Late last year the NDIA released the Improving Support Coordination for Participants paper. The paper outlines the outcomes of the support coordination consultation in September 2020, as well as the broader strategic plan for the NDIS.
A key determination was that support coordination services need to be improved to achieve better outcomes for NDIS participants. This is particularly relevant for people with complex support needs who may require a skilled support coordinator to navigate complex barriers such as getting out of aged care.
Targeted support coordination requires support coordinators to have niche skills and knowledge in particular areas such as the know-how to support a person to get out of hospital or leave aged care and find suitable housing and supports to live in the community.
Disability Intermediaries Australia recently published the Professional Standards of Practice for Support Coordinators. These professional standards set the benchmark for the delivery of skilled support coordination.
The key takeaway is that skilled and knowledgeable support coordinators are the best enablers of favourable outcomes. They assist participants to achieve their goals, engage with services, overcome barriers, and design supports across complex systems. It is vital for support coordinators to keep up-to-date with NDIS developments as well as developments across relevant sectors.
Continual professional development ensures support coordinators are not only competent but also excel in their role supporting people with disability. In 2018 the Summer Foundation created the UpSkill program in response to the need for a skilled workforce working with people with disability and complex support needs.
UpSkill Lead, Linda Hughes tells us: “We know that finding skilled and experienced professionals who can work with people with complex support needs is challenging. We have developed a series of workshops about navigating the NDIS and other mainstream systems to ensure that people with complex support needs are assisted to live well in the community. 95% of our training attendees told us they would improve their practice after attending one of our workshops.”
UpSkill is back for another year of training and there are limited spots available in our February workshops. Register now:
NDIS and Housing
Tuesday 1 February
Learn about mainstream housing, home modifications, assistive technology, capacity building, as well as support models that reflect a person’s goals and preferred living arrangement.
Working with people in the hospital setting
Thursday 3 February
Learn about the key drivers of hospitals and the NDIS and how to work collaboratively across the interface.
Supporting young people in RAC to benefit from the NDIS
Thursday 10 February
Understand the government’s Younger People in Residential Aged Care Strategy and how to support younger people living in aged care to access appropriate housing and support through the NDIS.
Evidence for SDA Outcomes
Wednesday 16 February
Understand and build your understanding of the evidence required for an application for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
Supporting someone to move into a new home
Thursday 24 February
Learn how to take a systematic approach to the complex task of assisting a person with disability move to a new home, including supporting people to build their skills and make community connections in their new neighbourhood.
Read more:
NDIA – Improving Support Coordination for Participants paper
Disability Intermediaries Australia – Professional Standards of Practice