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Do I need a support worker
Throughout the day, you may need assistance with various activities of daily living; such as bathing, getting dressed or with transfers. If your needs change and you require more support, a disability support worker (also known as a Support Worker) can assist in areas you’re struggling to manage by yourself.
If you find yourself in this position, it’s good to start by creating a timetable of what you’d like your week to look like. This involves listing major daily milestones like meals, errands or even pleasant activities like spending time outside.
After you’ve listed everything, look through and see what parts of your weekly schedule might require assistance. With a clear idea of how much help you might need in a given week, and what your monthly budget can support if you will be hiring privately, it’s time to begin looking for a disability support worker.
Finding a Support Worker
Step 1
Now that you know roughly how many hours of support you’ll need on a weekly basis, there are two avenues for looking for a support worker: funded services and hiring privately. Funded services are available through My Aged Care and National Disability Income Scheme.
Click on these links for more information on these funded supports of if you would like our support in applying then contact out office.
My Aged Care
Before you can access any government-funded Aged Care services, you must be registered with My Aged Care.
You can register online, via the My Aged Care website, or on the phone by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
NDIS
If the NDIS is available in your area and you don’t get any disability supports, you can call 1800 800 110 and make an Access Request over the phone. If you prefer, you can ask for a form to fill out. If you need help filling out the form or making the call, contact your Local Area Coordinator, Early Childhood Early Intervention partner or your local NDIA office.
If you want help understanding what you can access and to register for a plan then this is a service that we can provide, so contact our office by following this link or calling us on 0499884559.
Step 2
Once you receive confirmation of your government funding or have the financial means to hire your own workers, you can search for a support worker that fits your budget and can accommodate the hours of service you need.
Step 3
There are a number of places you can begin looking for these workers, but it’s a good idea to talk with other people that have already hired a support worker to find out about their experience. They may be able to guide you towards the place where they had success finding a worker.
There are three ways to find Support Workers:
1. Service provider
There are many service providers who provide Support Workers.
If using a service provider check if you get a choice of Support Worker and what other services they provide. Do they offer a personalised service or will you be just number . Check what staff are saying about how they are treated by their employees this is usually a good sign if clients are treated well. Your Enabled Services provides personalised supports, we are small enough to care and our model is all about care.
2. Online matching platform
Matching platforms are online agencies that will help you search for individual Support Workers. Not all matching platforms are the same. Some are registered providers and when they employ the workers they undertake more rigorous checks and will follow up problems with support workers others just act like a matching service. The Support Worker is a contractor and you need to follow up issues directly with the worker yourself. These platforms take a percentage of your fee or charge support workers for being on their platforms, this may drive up the cost of supports.
3. Find your own Support Workers
Summarise what you are looking for in a short ad that explains what you want the Support Worker to do and include anything that is important. Share the ad with your networks but don’t include any private information such as your address or personal details. Make sure you include information about how people can apply, such as by phone, email or written application.
If you directly employ Support Workers you are accountable for legal and regulatory responsibilities, such as taxation, superannuation, insurance and work health and safety.
Find out more about these responsibilities and self-management on the NDIS website and the Self Manager Hub.
Your Enabled Services (Y.E.S) is unique and is a combination of being a Service Provider and Individual Support workers. However; we are accountable for all the legal and regulatory responsibilities. We are small enough to care and be part of your community.
Step 4
Once you’re ready to look for a Support Worker or a Service Provider, start searching through popular hiring and social media platforms.
REMEMBER: Always be transparent about what you’re looking for, and how many hours per week you require assistance. The clearer your expectations and budget are prior to starting your search, the easier it will be for you to find the assistance you need.
Getting the right people
Check that any potential Support Workers have:
- Working with Children Check
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Police check
- First Aid Certificate if needed
- NDIS module
- Cert 111 community
- Comprehensive car insurance
Then make a time to meet in person. For a first meeting you could meet in a library or café rather than in your home. Prepare questions that will help you find out more about the person:
- What training do you have?
- What work have you done before?
- Tell me about how you interact with children?
- What do your friends like about you?
- Have you had experience of (explain a bit about your support needs)?
- Are you experienced in providing personal care?
- What would you do if (give an example of a situation)?
- How do you maintain boundaries?
- How would you want us to communicate?
- Are you okay with my pet cat/dog/bird in the house?
- Call at least two referees. Let the applicants know the outcome of your decision.
Things to consider
It is rare that any one Support Worker will have all of your desired qualities. Consider taking on two or three workers. This will help ensure you have people to cover times of illness or holidays. Your Support Workers may not only work with you. Keep this in mind and try to book Support Workers for regular shifts. It’s a good idea to check cancellation and replacement policies.
Take the hassle away and just let us find the perfect staff for you as we will match one to your needs and preferences. We will also try to ensure there is always a back up to provide supports if something was to happen to your support worker.
Disability supports
Support coordination
This support will assist you to build the skills you need to understand and use your plan. A support coordinator will work with you to ensure a mix of supports are used to increase your capacity to maintain relationships, manage service delivery tasks, live more independently and be included in your community.
Specialist support Coordination
This is a higher level of support coordination. It is for people whose situations are more complex and who need specialist support. A specialist Support Coordinator will assist you to manage challenges in your support environment and ensuring consistent delivery of service.
Your Carer/Support Worker
We will match you with one of our outstanding support workers or caregivers to see if you click. We will take into consideration your interest and preference for: Personality, Culture, Gender, LGBTI awareness.
A onboarding consultation will be arranged and a Wellbeing plan will be created which guides the supports services provided. Take a look at the process and how we differ from other providers.
We have extensive experience in working with people across a number of complexities and challenges. If we haven’t got the experience, we will get the training or recruit the perfect person required to help you out. Our support is very flexible, delivered at an agreed time to suit you the client, and covers your goals and interest not the support staffs’ interests. The supports can include, but not limited to:
- Help with various aspects of running a home, including maintaining a tenancy, managing household finances, and supporting the development of household tasks
- Advice and practical assistance with healthy eating and preparing meals on a budget
- Addressing issues of isolation and loneliness, promoting positive relationships with friends and family, and supporting access to leisure and social activities
- Help with personal care, support with prompting and administering medication and help with arranging and attending appointments.
- Helping you find employment, moving and settling into a new home.