Are you struggling to choose between a support coordinator or a psychosocial recovery coach for your mental health issues resulting in disability? If so, it's important to understand what a psychosocial recovery coach is. This blog discusses all the important facts and FAQs about an NDIS psychosocial recovery coach. Use this information to identify your needs and clear up any confusion.
What is a Psychosocial Recovery Coach? Important Facts & FAQs
What is a Psychosocial Disability?
The term "psychosocial disability" refers to the impact of mental health conditions that disable a person, preventing them from having a normal social and personal life. It limits individuals in areas such as personal life, employment, and education. It causes functional limitations, social isolation, decreased independence and stigma and discrimination.
According to NDIS, "While everyone living with a mental health condition may be impacted by their condition, not everyone who has a mental health condition will experience psychosocial disability." This means that having a mental health issue does not necessarily mean having a psychosocial disability. Psychosocial disability only occurs when an individual is unable to enjoy a normal personal and social life, or when they cannot perform their day-to-day activities due to their mental health condition.
Examples of psychosocial disability: schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, OCD and PTSD, dysthymic depression and bipolar disorder.
Who is a Psychosocial Recovery Coach?
The NDIS refers to a psychosocial recovery coach as a "recovery coach." A recovery coach is someone with expertise in mental health. They are a worker funded by the NDIS who supports disabled individuals in need of psychosocial recovery.
The psychosocial coach typically offers assistance to individuals to help them regain a sense of independence through capacity building, often through the use of a recovery plan. This newfound independence may encompass both personal and professional aspects.
Qualifications of a Psychosocial Recovery Coach under NDIS
The qualifications of a psychosocial recovery coach under NDIS are as follows:
Certificate 4 in Mental Health or Mental Health Peer Work (or equivalent training)
2 years of paid experience in supporting individuals dealing with mental health issues
Registration in NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission (optional)
Has lived and recovered from a mental health condition (optional)
Note: Some NDIS psychosocial recovery coaches may have other qualifications too. It is suggestible that you ask about their qualifications before selecting them.
What can a Psychosocial Recovery Coach do for you?
According to the NDIS, a recovery coach would do the following for you:
Spend time with you and your care group, including your friends and family to better understand your needs, issues, and choices.
Help you explore the different services available for you to facilitate your rehabilitation.
Ensure that you get the best and most appropriate mental health support services.
Facilitate a better understanding of NDIS for you and explain how it helps you in your journey of recovery.
The NDIS indirectly implies that a NDIS psychosocial recovery coach should -
Provide recovery-enabling relationships for disabled individuals, based on hope,
Prepare recovery plans for the disabled individuals,
Offer coaching to disabled individuals to rehabilitate them in society through capacity building and recovery skills, and
Assist in the implementation of the recovery plan.
Note: The psychosocial recovery coaches typically conduct a review after 3 months to track progress and then another review at 9 months on your recovery plan.
When to Connect with a Psychosocial Recovery Coach?
Connect with a NDIS psychosocial recovery coach if you believe that your mental health challenges have led to long-term impairment. The idea of "impairment" is explained in the blog post titled "Are you NDIS Upgraded? - NDIS Eligibility Criteria Revised”.
In simpler terms, if your mental health issues are preventing you from carrying out daily personal and social activities, it is crucial to seek assistance.
Whom to Have? A Psychosocial Recovery Coach or A Support Coordinator?
To decide on this, let’s begin with answering what is a support coordinator and what is a psychosocial recovery coach. A support coordinator generally provides capacity-building support to help NDIS participants with disabilities in their overall recovery. Their focus is on the type of support the participants need. Support coordination is not only related to NDIS mental health services or psychosocial support services, but it also includes physical support aspects.
A psychosocial recovery coach specialises in NDIS mental health services and psychosocial support services, providing similar support coordination functions. This is to say their expertise lies in mental health concerns. If your disability is specific to mental health, it's best to choose a recovery coach instead of, or in addition to, a support coordinator. Having both is unnecessary.
How to Find a Psychosocial Recovery Coach?
Contact us to find a psychosocial recovery coach. District 360 offers expert psychosocial recovery coaching services, coming from qualified NDIS recovery coaches. We offer the best psychosocial support services in Melbourne, along with quality mental health recovery plans.
How much does the Psychosocial Recovery Coach charge?
The NDIS states “a recovery coach costs $101.42 an hour in the day time during weekdays”. For more information on charges, please contact your local area coordinator or NDIS planner. They will be able to give you the exact quotation, as they might vary during the night, weekends, public holidays, etc.
If you are located in Melbourne, please get in touch with District 360 to inquire about the pricing.
How to Select the Perfect Psychosocial Recovery Coach?
In order to choose the most suitable psychosocial recovery coach for you, consider asking the following questions:
Do you have personal experience with mental illness?
Do you have a recovery story to share?
How many years have you worked as an emotional wellbeing coach?
What qualifications do you have?
What is your experience as a psychosocial recovery coach?
Are you currently undergoing any training in this field?
Are you registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission?
What are your availability times?
What location is most convenient for you?
Based on their responses, you can determine whether they are a good fit for you. Pay attention to how comfortable you feel around them, whether they are good listeners, and if they are easy to talk to. This will help you make an informed decision.
Who will cover the Funds of a Psychosocial Recovery Coach?
The NDIS only funds psychosocial recovery coaches. If you’re NDIS funded, you can choose this option for your psychosocial recovery coaching. Contact District 360 for more information.
Psychosocial or Mental Health Recovery Plan
The NDIS outlines that a psychosocial or mental health recovery plan should include the following components:
1. Identification of the participant’s barriers.
2. Breaking down long-term aspirations into small achievable targets.
3. Explanation to the participants about their areas of choice, as well as areas in which they don't have a say.
4. Identification of their immediate care group.
5. Mapping out the identified goals, objectives, and available tools and resources to achieve them.
6. Information about the management of available tools and resources.
7. Identification of early intervention signs that may require support and a backup plan for them.
8. Outlining the roles and responsibilities of recovery coaches, support coordinators, etc.
9. NDIS funding and support plan.
Contact District 360 for a Psychosocial Recovery Coach in Melbourne!
Contact District 360 to access an NDIS psychosocial recovery coach in Melbourne. We provide 24/7 support, so feel free to reach out to us any time of the day. With our expertise and experience, we guarantee that you or your loved one will receive the highest quality mental health support available in Melbourne. We also take all necessary preventive measures to ensure that your mental health concerns do not worsen. We plan your rehabilitation in society strategically.
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