What Are the Responsibilities of an NDIS Service Provider?
Once you have decided on an NDIS service provider (hopefully after reading through this article), there are many responsibilities that the provider has to care for you. One of the most basic responsibilities is providing you, the participant, with a support coordinator. A support coordinator should sit with you and/or your loved ones to determine what your exact needs are as an NDIS participant, and use that information to come up with a funded support plan.
The support plan should detail the myriad of support services that you require, whether that entails personal support (supporting you in daily activities such as showering, cooking, getting around, etc), allied health services (therapeutic support for condition management and rehabilitation, which may include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, mental health services, etc), services to encourage and support your health and fitness, services to encourage and support social participation (yes, NDIS providers often have a responsibility to get you involved with your local community for the sake of your mental wellbeing), and even assisting you with making alterations to your personal accommodation.
NDIS housing / accommodation is a complex issue in the public eye, but despite what others may think of it, providing accessible housing and accommodation to NDIS participants is an absolutely necessary service. Providers like us could arrange this service if you’ve successfully received NDIS funding as a participant for an NDIA approved housing or modification of your current accommodation to fit your needs.
What Should You Be Looking For?
When you’re shopping around, don’t underestimate the power of a gut feeling. A good NDIS service provider in Melbourne should give you the feeling that they are going to truly care for all of your needs as a participant — you should feel like your needs will be met by this provider at every stage, like this provider will truly take the weight off of your shoulders.
From first contact with the provider, they should come off as genuinely caring, concerned about your situation, and wholly capable of remedying it. They should give you the impression that they truly care about your individual needs as a participant, and you should be wary of any provider pushing a one-size-fits-all support coordination solution. They should also be asking you a myriad of in-depth questions concerning your status as an NDIS participant, and moreover your need for support; and they should lay out, after this questioning phase, what kind of solutions they can provide to you.
Beware of providers who come off as pushy or aggressive. They may try to sell you on a particular support service (or even an entire support coordination plan) when you haven’t or have barely elaborated on what your individual needs are. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and be sure to take the time to get to know the provider before signing up for their services. Here are a list of good questions to ask an NDIS service provider in Melbourne:
- “What qualifications do you and your team have to provide support services under NDIS?”
- “Do you have a support coordinator or other staff member who can speak my / the participants language?” (if applicable)
- “Will I be able to choose which services become part of my support coordination plan?” (generally speaking, it’s a good idea to have some say in this)
- “Has your company ever supported someone with similar needs to my own?”
A Good NDIS Service Provider Melbourne Should Be Qualified, Capable, Caring and Concerned.
We understand how difficult it can be to navigate the world of NDIS as a participant, especially due to the complexities and regulation. As a registered NDIS service provider in Melbourne, VSS (our company!) has the expertise and experience to set you up with a support coordination plan that will enable you to live as full a life as possible, now and into the future. We provide an entirely bespoke, individualised solution for every participant that engages with us, while being wholly committed to (and passionate about) improving the lives of participants and their communities.
If you have recently qualified as an NDIS participant, consider using the contact form on our website to set up an obligation-free call with us at a time that suits you, or call 1800 328 964 now.
