Funding, but where to start?

So, your plan has some funding available for a support worker/s, that’s great! But what now…

With so many independent workers and support providers available, it can be challenging to know where to start and what to look for. Every NDIS participant has the right to choice and control when it So, your plan has some funding available for a support worker/s, that’s great! But what now…

With so many independent workers and support providers available, it can be challenging to know where to start and what to look for. Every NDIS participant has the right to choice and control when it comes to who provides them with support. But with so many options available how do you know which support provider to pick!?

Finding a support provider is about choosing a person or business that will meet your needs according to your plan, but it’s more than that. Finding a support provider is also about finding someone that

understands what your goals are, believes in the importance of you achieving your goals and is willing to provide the support needed to get there.

Here are our top considerations when you are looking for a support provider:

· Location – of course location is a huge factor in narrowing down your support options. To get started, it is helpful to use Google to search for any service providers in your area. You can also try social media groups like NDIS Facebook pages to ask what support providers service your suburb. Each support provider is different in terms of the suburbs they cover; some providers might be able to cover the greater Brisbane area, while others might be limited to a handful of suburbs. If you like a support provider but they don’t have support workers available in your area, it is always worth asking if they would consider hiring on your behalf.

· Know what your support needs are – there are plenty of support providers who offer a range of support services including personal care, community access, companionship and domestic assistance. But there are also services who might have special experience or offer a specific service, perhaps the support provider got their start in providing SIL (supported independent living) services and have teams of staff ready to provide 24-hour care! It can be difficult to know exactly what you need from your supports, if in doubt it is always a good idea to consult your support coordinator.

· Availability and capacity – a support provider is of no use to you if they aren’t available when you need them! Consider how frequently you would like support; do you have certain days that you need to have a support worker or are you flexible? What is the provider’s capacity for scheduled support and emergencies? Everybody’s needs are different and having a good idea of what works for you can help you understand whether a provider will be a good fit.

· Consider what sort of support worker would be a good fit – depending on your support needs, you could be spending a great deal of time with your support workers! This is fantastic if you feel that the support worker is a good fit for you but could be miserable if they are not. It is okay to have an idea of who exactly would work best with you, in facts it’s very helpful as the support provider can quickly identify members of their team that would be a good fit. Here are some things to consider – would you prefer a male or a female support worker? Is there an age that you would prefer your support team to be? Would you like your support worker to have similar interests to you?

· Just ask! – the best way to identify if a support provider is for you is to ask lots of questions. Don’t be afraid to ask – you might want to know about qualifications and professional registrations and training, or business policies and procedures around cancellations. And if you don’t feel like the answers are satisfactory for you – that is okay! It’s important to feel confident and happy with your support provider and only you know whether a provider will work well for you.

Well, now you have an idea of what you need to consider, best of luck finding the right provider for you! Of course, if you are looking for a support service in Brisbane, we can help!comes to who provides them with support. But with so many options available how do you know which support provider to pick!?

Finding a support provider is about choosing a person or business that will meet your needs according to your plan, but it’s more than that. Finding a support provider is also about finding someone that understands what your goals are, believes in the importance of you achieving your goals and is willing to provide the support needed to get there.

Here are our top considerations when you are looking for a support provider:

· Location – of course location is a huge factor in narrowing down your support options. To get started, it is helpful to use Google to search for any service providers in your area. You can also try social media groups like NDIS Facebook pages to ask what support providers service your suburb. Each support provider is different in terms of the suburbs they cover; some providers might be able to cover the greater Brisbane area, while others might be limited to a handful of suburbs. If you like a support provider but they don’t have support workers available in your area, it is always worth asking if they would consider hiring on your behalf.

· Know what your support needs are – there are plenty of support providers who offer a range of support services including personal care, community access, companionship and domestic assistance. But there are also services who might have special experience or offer a specific service, perhaps the support provider got their start in providing SIL (supported independent living) services and have teams of staff ready to provide 24-hour care! It can be difficult to know exactly what you need from your supports, if in doubt it is always a good idea to consult your support coordinator.

· Availability and capacity – a support provider is of no use to you if they aren’t available when you need them! Consider how frequently you would like support; do you have certain days that you need to have a support worker or are you flexible? What is the provider’s capacity for scheduled support and emergencies? Everybody’s needs are different and having a good idea of what works for you can help you understand whether a provider will be a good fit.

· Consider what sort of support worker would be a good fit – depending on your support needs, you could be spending a great deal of time with your support workers! This is fantastic if you feel that the support worker is a good fit for you but could be miserable if they are not. It is okay to have an idea of who exactly would work best with you, in facts it’s very helpful as the support provider can quickly identify members of their team that would be a good fit. Here are some things to consider – would you prefer a male or a female support worker? Is there an age that you would prefer your support team to be? Would you like your support worker to have similar interests to you?

· Just ask! – the best way to identify if a support provider is for you is to ask lots of questions. Don’t be afraid to ask – you might want to know about qualifications and professional registrations and training, or business policies and procedures around cancellations. And if you don’t feel like the answers are satisfactory for you – that is okay! It’s important to feel confident and happy with your support provider and only you know whether a provider will work well for you.

Well, now you have an idea of what you need to consider, best of luck finding the right provider for you! Of course, if you are looking for a support service in Brisbane, we can help!