A day in the life of a Support Coordinator in the NDIS

Now more than ever, Support Coordinators are needed. As we discussed in one of our previous articles, How much does an NDIS Support Coordinator get paid, there is more demand now than ever for qualified and passionate Support Coordinators to deliver a Support Coordination service within the NDIS sector. 

The NDIS environment constantly changes, as the scheme evolves, and this creates a very complex space for Participants and their family to navigate.  Participants often need support to understand how to implement and manage their NDIS plan, and having access to a great Support Coordinator will enable them to get the most out of their NDIS plan and increase their capacity to live their best lives.

Have you thought about becoming a Support Coordinator in the NDIS? 

Support Coordination Academy have been running courses for Support Coordinators and Support Coordination organisations since 2015 and we are still consistently asked in every Support Coordination Fundamentals course, “what does a Support Coordinator actually do”?

In order to avoid Support Coordinator burnout and to ensure that Participants receive high quality supports long term, it is crucial that new Support Coordinators have an understanding of the scope and boundaries of the role.

A day in the life of a Support Coordinator is always busy.

There's no such thing as a "typical" day for a Support Coordinator because every day is different, as it involves working with people in different situations with totally different support needs and priorities.  

Support Coordination is a dynamic and rewarding role, as you work with people to access the support they need, and can empower people with disability to be a part of their community, to live independently and realise their dreams.  

A typical day might involve:

• meeting with Participants, their families and networks
• coordinating supports and services for a participant including talking with service providers, reviewing and responding to emails and reviewing Service Agreements
• recording and updating case notes using a Support Coordination Software
• attending service provider meetings to discuss progress for a Participant and to plan for future support
• checking in with Participants and organising reviews of their goals and future support needs
• updating the NDIS on a Participants situation and ongoing support needs

The best Support Coordinators use Support Coordination Software to help manage NDIS plans and reports.

Experienced Support Coordinators know that managing all of that information can be daunting and can take up a lot of their time, so benefit greatly from using software specifically designed to help automate these daily tasks.  

Software that helps Support Coordinators manage their work can include features like:

• A calendar that helps keep track of appointments and due dates
• Manager's Dashboard with oversight of each Support Coordinator's caseload
• Recording case notes and billable time in the same note with flexible time increments
• Sending forms via automated email with a link to sign documents and view information
• Efficiently claim your billable time for Support Coordination hours
• Automated tracking of Support Coordination hours, reporting reminders, To Do lists and plan budget tracking 
• One place to access information about Participants within a caseload, including service providers they are connected to

Support Coordination Professional Practice modules are perfect for upskilling

Those who administer training for Support Coordinators find that new candidates are often unsure what to expect. The Support Coordination Practice self-paced learning modules at Support Coordination Academy, will help you to learn professional skills and feel more confident in the role.  These modules include:

• Building Capacity & Adding Value
• Reasonable and Necessary & Mainstream Interface
• Managing Crisis & a Significant Change in Circumstances
• Case Notes - Action Plans - NDIS Reporting
• Influential Conversations & Navigating Complex Environments

Want to know more about the role of a Support Coordinator?

Whether you’re a Participant, Support Coordinator or thinking of becoming one, hopefully this article has helped you to better understand the role and responsibilities of a Support Coordinator.

On our website you can find Time saving tips for Support Coordinators and other practical pieces of advice for new and experienced Support Coordinators, as well as Participants.

If you’d like to know anything else about Support Coordination, or how to become a Support Coordinator please don’t hesitate to contact us today.