Choosing the right Support Worker
Choosing the right support worker or workers can be daunting and finding the right person or persons can feel like a challenge.
Who you work closely with can have a massive impact on your ability to live a fulfilling life and achieve your goals so it’s essential to find your fit to make sure you receive the best support possible.
First it’s important to understand what a support worker can do.
Support workers can:
Help you learn new skills
Assist with daily tasks around the home
Assist with personal care such as showering, eating or dressing
Offer physical and emotional support
Provide assistance and transport for medical appointments, or social and community events or activities
Help you to achieve your NDIS Goals.
The NDIS has made it possible for you to have more choice and control than ever when building your support team.
So how do you start building?
Create a wish list. Before you engage any providers, think about your unique individual needs and goals. Consider the type of support or assistance you’ll need and what type of working relationship you want to have with your provider.
Consult your existing support network! You can ask your friends and family, trusted providers you already know or others in your network for recommendations. Another option is to check out your local directories and have a look at reviews and recommendations there.
Don't be scared to ask questions. Once you’ve found a potential provider, take the time to interview them. You can ask about how they work and their experience with people with disabilities and their qualifications. Find out how they can help you achieve your goals.
Make sure their availability is compatible with your schedule. Providers will often work with multiple participants so consider things such as; How many days a week will you need assistance? Do you prefer mornings or afternoons? Does the provider have flexibility should circumstances change? Be sure to choose a provider that aligns with you.
Think about diversifying. You don’t have to limit yourself to one provider. One stop shops don’t suit everyone and that's perfectly fine. Having a team of 2-3 support workers with different skills is often a great way to go because you’re more likely to have a back-up person to call if someone is sick or unavailable.
Once you’ve built your team, think about how you’d like to manage them. Make sure you set your expectations, keep the lines of communication open and if you have more than one worker in your team, keep everyone in the loop to ensure there are no gaps in the support you’re receiving.
