The 3 things families look for in a support worker.
Tags: Disability, Employment, Community, Social Enterprise, Professional Development

Like all families, families who have a member with disability are protective of their loved one.

They want their family member to be cared for in the way they care for them. They have expectations for how things should be done and they have years of experience above what a support worker, new to the role, has.

When looking for that perfect support worker, there are a few key things families want. A support worker can live up to — and exceed — a family’s expectations by demonstrating these 3 things:

1. Building trust —

Families need to know they can trust you to take the best care of their most prized love, their child. Trust is built over time and it’s important to start proving yourself from day one.

A support worker can build a strong foundation by communicating early and often (Running behind? Not feeling well today? Send a text as soon as possible!); showing up (Your client looks forward to your hangouts each week, even counts down the minutes! The family relies on your for respite and the client relies on your friendship. Show up for them); showing up on time (or even a few minutes early!); and actively listening (Your client has a commitment they need to attend? Make sure they get there! Your client’s mom mentioned that their child always forgets their towel in the change room? Ensure that towel gets packed back home).

2. Being flexible but firm —

Now, how can you be flexible and firm? That seems like an oxymoron! Being flexible means that you are accommodating and can change or alter plans as necessary. Being firm means you keep and hold boundaries where necessary. Below are a few examples of each.

Here’s an example of when flexible is ✓: As you and your client are leaving the mall to catch the 3:20pm bus when she asks to use the washroom. You head towards the nearest toilet. Nope, not that toilet. That toilet has that automatic flush — Ugh! So loud! A flexible support worker would start towards the father toilet and recalculate their new arrival time once they catch the 3:35pm bus. Don’t forget to send a quick text to her mom to let her know you will be a little later than planned! Sometimes plans change and that’s okay as long as we communicate! Being firm with the original plan would not make sense here. It would create more challenges and would set us and our client up for failure…and maybe an accident.

Here’s an example of when firm is ✓: You and your client are at the swimming pool and another group’s swimming lessons are about to start — fun for them, but sad for you as you have to get out of the pool! You gave your usual transition warnings at 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute, and now the next group of swimmers are waiting for us to get out of the pool. There’s only so long you can divert the gaze of that lifeguard — It’s time to be more firm. The logic approach: “Our turn in the pool is over. It’s their turn in the pool now and our turn to find our towels.” The redirect approach: “Our turn in the pool is over. Are you hungry for lunch? I feel like quesadillas! What do you feel like? Quesadillas, too? Let’s go grab our yellow towels so we can have some quesadillas!”

3. Engaging —

Many families express concern that their family member spends a lot of time alone. To learn and grow, we need to connect with one another. That’s where you, their support worker shines! As their support worker, it is you that engages with their family member in a different way. Cue the excitement, the energy, and the humour!

You can engage your client by showing up ready to work together on a project (Want to improve your painting skills? Do you like puzzles?); learn a new skill (Ever learned how to code? Have you ever taken transit before?); or explore together (Have you ever been skating at City Hall? How about checking out that new art exhibit?).

There it is !— by building trust, being flexible but firm and engaging, YOU can be that perfect support worker every family is looking for.