Expression of Interest - Transition of NDIS Support Coordination and Plan Management services
Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from organisations that may be interested in offering Support Coordination and Plan Management services to its existing National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants.
Scope
In February 2024, Bega Valley Shire Councillors gave in-principle support for Council to cease providing National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services following an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to determine if the private market has capacity to support Council’s existing NDIS participants.
Bega Valley Shire Council understands the importance of ensuring there are adequate providers to support the community. This EOI process is being run to ensure there are other options available to support Council’s existing NDIS participants, should Council withdraw from providing these services.
Note: As the NDIS is centred on participant choice, there is no guarantee that participants will choose any particular provider.
Background
Council undertakes regular reviews of its funded programs to ensure services are being delivered effectively, meet market need and that Council is well positioned to adapt to potential funding changes. A review of Council's Families, Ageing and Disability Services was undertaken in late 2023.
The review found while Council provides a high level of service, the provider market has changed significantly since Council became an NDIS provider and there are now multiple providers (large and small) of disability services located in the Bega Valley Shire.
Services
Council provides the following NDIS services from its Bega office, with outreach services offered across the Bega Valley.
Support Coordination (SC)
Support Coordination strengthens a participant’s ability to design and then build their supports, with an emphasis on linking the broader systems of support across a complex service delivery environment.
It focuses on supporting participants to direct their lives, not just their services, and assisting them to build and maintain a resilient network of formal and informal supports. This involves working together with the participant to understand the funding, identify what participants expect from services and how participants want this designed.
Support Coordination also includes coaching participants and working with them to develop capacity and resilience in their network.
- Eligibility: Aged 0-65 years with existing NDIS plan and allocated SC funds
- Number of BVSC NDIS participants: 32 (as at end 2023)
Plan Management (PM)
Plan Management is a financial administration service where an NDIS participant engages a plan manager to manage and monitor their NDIS budgets over the course of their plan.
The plan manager will also manage NDIS claims, pay providers for delivered services, maintain records and produce regular statements showing the financial position of the plan.
- Eligibility: Aged 8-65 years with existing plan and allocated PM funds
- Number of BVSC NDIS participants: 135 (as at end 2023)
Resourcing
Council’s NDIS team consists of 3.23 full-time equivalent staff, however this does not include corporate services staff such as finance, human resources and IT.
NDIS participant numbers are the largest determinant of NDIS income for staffing/project management overheads. Fees for service are applied in line with NDIA regulations.
Budget
Council’s annual budget for Disability Services in 2023/24 (end of FY 2023) was more than $6.7 million.
Some costs of services are provided by Council and are not currently budgeted for in the program areas. These include operational overheads such as insurance, HR and some financial services. Conversely, staff budgeted to this area also contribute to other program areas in Council, for example, by contributing to the development and monitoring of Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan and by providing specialist advice to other service areas.
Regulation
Disability services are governed by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: www.ndiscommission.gov.au/
Expression of Interest process
Council is seeking EOIs from organisations that may be interested in offering NDIS Support Coordination and Plan Management services to Council’s existing NDIS participants, if Council withdraws from providing its current services.
Council's contact officer
Yvette Parker
Acting Manager Community and Cultural Services
Bega Valley Shire Council
Phone: (02) 6499 2313
Email: yparker@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
Key dates
Confidentiality
A public report will be provided to Councillors in mid-2024 that will include a list of organisations which have indicated they are willing to support additional NDIS participants and whether this is for support coordination or plan management. This list will also be provided to Council’s existing NDIS participants. A list of providers that indicate they will look to expand will be provided to Council’s NDIS staff. All other details will remain confidential.
© Bega Valley Shire Council 2024
Our council websites
Contact Us
- 02 6499 2222
- council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
-
Zingel Place
PO Box 492
Bega NSW 2550 -
Monday to Friday 9.00AM to 4.30PM
Administration building Zingel Place Bega
Australia -
ABN: 26 987 935 332
Was this helpful?