Support work can look very different for each of the different people who are accessing it. One person may need a higher level of support with showering and dressing, another may need support accessing the community. There are a few things that should be common to all Support Workers though, before even considering their formal qualifications.
A support worker:
✔️ Is someone you trust, feel safe with and choose to be with.
✔️ Is reliable, has great communication skills, is open and warm, patient and kind.
✔️ Asks how you are and cares about your response.
✔️ Is interested in your day-to-day life but has strong professional boundaries.
✔️ Is proactive in seeking your ideas about how you can best be supported.
✔️ Is passionate about working with people.
✔️ Is opened minded and always ready to learn.
It might seem like the person you are searching for is Mary Poppins – but these folks are out there. It takes time and patience to find the right people who tick all the boxes. The process that we go through when we search for new staff takes a lot of time and understanding. Unfortunately, time is a luxury that most people don’t have, between living your life, working and family commitments – who wants to wade through applicants/interviews/reference checks (the list goes on).
This is a process I’ve been through over and over and when you look at our team, they have lots of different interests and hobbies, different senses of humour and they come from various backgrounds – BUT – what they ALL have in common are the qualities beside the checkboxes. We essentially employ the same type of person over and over again because they are passionate about this work.
Support workers are there to support you and often, your family as well, in the ways that you need. There is no single answer to the question “What is a support worker?”, they wear many hats. If you can start from a place where all the boxes are ticked, then that’s half the battle.
Sunshine Family Support have availability right now with some incredible support workers – to find out more get in 1300 56 52 52
Comments