A Support at Home care plan sets out the support you will actually receive and how those services will be delivered.
It should reflect your assessed needs, the services you have been approved for, and the way you want support to work in daily life. The care plan is developed with you and must align with your Notice of Decision and support plan. It should be prepared before, or on, the day services begin.
If you are arranging support through Careseekers, the care plan matters because it helps clarify what support is approved, what you want help with, and how that support will be arranged through the platform. Your approved provider can pay Careseekers directly for eligible services delivered through the platform, and you can also use private support where needed.
What is the purpose of a care plan?
The care plan is there to turn your assessment outcome into a real support arrangement.
It should show:
- your assessed care needs
- the approved services you can receive
- how those services will meet your needs
- how support will work day to day.
It should also reflect your choice and control over your services and focus on wellness and re-ablement, not just tasks and schedules.
How is a care plan different from a support plan?
These documents are connected, but they do different jobs.
Your support plan comes out of the assessment process. It reflects your assessed needs and the services you have been approved for.
Your care plan is developed with your provider once support is being set up. It turns that approval into a practical arrangement for the services you will actually receive. The care plan and the individualised budget must align with the Notice of Decision and support plan.
What should a Support at Home care plan include?
A good care plan should make it clear:
- what support you need
- which approved services you will receive
- what your goals, preferences and priorities are
- how the support will be delivered
- when services will happen
- how your provider will review and adjust the arrangement if your needs change.
The care plan should be practical, not vague. It should help everyone understand what support is happening and why.
How does the individualised budget fit in?
The individualised budget sits alongside the care plan.
It sets out:
- the funds available to you
- how those funds will be spent to provide services.
That means the care plan explains what support is being arranged, while the individualised budget explains how the funding will be used to deliver it.
When is the care plan created?
The care plan should be prepared before your services start, or on the day care begins. It is something you and your provider develop together, not something that should appear later without your involvement.
Can the care plan change over time?
Yes.
If your needs change, the care plan should be reviewed and updated. That is important because the support that works well at one stage may need to change later. A care plan is meant to stay relevant to your needs, not remain fixed if your situation changes.
What should you check in your care plan before services start?
Before support begins, it helps to make sure the care plan is clear on:
- what help you will receive
- how often support will happen
- what matters most to you
- whether the support reflects your routine and preferences
- whether the services listed match what you were approved for
- whether the arrangement feels realistic within your budget.
The clearer this is at the start, the easier the support arrangement usually is later.
How Careseekers fits into this stage
Once you know what support you want to arrange, Careseekers can help you choose the right worker for that support.
You can:
- compare worker profiles
- view experience, availability and hourly rates
- choose the worker who best suits your needs and routine
- arrange one-off, occasional or ongoing support
- use Support at Home funding where your approved provider agrees
- use private support if you want extra flexibility or support outside the funded arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
Is a care plan the same as a support plan?
No. The support plan comes from the assessment stage. The care plan is developed later with your provider to set out how approved services will actually be delivered.
Does a Support at Home care plan have to match my approved services?
Yes. The care plan needs to align with your Notice of Decision and support plan.
What is included in the individualised budget?
It sets out the funds available to you and how those funds will be spent to deliver services.
When should the care plan be ready?
It should be prepared before, or on, the day your services begin.
Can my care plan be updated later?
Yes. If your needs change, the care plan should be reviewed and adjusted.
Can I use Careseekers once my care plan is in place?
Yes, in many cases. Eligible services can be arranged through Careseekers and paid through the platform. You can also use private support.
Ready to arrange support clearly?
Once your approved services are clear, we make it easier to compare workers, organise support and choose care that fits your needs and routine.
Read: How Does Support at Home Work with Careseekers?
Read: Can I Choose My Own Aged Care Worker with Support at Home?
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