As an NDIS Participant, you have choice and control over who you engage as part of your support team. Having a support worker that can provide for your needs, work well with other members of your support team and most importantly, be someone that you connect with, can be really important in helping you to achieve your goals and ensuring your support needs are met. But what should you expect from a support worker?
Role of a Support Worker
Your support worker’s role can be tailored to your support needs. They can assist you with things like:
Providing in-home support with daily tasks like showering, dressing, eating, taking medication etc.
Assistance with household tasks and activities like preparing meals, washing, ironing, cleaning etc.
Assistance with therapies like practicing and doing exercises etc.
Going out in the community for things like shopping, attending university or TAFE, medical appointments, work, social activities with friends or family etc.
Support workers can either be NDIS registered or they may be unregistered, depending on whether the individual support worker or the support worker provider agency has opted to go through the NDIS registration process. If you're a Plan Managed Participant, then you’ll have access to NDIS registered and unregistered support worker providers, giving you more choice and control over who joins your support team.
What to expect from your Support Worker
Your support worker is there to help you achieve your goals and build your capacity for independence. They should:
Be professional
Have the appropriate skills and experience to suit your needs
Understand your support needs
Have excellent communication and listening skills
Be patient
Help you build your capacity for independence
Have the skills and capabilities to assist if things don’t go to plan
An up-to-date First Aid Certificate
An up-to-date National Police Clearance
An Australian Drivers Licence
A Working with Children Card (if relevant)
Although you may have mentioned exactly what supports you need, when and how you’d like those supports delivered during the interview process, it’s a good idea to reiterate this to a new support worker once they have been hired. That way, you can help to eliminate any potential confusion for yourself and your new support worker.
It’s also recommended that you formalise your expectations through a Service Agreement. If you have more than one support worker, you should have a Service Agreement for each individual.
Service Agreements
Whether you’ve opted for an NDIS registered or unregistered support worker, having a service agreement is an important tool to ensure you and your support worker are on the same page and have clearly defined what you expect from them.
The Service Agreement should outline:
Your responsibilities and those of the support worker
Contact details for the support worker
What support will be provided
The cost per hour
The total cost of the supports for the period you have requested their service
How to handle any issues if things aren’t going the way you want
The service providers cancellation policy
How to end the service agreement and any notice periods required.
If you have multiple support workers or service providers, you’re likely to have multiple Service Agreements. Keeping track of your Service Agreements can sometimes be a hassle. If you are Plan Managed by First2Care, you can keep a copy of all your Service Agreements on your Plan Magic online portal by emailing the First2Care support team.
Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.