We understand that many of you are experiencing cuts or removal of support coordination from your NDIS plans.
Here are some tips to help you request support coordination effectively:
Clarify Your Needs: Clearly explain why you require a support coordinator. Mention that a support coordinator helps you navigate the NDIS, provides education about available supports, coordinates various services, and ensures you find appropriate supports.
Engage Your Local Area Coordinator (LAC): If you have an LAC but need a support coordinator, clearly outline the specific support you require. Ask your LAC if they can provide this support and get their response in writing. Typically, due to their workload, LACs are unable to provide comprehensive support, which can further justify your need for a support coordinator.
Understand the Levels of Support Coordination:
- Low Support (1-2 hours/month): Suitable for participants with strong informal support networks or those adjusting to new conditions.
- Medium Support (3-6 hours/month): Ideal for those with managed psychosocial diagnoses, at risk support networks, or mid-stages of degenerative conditions.
- High Support (7-9 hours/month): Necessary for participants with unstable psychosocial disabilities, limited social networks, high risk of hospitalisation or homelessness, and those involved with other services like child protection or justice.
Provide Specific Examples: When requesting support coordination, use specific examples that match your situation to illustrate your need. This can strengthen your case by showing how you fit the criteria for low, medium, or high support levels.
Highlight Your Risks and Needs: Emphasise any risks or critical needs you have, such as unstable housing, lack of family support, or the need for specialised assistance due to a degenerative condition.
Document Everything: Keep detailed records of all communications and documentation related to your request for support coordination. This can be crucial if you need to appeal a decision.
Here's an example:
Subject: Request for Support Coordination – Plan Variation
Dear [LAC's Name],
I hope this message finds you well.
I am writing to formally request the inclusion of 60 hours of support coordination in my NDIS plan. I have lodged a plan variation request to this effect and would appreciate your prompt response within 5 days.
The primary reasons for my request are as follows:
1. Linking with New Services: I require assistance in connecting with a new occupational therapist and a psychologist. These services are crucial for my ongoing health and well-being, and a support coordinator's expertise would be invaluable in ensuring I find the right professionals.
2. Education and Skill Building: Throughout this plan period, I need support in gaining the skills and knowledge to manage my NDIS plan independently in the future. A support coordinator can provide the necessary education and guidance to achieve this goal.
3. Finding Reliable Support Worker Services: It is essential for me to find a dependable support worker service provider. A support coordinator can help identify and engage with suitable providers, ensuring my support needs are consistently met.
While I understand that the NDIS may consider the services of a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to be sufficient, I believe that the specific tasks I require extend beyond the capacity of an LAC due to their broader workload and responsibilities. A support coordinator can offer more focused and specialised assistance tailored to my individual needs.
I kindly ask for your confirmation that these tasks fall outside the scope of your role and, therefore, necessitate the dedicated support of a coordinator. Your written response will be critical in supporting my plan variation request.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response within the next 5 days.
Best regards,
Jocelyn Samuels
NDIS Number: 43123123
Ph: 0411 123 123
By following these tips, you can better advocate for the support coordination you need in your NDIS plan. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us. We're here to help!