4 hours total duration of the 12-month plan.
Question 3: What tasks do not fall under Support Coordination?
Sally-Anne:Advocacy, plan administration, plan management and direct supports.
Question 4: What tips would you give someone starting as a Support Coordinator?
Sally-Anne:Have sound knowledge of the NDIA and NDIS. Be familiar with organisations within the geographic area that you will be covering. If you don’t have the sector knowledge, be prepared to do cold calling until you can identify what service providers are available to provide NDIS supports. Be well rounded in understanding of disabilities and how to read an NDIS participant plan.
Hopefully this snapshot will assist in establishing and developing the role of Support Coordinator within your business.