What makes for a good support worker?
A support worker’s role can vary day to day with responsibilities ranging from assisting with personal care, medical requirements and food and supply shopping, to attending appointments and social outings with you. In all of these activities support workers are expected to perform their role in a way that maximises the independence and inclusion of participants in the community.
Physical assistance and instrumental support are vital to making sure that the activities of daily living run smoothly and efficiently. But what about personal qualities a support worker should have to best perform their role? Some examples can be found below.
Important characteristics a good support worker should possess can include:
Compassion - your support worker should be empathetic and person centred. They should be able to cater to your specific needs in a respectful and sensitive way.
Honesty and integrity- Honesty is essential to creating a relationship of mutual trust. The integrity of a support worker rests upon their ability to be honest in their interactions with both the participant and participant’s family and transparent in recording working hours and activities.
Excellent communication skills- your support worker should be open to receiving feedback from you and understand the nuances of your care requirements.
Friendly and approachable- Your support worker should encourage and support your goals and you should feel able to raise concerns freely.
Attention to detail- each participant under the NDIS will have a unique set of care requirements reflective of their medical history. It is an important that your support worker is able to personalise your care to meet those specific needs. The best support care is tailored to the participant individually to ensure quality of care and participant satisfaction.
Be proactive- in many cases your support worker will be the point of contact for a variety of ancillary and healthcare professionals. They should advocate for you where required and be up to date with health and life developments.
