What Are the Qualities That a Good Disability Support Worker Should Possess?

Disability support workers provide care, supervision and support to people with disabilities in their own homes, residential facilities, clinics and hospitals. They also work with other health professionals to maximise the physical and mental wellbeing of the individual.

They offer emotional support and companionship while, if possible, encouraging independence and community involvement. Disability services are one of Australia's fastest-growing businesses, with the potential to create 90,000 new employment opportunities in the next several years, according to a recent Federal Government research.

You might be in high demand for your abilities as a disability support worker and can improve the lives of numerous people. In this blog let us look at the top qualities that every effective support worker should possess.

A support worker should train the person they support to become independent

Sometimes a support worker doesn't realise that they could be the barrier to inclusion! This situation can arise when support workers feel that they aren't doing their job well if they stand back and allow the person they are supporting to communicate and interact directly in the community. Well, that's the aim, isn't it! It's important for a support worker to recognise that part of their role is to facilitate a person's independence, and sometimes that can mean stepping back and letting the other person take over.

A support worker must motivate people to converse with the person they are supporting.

A good support worker should also know when to speak up and let people in the community know that it's OK to communicate directly with the person they support, especially if they may have communication difficulties. People can sometimes be reluctant to speak directly to a person with communication difficulties for fear of offending them. A good support worker educates people in the community about equal opportunities and rights. Another important benefit is that it also empowers the person being supported, giving them a sense of independence and self-confidence.

A support worker should use augmentative and alternative communication aids.

Understand that there are different ways of communicating. Verbal communication isn't the only way a person can express themselves. Any individual or support worker can apply for communication aids, which are free for those who qualify. In order to encourage independence for people with communication challenges, support staff members should investigate the usage of community request cards and visual schedules.

A support worker must not make their own assumptions regarding a person's abilities

It's important that a support worker never assumes that a person can't do something, or does something for the person because they think it will 'just be easier'. There's definitely an art to support work and you'll learn that everyone likes to be supported in their own way. If you're not sure, ask! It's the best way to know if you're doing a good job or if someone would like you to do something else.

Finally, a good carer should think outside the box.

Essentially, your role as a support worker is to enable the person to achieve their goal. This means doing things that other people (sometimes including yourself) think they can't do. It is therefore essential to think outside the box. Have an open mind! Whether it's supporting a person to go up in a hot air balloon, to join a new club, or even to order their own food in a restaurant, focus on the goal and work on the barrier. Your role is to support the person to do what they want and make it happen.

By being a disability support worker, you have the opportunity to play an important role in the community. You help people in doing things or performing activities that they never thought possible. You can make a positive difference to that person's life, making them more confident, independent, empowered and included in society. So, you are contributing a great deal to society as you help the disabled person to live a fulfilling life without feeling impeded by their disabilities or obstacles.

Conclusion

You can obtain employment as a disability support worker without any formal qualifications. You are likely to receive some informal training on the job. Access to the job may be improved if you have qualifications or experience of working with people who need care. You may want to consider a vocational qualification. Subjects and requirements may vary from institution to institution, so you should contact the institution of your choice for more information.

Obtaining a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) or a Certificate IV in Disability can be very useful in gaining employment opportunities in Australia. Contact our student counsellors at MWT Education Consultancy for further assistance in taking up a career as a disability support worker in Australia or any other international destination.