What is an NDIS Planner?

Navigating the complexities of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be daunting. In this post, we’ll explore the vital role of an NDIS Planner, shedding light on their crucial responsibilities and how they assist individuals in accessing essential support services.

What is an NDIS Planner?

An NDIS Planner is a professional who works with participants to develop their NDIS plan and coordinate services and support. They also provide information and advice and advocate for the participant’s rights.

The planning process starts with a meeting with an NDIS representative to discuss your child’s disability, their goals and what supports they need to achieve them. They will then develop a plan which includes the support, services and budget to meet those needs.

NDIS participants can choose to have their funding managed by the NDIA (agency management), self-manage their funds or ask for additional funding to cover plan management costs. Not all participants are eligible for plan management so if you think it might be an option for you, talk to your NDIS planner or support coordinator and get personalised advice around this.

A plan manager will take care of your NDIS funds, paying providers on your behalf and organising paperwork. They can also assist you with increasing your choice of service providers and tracking your spending.

Role of an NDIS Planner

The NDIS designed to provide people with disability greater independence, choice and control over their lives. This accomplished by providing funding for a range of supports. These include assistive technology, housing and accommodation, positive behaviour support and social and community participation.

When developing an NDIS plan, the planner will first assess your needs by asking you a series of questions. They will also consider your goals and the current supports you receive. They will then work with you to develop a plan that meets your individual needs.

The planner will take into account your current living situation, family and carers, and other supports in the community. They will then ask about your short-term and long-term goals and how the NDIS can help you achieve them.

The planner will also discuss the different ways you can manage your plan, including self-managed, NDIA-managed and a registered Plan Manager. A registered Plan Manager can handle your paperwork, pay your providers, help you increase the number of choice of services and will track your funds. They can even provide you with a plan budget to make it easier to keep your spending in check.

1. Developing the NDIS Plan

After the NDIA contacts you to schedule your planning meeting, you and a local area coordinator or planner will discuss the goals that are most important to you. These goals can be short, medium or long-term and should be based on your aspirations. Your goal statements should also consider the types of supports that will help you achieve your goals and how they will facilitate.

The NDIS Planner will then assist you to develop a plan that meets your goals and needs. This will include a list of informal support providers (support from family and friends), community or other government services and funded supports that can help you reach your goals.

If you’re choosing a support coordination provider, look for one with extensive knowledge of the NDIS framework and capable of explaining it in a way that’s easy to understand. They should also be able to provide guidance and assistance with budget management. Maximising your NDIS Plan management Sunshine Coast includes clearly defining your goals, collaborating with support coordinators, making wise choices for service providers and actively engaging in your community to open up new opportunities and enrich your experience.

2. Coordinating Support and Services

During the review process, participants will take into account their goals and how the supports they have access to are helping them pursue those goals. They will also look at their funding and how it outlined in their plan.

A person’s NDIS plan will usually have a section describing their goals and what supports they have in place to help them achieve those goals. It will also include information about the NDIS-funded support categories they have been allocated and what those funds are for. Some people may only have one or two support categories funded while others will have several.

A plan management service can offer a great deal of support to a participant when it comes to their NDIS funding. They can help manage the budget they have and ensure that any invoices received by their service providers paid promptly. The planner can also provide assistance with setting up service agreements and providing access to online resources like patient portals and digital dashboards. They can also guide participants to use their money wisely and avoid spending more than they have.

3. Reviewing the NDIS Plan

The NDIS will usually schedule a plan review (previously called a ‘plan reassessment’) close to the end of a participant’s funding period. This can be over the phone, by video call or in person, depending on what works best for each participant.

The plan review process will involve assessing the current support services and looking at the individual’s goals. This will do with the participation of the participant, their family or carer and any relevant service providers.

There will be a section in the plan stating what the individual would like to pursue as part of their NDIS plan and what they want to achieve for their life. This will break down into short-term, mid and long-term goals.

At this point, participants will have the option to choose whether they want to manage their own plan or work with a plan manager. The main benefit of this is that the participant will have control over their money and can book services themselves. However, this can be time consuming and requires a lot of paperwork.

4. Advocating for the Participant

As part of their role, planners help participants understand the different ways that they can access services and supports. They may be able to provide information about different funding options (Self-Managed, Agency Managed or Plan Managed) and the costs associated with each.

They also help participants decide what supports, service providers or providers of equipment they need. This will often involve asking them multiple-choice questions about the impact of their disability on their daily lives. This information used to create their individualised plan and can be taken into account when arranging support.

It is important that a participant has the right support coordination in place to ensure their plan used effectively. A lack of plan utilisation can be a red flag that a participant needs additional support coordination in their plan. This can do via internal NDIA review or an Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) review.

5. Providing Information and Advice

Once the NDIS participant has a plan in place, an NDIS planner can help them get the support they need. This includes connecting them with mainstream services that can assist in meeting their everyday needs.

NDIS planners also work with participants to understand their goals and how the NDIS will help them achieve those goals. Then they will create a plan that can best meet those needs.

In order to do this, they will ask the participant questions about their day-to-day life and their current supports. They will also discuss their short and long-term goals. They will also find out more about the kinds of support they receive from family and friends, whether they are formal supports like paid workers or informal supports like parents or carers.

If the participant decides to use a Plan Management provider, their NDIS planner can help them set up their account and get start. They can also explain the different types of plan management – agency managed, self-managed, and plan manager managed. They can also talk about how to change your NDIS plan manager if you are not happy with the service provided.

Benefits of Working with an NDIS Planner

NDIS participants have the option of managing their own funding (Self-Managed), allowing the NDIA to manage it for them (Agency Managed) or using a Plan Management organisation (Plan Manager). Plan management offers participants a number of benefits.

For example, being plan managed allows you to use providers who are not register with the NDIS as long as they charge no more than the limits set in the Price Guide. This opens up a wider range of options for participants and can help them find innovative supports that align with their goals.

The benefit of having a Plan Manager is that they handle all the invoicing, payments and expenses on your behalf. They also keep track of your budget and send you monthly statements. This means you can focus on your support coordination and achieving your goals!

Additionally, they are familiar with the inclusions in your individual plans, understand the paperwork required and can quickly shuttle claims through the NDIS submission portal. This saves you time and hassle! They can even assist with invoice disputes and negotiations with providers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Humanity Care in Adelaide, Australia, stands as a beacon of support and guidance for individuals navigating the intricacies of the NDIS. Our dedicated NDIS Planners go above and beyond to ensure that every person receives the tailored assistance they deserve. With our expertise and compassionate approach, we empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives, making a significant difference in the community. Humanity Care’s commitment to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities truly shines through, making us a trusted ally in the journey towards a brighter future.