Last Updated on August 9, 2024
NDIS providers deliver services to support disabled people in their everyday lives. With the right support, it’s possible to achieve a great quality of life and set goals to work toward. If you, or a loved one, is looking for the right support, choosing the best NDIS disability support provider is crucial. The service provider can make all the difference when it comes to receiving the support required and managing the services received.
Everyone with NDIS funding can choose how to allocate their funds and which service provider they want to use. However, with so many NDIS-registered service providers available, how do you choose the best one to meet your needs? There are multiple factors you might want to take into account when making your choice.
What does an NDIS provider do?
An NDIS provider can be either an individual or a company. They provide services to people under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to help them access the support they need to live a full life. NDIS providers are registered with the scheme, meaning that they have to meet strict criteria to demonstrate the safety and the quality of their services. An NDIS provider can deliver a range of different services to meet a variety of needs. They might help with personal care needs, home modifications or accommodation, therapy, participation in the community, and more.
What should you look for in an NDIS provider?
Choosing the right NDIS provider is tricky if you’re not sure what you should be searching for. It’s important to know your priorities and what you want from your provider before you start looking. Here are some of the things you might want to consider when looking for the right NDIS services provider.
Look for the right services
It may seem obvious, but the first thing you need to do is concentrate on finding providers that offer the services you need. It’s also crucial that you check which services your NDIS plan provides funding for. You need to ensure you can align the services you are able to fund with the services on offer. Make sure you know what is included in your funding and what services you require so you can start your search in the right place.
Find local providers
You definitely want to choose NDIS service providers that are available in your local area. It would be a waste of time to research a provider only to find you can’t even access their services. As well as starting with the services you’re looking for, include your area in the parameters of your search. If you’re searching online, you might start with a search phrase like “NDIS behavior support Sydney”. Your Local Area Coordinator can help too, or you might have friends and family who can recommend local providers.
Assess the quality of their services
Of course, you want the NDIS provider you choose to deliver quality services. Their support workers should be trained and experienced. You can look for reviews and ratings of different providers to see how past and current clients like them. Take some time to check the provider’s core values and what they have to say about their services. It’s also a good idea to check their availability, so you can ensure there is a good choice of support workers to provide for your needs at times that suit you.
Keep affordability in mind
When you are trying to allocate your NDIS funding wisely, affordability is a key factor to consider for NDIS service providers. You need to know how much funding you have available for different parts of your plan so that you can budget accordingly. Many providers are clear about their fees online, or will provide you with a quote when you ask. Make sure you’re familiar with the NDIS pricing arrangements and price limits, which will tell you the maximum prices that NDIS providers can charge for different services.
Get good customer service
The quality of the support offered by support workers is important, but it’s not the only thing that matters. An NDIS service provider is made up of several other parts too, including things like admin and customer service. You want to know that the whole service runs smoothly and can deliver what you’re looking for. If you need to get in touch with them, will you get a fast response? Is their customer service friendly, approachable, and helpful? You might find it useful to look at their social media channels or check reviews from clients. You can also assess their customer service offering when you first get in touch. If you don’t like what you see, you don’t have to continue with them.
Check their values align with yours
Another thing you might want to look at is whether the values of the NDIS provider align with yours. This could include whether they can provide for people with different cultural or religious needs, or whether they are LGBTQ+-friendly. Perhaps you are looking for someone who speaks another language or who is affiliated with a certain organization or community. This can be a good idea if you want a provider that is a good fit for you personally, even if they technically provide for all of your practical requirements.
Registered vs. unregistered providers
Some people can use service providers that are not registered with the NDIS. However, this will depend on how your plan is managed. If your plan is NDIA-managed, you can only use NDIS-registered providers. If your funding is plan-managed or self-managed, you have more flexibility and can decide whether you want to use registered or non-registered providers. Using non-registered providers means there are fewer restrictions on their pricing and they might not be vetted so well for quality.
Finding your NDIS provider
There are a few ways to start searching for the right NDIS provider. You can carry out a search using an online search engine or use the NDIS website to find registered providers. Asking for recommendations from people you know is a good option too.
