What Does a Support Worker Do?

 

If you’re an NDIS participant, you may need a support worker to help you achieve your goals. They travel to your home and create assistance plans that are specific to your needs, wants, and ambitions.

These people can be self-employed, employees, contractors, or volunteers. They are dedicated to forming meaningful connections with participants and becoming trusted companions.

Helping with daily tasks

Ndis services participants need assistance with daily tasks that can be difficult for them to do themselves. This includes cooking, cleaning, shopping, and taking medications. Support workers help these individuals perform these activities and can also drive them to and from events.

Emotional support is another key function of an NDIS support worker. They offer a listening ear and empathy to their participants, and promote their emotional wellbeing by acting as advocates for them. In addition, they help participants connect with community groups and foster social connections.

It’s important to find a support worker who clicks with you and who understands your needs. One way to do this is to ask your network for recommendations. You can also attend job fairs and career days to meet potential workers. At Lifeways, we regularly hold these events to provide people interested in the role with an opportunity to speak directly to our support workers.

Socialising

Some NDIS participants can feel isolated at home, so it is important that they have a person to talk to and to help them socialise. This may be through helping with hobbies and interests, assisting with getting to community groups, or encouraging the development of life skills such as cooking and money management.

When looking for a support worker, it is worth considering the person's background and experience. It is a good idea to review their profile and conduct interviews before making a decision. Ideally, you should choose someone who has an interest in your own needs and is compassionate towards others.

Lastly, a NDIS participant should consider whether the support worker has their NDIS Worker Check, which is a national assessment that checks if a person poses a risk to people with disabilities. This is a mandatory requirement for all support workers. This can be found on their profile. You should also look at their reviews and recommendations.

Assisting with education

The work of a support worker is often fulfilling and rewarding. They are paid an attractive hourly rate and have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with their clients. This can lead to greater empathy and an understanding of their clients’ needs.

In addition to providing emotional support, a good disability support worker will also help their clients socialise and develop new hobbies. This is important, as staying home can be lonely for people with disabilities.

A support worker ndis can also assist with educational needs by reaching out to teachers at schools where their client attends. This can ensure that their client receives the appropriate education in a supportive environment. If you are selfmanaging your NDIS funds, you can find out more about hiring and employing your own staff by visiting the CYDA guide to employing support workers. It has templates for advertisements, job descriptions and letters of engagement, as well as details of rates of pay, superannuation, leave and insurance.

Assisting with health care

Besides being the link between you and the NDIS, your support worker will also be there to help you deal with emotional stressors. In case of emergencies, they will contact medical services for you and check if you are taking your medications regularly.

They will also assist you with community engagement and social activities. They will encourage you to engage in these activities, accompany you to appointments and help you connect with local community groups. This way, they can promote a more enriched life for you.

Before you start searching for a support worker, make sure that you understand your needs and goals. It’s best to reach out to friends and family for recommendations, but if that’s not possible, you can also find one by contacting disability organisations or using websites such as Mable. These sites will connect you with providers who have a good track record. They will also give you tips on what to look for in a good support worker.