Support coordination is one of the few supports whose whole job is to help you use the rest of your plan well. That makes the choice worth some thought.
Know which level you have
There are three levels, and your plan will name the one that is funded:
- Support Connection, which is short-term help to build your own ability to connect with supports
- Support Coordination, which is ongoing help to design and put your supports in place
- Specialist Support Coordination, for situations with higher complexity or risk, usually delivered by a practitioner with relevant qualifications
Coordination is not plan management
A plan manager pays your invoices and handles the money. A support coordinator helps you decide how to use the plan and connects you with providers. Many people have both, and they are funded separately.
Questions that reveal the most
- Do you also deliver the services you would be connecting me to, and how do you manage that conflict of interest?
- What happens if I am unhappy with a provider you recommended?
- How often will we speak, and how do I reach you between those times?
- What will you have helped me learn to do myself by the end of this plan?
That last question matters. Good coordination should reduce how much coordination you need over time.