Coordinating your supports can often be complicated and often very time-consuming. So, in order to begin we need to break down what the core of support coordination really is and why it is a service provided by the NDIS.
To put it in simple terms, support coordination is designed to help you find and connect with service providers that best suit the participant in order to achieve an optimum level of independence. Support coordinators should build empathy with the participant so that their confidence to do all things is the number one priority.
Ways support coordinators allow you to get the most out of your plan
Assist you in getting the most support in your plan. Once you receive your NDIS plan, the next couple of steps can be extremely confusing and can take up a lot of time. Putting goals in place can often be very confronting to some as they may feel fear with the uncertainty around achieving their goals. This is where your support coordinator comes in and assists with working by your side to go through your plan and identify the right supports that you can access under your plan. Right away you are able to feel comfort in knowing that someone is assisting you to achieve your goals.
Can I access a support coordinator?
Although support coordinators are not available to everyone participating in the NDIS like plan managers. The following cases shows how you could access a support coordinator.
- You know that with the right help and guidance you will be able to develop the confidence and skills to navigate your own way around the NDIS by yourself.
- You have just received your first NDIS plan or you may even be going through a difficult or new experience in your life.
- Do not have access to individuals in your life that may be able to assist you with finding the right resources and connect you with services providers.
- You are able to gain life supported benefits through having the help of a support coordinator
How do I gain a sense of independency?
Overall, the main goal of the whole vision for the NDIS is to enable people that have a disability, to build resilience and achieve their optimum level of independence supported by the NDIS. This vision of allowing people with a disability to live an ordinary life is central to the concept of capacity building. Bringing in the role of support coordination, what we are trying to achieve is this vision. If the job is articulated with the right measures being taken by the support coordinator than hopefully the participant will no longer require the help of the support coordinator. The participant will take with them a range of skills and knowledge mixed with a level of confidence in order to achieve their own aspiration in the coming future.
How long will I need a support coordinator?
With the overall goal of a support coordinator being that of assisting participant’s in finding service provider to achieve their goals sometimes this can be an ongoing yearly service provided to the participant or in some case just a one off in their NDIS plan. As we previously went over, often it is the case that an individual is eligible to a support coordinator because the participant is experiencing their first NDIS plan. Once the participant has a gasp on what the NDIS can do for them to achieve their goals often it is only included in the initial first year plan, if more learning and support is needed a Support Coordinator will be included until the support is no longer necessary. As long at the participant can prove that there is a real need for them to have a support coordinator than they will receive the service.
Sound like you?
If what has been said here really speaks to you and you believe that a support coordinator can enable you to learn and grow within your plan than get in contact with coordination and care to discuss your options. In doing this you will have the opportunity to work with a professional team that stands with you and enables you to be the best version of yourself.
