What Should I Expect in a Support Worker?
You may be in a situation where you have never needed support at home before, or perhaps the person you have been caring for at home now needs more than you are able to offer due to ageing or failing health.
Support workers are individuals who have a genuine desire to make a positive difference in another person’s life. They have undertaken training (Certificate III) that offers them basic understanding of their role and a little insight into the needs of the people they will be supporting. They will never have your full insight into your daily life or issues you deal with on a daily basis. What they will learn, is what you share with them in the short time they spend with you each day or service.
What you should expect is:
- They are visitors in your home and not family members. You may develop a social/friend relationship, but they will always be an employee, not your closest confidante.
- Yes, they have a Certificate III and this, along with the requirements of their employer, they are required to maintain your privacy and the privacy of all of the people they support. After all, you will not be their only client. They are required to keep any information about you and your home confidential. For this reason, most employers ask that you do NOT share your contact details with them and likewise, they should not be asked for their contact details.
- Their employer (even if they are an independent contractor), should have the skills to provide support in your home in a safe and positive way. If there are gaps in their understanding, it is the responsibility of the employer to assist that worker to develop those skills or provide another worker who has the skills that you need. If they are an independent contractor, you should look for another worker, not accept sub-optimal support.
A support worker, like you, has their own life and often family responsibilities. While they will share their professional selves with you for a set time, this is not the only aspect of their life. They need change (a holiday) and rest as do you. They can get ill and need time to recover. While they can be invaluable, they are never indestructible. A quality relationship with a support worker is one where there is respect for each other.