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What is self-management
in home care?

Self-management gives you more choice, flexibility, and control over your supports. Learn how self-management works and whether it’s the right fit for you or your loved one.

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When it comes to getting the most from your Home Care Package, having choice and control is key. One way to take greater ownership of your supports is by choosing self-management. But what does that actually mean, and is it right for you?

In this blog post, we’ll break down what self-management is, how it works, and the benefits as well as responsibilities that come with it.

What does self-management mean? 

Self-management gives you the freedom to take control of your Home Care Package funds and how they’re used. Instead of having a provider manage everything for you, you’ll take the lead in organising your supports, choosing who provides them, and deciding when and how they’re delivered.

With a self-managed package, you still have a provider (like PlanCare) supporting you behind the scenes, but you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to day-to-day decisions and coordination.

What are the benefits? 

Self-management offers a number of advantages, especially for those who want more flexibility and independence:

  • Greater choice: You can choose who delivers your care and supports, even non-traditional or local providers that larger agencies may not use. As long as they’re able to pass our verification process, you’ll be able to utilise them for the services you need.
  • More control: You can set schedules, negotiate rates, and personalise services to better match your preferences, meaning that you can shop around amongst providers to get the best deal.
  • Cost savings: Because you’re taking on more of the admin yourself, the provider fee is often lower (e.g. PlanCare charges just 13% for self-managed services).
  • Empowerment: Many people find that self-management gives them a stronger sense of autonomy and involvement in their care, and more control over who provides their services and equally as importantly, who doesn’t.

What are my responsibilities?

While self-management gives you more control over your funds, it also comes with more responsibility. Here’s what you’ll need to do when you self-manage your Home Care Package:

  • Find and manage your providers
    You’ll be responsible for sourcing, booking, and communicating with your chosen service providers. This involves finding suitable alternatives if your provider is unavailable, or if you wish to swap to a different service provider.
  • Get your providers verified
    Before they can be paid, providers need to be verified by your package provider (PlanCare). Whilst PlanCare will reach out to the provider to obtain these documents, you’ll need to provide the contact details of the provider. The documents that your providers will need to submit include:
    • ABN
    • Insurance certificates (public liability & professional indemnity)
    • A current police check or NDIS Worker Screening Check
    • Any required professional qualifications
  • Review invoices
    With PlanCare, you’ll receive invoices for approval before payment. This ensures you’re happy with the services received before funds are used, and you can choose to reject the invoices that you think may be incorrect.
  • Stay on budget
    You’ll need to track your spending and ensure it stays within your Home Care Package allocation. If you want to spend more on your goods and services than what you have been allocated, you will need to pay the extra amount out of pocket.
  • Resolve issues directly
    If problems arise with a provider, it’s up to you to manage the conversation and seek a resolution and, if necessary, find an alternative provider.

Is self-management right for me?

Self-management works well for people who:

  • Are comfortable coordinating services themselves
  • Want flexibility in choosing who provides their care
  • Have time and confidence to take on administrative tasks
  • Value independence and decision-making control

Self-management can also work well if you have someone (i.e. a family member) who may be able to assist with some of the responsibilities. However it may not be ideal if you prefer someone else to take care of scheduling, provider communication, or managing disputes. In those cases, a fully managed option might be a better fit.

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Read our other blog about how you can self-manage your funds here. If you have any questions or would like to talk through which service is most suitable for you, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on 1800 024 000 or book a free explainer session.