Specialist Support Coordinator / Support Coordinator

Optimum Care Plus is seeking experienced Support Coordinators and Specialist Support Coordinators to join our team on a casual or subcontractor basis.

The role is responsible for supporting NDIS participants to understand, implement and maximise their plans, with Specialist Support Coordinators providing a higher level of coordination for participants experiencing complex needs, significant risks or multiple service-system involvement.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with participants, families, informal supports and multidisciplinary service providers to build capacity, promote choice and control, reduce service fragmentation and achieve meaningful outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver Support Coordination and/or Specialist Support Coordination in accordance with NDIS requirements and participant goals.
• Support participants to understand, implement and maximise their NDIS plans.
• Develop and maintain service agreements and appropriate support arrangements.
• Connect participants with suitable disability, health, community and mainstream services.
• Build participant capacity to understand, coordinate and manage their supports.
• Monitor service delivery, outcomes, funding utilisation and emerging support needs.
• Identify opportunities to improve service effectiveness and participant outcomes.

Complex Case Management – Specialist Support Coordination

For Specialist Support Coordination participants, the role may involve working with people experiencing:

• Psychosocial disability and complex mental health needs.
• Complex behaviours or behaviours of concern.
• Forensic or justice-system involvement.
• Multiple and/or disconnected service providers.
• Significant safeguarding or environmental risks.
• Complex family, housing or social circumstances.
• Service breakdown or difficulty accessing appropriate supports.

The Specialist Support Coordinator will:

• Identify, assess and respond to complex risks.
• Develop strategies to reduce service fragmentation and prevent breakdown.
• Coordinate responses to safeguarding and participant safety concerns.
• Support participants through periods of significant change or crisis.
• Work collaboratively with relevant services to develop sustainable support arrangements.
• Escalate concerns appropriately where there are significant risks to participant wellbeing or safety.

Service Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement

• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and facilitate effective communication between services.
• Liaise with allied health professionals, disability providers, mental health services, community organisations and mainstream services.
• Where relevant, work collaboratively with justice, forensic and other government services.
• Advocate for appropriate services and supports on behalf of participants.
• Monitor whether supports are being delivered as agreed and are contributing to participant goals.
• Attend case conferences, planning meetings and other relevant stakeholder meetings.

Documentation & Compliance

Maintain accurate, timely and professional records, including:

• Case notes aligned with NDIS requirements.
• Participant progress and outcome reports.
• Service agreements and support documentation.
• Risk assessments and risk management strategies.
• Incident and safeguarding documentation where required.
• Stakeholder communication and case management records.

All work must be undertaken in accordance with:

• NDIS legislation and requirements.
• NDIS Practice Standards.
• NDIS Code of Conduct.
• Privacy and confidentiality requirements.
• Optimum Care Plus policies, procedures and quality requirements.

Advocacy & Capacity Building

• Promote participant choice, control, dignity and independence.
• Advocate for participants' rights and preferences.
• Support informed decision-making.
• Develop participant confidence and capacity to manage their supports.
• Assist participants to navigate disability, health, community and mainstream systems.
• Promote opportunities for social, community and economic participation.
• Ensure the participant's voice remains central to all coordination activities.

Key Skills & Competencies

We are looking for professionals who demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of the NDIS and Support Coordination framework.
• Experience working with complex participants and multiple service systems.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Strong case management, organisation and problem-solving abilities.
• High-quality documentation and reporting skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently.
• Confidence managing conflict, crisis and complex situations.
• Strong professional boundaries and ethical practice.
• Cultural awareness and a commitment to culturally safe practice.
• Trauma-informed and person-centred practice.

Mandatory Requirements

• Relevant qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Community Services, Mental Health, Disability or a related discipline.
• Minimum 2–3 years' experience in disability, mental health, support coordination or a related field.
• Demonstrated understanding of NDIS legislation, processes and Practice Standards.
• Current NDIS Worker Screening Check.
• Current Working With Children Check, where applicable.
• Current First Aid and CPR.
• Valid Australian driver's licence.
• Access to a reliable vehicle suitable for community-based work.
• Appropriate professional indemnity and public liability insurance for subcontractors, where applicable.

Desirable Experience

Experience working with:

• Participants with complex psychosocial disability.
• Forensic or justice-system involvement.
• Complex behaviours or behaviours of concern.
• Restrictive practices and Behaviour Support Plans.
• Mental health and recovery frameworks.
• Crisis intervention and risk management.
• Participants experiencing homelessness, housing instability or significant social disadvantage.
• Multiple government and community service systems.

Work Environment

This is a community-based and flexible role, with opportunities available on a casual or subcontractor basis.

The role may involve:

• Working directly with participants in the community.
• Working remotely for appropriate administrative and coordination activities.
• Travel to participant and stakeholder meetings.
• Flexible scheduling based on participant needs and agreed workloads.
• Collaboration with Optimum Care Plus staff and external service providers.

Subcontractors will be responsible for meeting all applicable business, insurance, registration and compliance requirements associated with their engagement.

Why Work with Optimum Care Plus?

At Optimum Care Plus, we believe Support Coordination should be more than connecting people with services. It should create pathways, build capacity and help people achieve greater choice, control and independence.

We offer:

• Flexible casual or subcontractor opportunities.
• The opportunity to work with complex and high-impact cases.
• A person-centred and values-driven working environment.
• Supportive leadership and collaboration.
• Opportunities to develop your professional skills and experience.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of NDIS participants.

If you are an experienced Support Coordinator or Specialist Support Coordinator who is passionate about working alongside people to achieve meaningful outcomes, we would love to hear from you.

Job Type: Casual

Pay: $34.00 – $50.78 per hour

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Manningham SA