One of the most crucial steps in your child’s NDIS plan reassessment is meeting your planner, also known as the LAC or Local Area Coordinator.
While in the meeting, you will be able to review the current NDIS plan, assess progress, and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that your child continues to receive the right supports.
It is important to come prepared and know what to expect, in order to make the most of that meeting.
Here’s what you should expect out of a NDIS planning meeting and tips to help you prepare:
- Your Current Plan Will Be Reviewed
Generally, the meeting starts by reviewing your child’s current NDIS plan. This is an excellent opportunity to assess what’s been working well and the supports your child has been receiving. It’s also an opportunity to review the progress they are making towards achieving their goals.
You should also take it as a time to talk about any ‘gaps’ or difficulties you have encountered during this plan. If you feel that some of the supports are not working or if there have been changes in your child’s needs, then start discussing this and recommend some changes.
- Goal Review
Next, you’ll discuss the NDIS goals for your child. Do you think these are still relevant to what your child needs?
During this part of the meeting, you should identify what goals to keep, modify, or replace. Doing so helps ensure the plan can continuously reflect the evolving needs of your child.
- Assessment of Support
The coordinator will ask you about any future support needs your child may have, so do not hesitate to bring up any other kind of support your child needs. For example, other therapies or support services. They may ask you which areas your child may require the most help in, either currently or in the future.
This part of the meeting is where they will pinpoint the most appropriate supports for your child. The aim is to ensure the NDIS plan is well-suited for your child’s unique situation.
- Bring Important Documents
Do not forget to come with all the required documents for the meeting. It’s essential to bring along supporting papers that can help ensure that the plan reflects the current and future needs of your child. You can bring reports, assessments, or quotes from your child’s therapists, who could be either an occupational therapist, speech pathologist, or psychologist.
Ask your clinician about these reports; they will also inform you which documents will be pertinent in this meeting.
- Discuss Plan Management Options
The funding of the plan is a pivotal part the meeting. You may opt for self-management or plan managed, or alternatively have your funds managed by the agency.
Just keep in mind that each of these options has its respective advantages and disadvantages, so make sure you get to know them well in order to find out which would be the best option for you and your child.
- Length of Plan
Your child may be eligible for a longer NDIS plan, in some cases that may last up to three years. Usually, this is the case if their needs are consistent and stable.
However, the length of the plan will mainly depend on the types of needs and the situation of your child. This is, therefore, among the things you should discuss with the coordinator at the meeting.
- Why Do We Do NDIS Reviews?
First and foremost, it is to keep your child’s NDIS plan updated. Therefore, we review your child’s plan, goals, supports, and progress each year.
In doing so, we can:
- Ensure the provision of necessary support to your child.
- Track the goals set and progress being made.
- Discuss any changes to your child’s plan in relation to funding, goals, or intervention strategies.
- Achieve the provisions set out by NDIS.
- What Does a NDIS Review Report Contain?
In the NDIS report your clinician writes, you will have the following:
- An explanation of the intervention approaches used during the current plan.
- Evidence of improvement and outcomes of the support and intervention given.
- Specific recommendations on changing goals and resources to address the needs of your child, for the present and into the future.
These reports are important for the NDIS review meeting to ensure the plan reflects their specific needs and supports.
Preparing for Your NDIS Meeting
To get the most from your NDIS planning meeting, remember the following:
- Periodically review your child’s progress and challenges, including what is working and where improvements are needed.
- Update goals when necessary. Any changes to the child’s goals should be discussed in relation to their needs at the present time.
- Prepare documents: Bring reports and evaluations from the healthcare providers to assess your child’s needs.
- Understand the alternatives for plan management, and don’t hesitate to ask any questions related to agency managed, plan managers, and self-management.
Without this sort of planning, your child may not receive the appropriate support and services when they need them the most. Keep these things in mind when getting ready for a meeting.