Support workers can play a huge role in the life of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant – supporting them to get vital tasks done and enjoy the things they like and are good at.
Just ask Alan, an Aussie larrikin from Brisbane, who joined the Scheme six months after it launched in Queensland, and says it’s been ‘a complete game changer’ that’s helped him achieve a lot and clock up some incredible experiences along the way.
Alan, who receives in-home support and assistance to participate in twice-weekly woodworking sessions, acknowledges the positive impact his team of ‘awesome’ support workers has on his daily life.
With them by his side he’s been able to deal with the domestic load at home and get out and about in the community – attending NRL games, rockabilly concerts and drag racing, and exploring regional and remote areas of the country.
“It takes a load off the family and my partner, and it’s so much better for me,” says Alan. “I couldn’t have done half of this stuff without being in the NDIS – I wouldn’t be doing much at all.”
In Alan’s view, finding the right fit is vital to the participant/provider relationship, and for him, building a team of people who like sport, music, racing and outback adventures has created a synergy that’s delivered great results.
We turned to Alan and AFA Support Coordination’s Elizabeth Hickey to find out more about how participants and their support workers can build positive working relationships underscored by common values and shared respect.
Elizabeth says there are a wide array of options when it comes to seeking supports – including agencies, online platforms and word of mouth referrals – and the key is to look for people you get on with, feel safe with, and who have the skills and experience to deliver the level of support you need.
"When it’s working, you should look forward to the assistance and not feel like you have more work on your plate,” says Elizabeth. “For many people, the best place to start is by talking to their community – like the current supports they have (be that medical, school or otherwise) or their peer community. There are so many social media groups, and other groups too, that can provide recommendations.”
For a participant who's new to the Scheme and isn’t sure where to begin, Alan recommends starting with a website or app where you can search local support workers. He says the trick is to be specific about exactly who and what you’re looking for.
“I’d communicate that I need a support worker to take me to and from woodwork. I’d say I need transport in the morning at a specific time to and from a venue,” says Alan. “Be as specific as you can with the frequency, times and locations.”
You can also try Kinora, an online community created by My Plan Manager to help people with disability and their supporters connect with peers, NDIS experts and service providers.
Kinora has a ‘Referral Request’ channel where you can put up a request for a support worker (and other providers) and it’ll tag those who fit the bill so they can get in touch.
Everyone has different values and a different picture of what they want from the people in their lives. Alan says the attributes he looks for include honesty, consistency, promptness, friendliness, and whether the person does what they say they’ll do.
“It’s hard to know up front, but you have to find someone who matches your own personality,” says Alan.
Elizabeth’s tips include:
Alan says he likes to organise a meet and greet before hiring a support worker to get a gauge of what they’re really like.
When you’re ready to make a decision, Elizabeth recommends adding more than one support worker to your team
“If you have a support worker and they get sick or can’t make it, then you lose all supports and that’s never a good thing,” she says. “Even if you receive support once a week, having more than one worker who alternate can help.”
Once you’ve found a match and discussed your needs, the next step is usually signing a service agreement that sets out the details of the supports you’ll receive, as well as the frequency of those supports, and the provider’s terms and conditions.
After that – you’re good to go.
Elizabeth’s top tip for implementing supports is to create a to-do list.
“This can be an ongoing list – e.g. ‘clean the bathroom and kitchen and mop the floors’ – or it can change every shift depending on what’s needed,” she says. “If the support worker’s changing, it can be easier to have a list for that day – and a list of other tasks that regularly need to happen.”
Alan works with four support workers and says managing the team has been a case of trial and error.
“The support worker I use regularly does my mowing and takes me to woodwork and helps me out in the workshop,” says Alan. “One worker I use regularly comes in and does my domestics and meal prep, and one takes me to events. And there’s a worker I see two to three times a year who takes me to drag racing.”
Whatever route you take to implementing your supports, good communication is key and having those upfront conversations and a service agreement in place is a great start!
Not every support worker will be the right match, and Elizabeth says there are clear signs when this is the case.
“Don’t be afraid to let a provider know you don’t like a particular worker or that something’s just not going well – they can’t change it if they don’t know, says Elizabeth.
“For me, the biggest dealbreaker is when you’re not listened to, or you feel uncomfortable. Remember, you’re the boss, and the support should be helping you, not creating more work!”
According to Alan, he fell into luck with his current team of support workers, but it hasn’t always been that way.
“You can tell a support worker not to come back and you don’t have to give an excuse,” he says. “You don’t have to say why.”
“I’ve told a lot of them not to come back and I’m fortunate to be able to do that. Some clients don’t have that in them, and they find it difficult to confront people.”
Alan says if a relationship with a support worker isn’t working and you can’t voice it, you could try telling a family member or someone else who can speak up for you.
Elizabeth agrees.
“Providers are there to provide the supports, but you’re the person receiving them and therefore you have choice and control,” says Elizabeth.
“The thing I love to hear from clients is ‘I love this worker – they were really helpful, and it was easy’.
“Trust your gut – if it works, it works!”
3 September 2024
