The Essential Guide to Working as a Support Worker in the Community

October 11, 2023

Support Workers provide care for vulnerable individuals that require support in the community. Being a support worker can be challenging, but it is a highly rewarding role. With casual and part time work available, it is ideal for local and international students looking for flexible and practical paid work experience.


Responsibilities of a Support Worker

  • Assessing the needs of members and the nature and extent of their abilities,
  • Planning, developing and implementing care plans under the guidance of a qualified therapists,
  • Monitoring and reporting on the progress of members,
  • Accessing and participating in the community,
  • Providing personal care assistance such as dressing, bathing and going to the toilet, if required,
  • Assisting with domestic activities such as washing and vacuuming if required,
  • Preparing meals and assisting with eating meals, if required,
  • Interacting with members and encouraging and arranging various activities to help stimulate them physically and emotionally, if required.


What skills are needed to be a great Support Worker

Here are 12 tips to maximise your impact and make the most of your time at work:

  • Be Positive and Supportive
  • Ask Questions
  • Take Notes
  • Be Flexible and Patient
  • Take Time for Yourself
  • Be Organised and Professional
  • Be Honest and Upfront
  • Stay In Touch
  • Use Technology Wisely
  • Learn New Skills
  • Stay Connected to Your Community
  • Have Fun!


Be Positive and Supportive

Your job is to support people with disabilities, so you need to be able to build positive relationships and be a valuable resource. A big part of your role is being available when people need you. Make sure you are reliable and stay on schedule – this will help people feel confident that you are there for them when they need it.


Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions – this will help you learn more about your members and better understand their needs. It also allows you to provide the best possible service, which is vital in ensuring that people with disabilities feel supported and valued throughout their journey.

You are likely the first person someone with a disability speaks to about their needs. Make sure you listen carefully and ask questions when necessary. This will help you understand your members and identify any needs or concerns they may have.


Take Notes

Taking notes during interactions with members will help you form accurate impressions and keep track of important details. This will ensure that you understand your member’s needs and can provide the best possible service.


Be Flexible and Patient

No two days are alike; this means that you need to be flexible when it comes to your work schedule. If something comes up that requires your attention, be sure to adjust as necessary. This will minimise the impact on your members and allow you to give the best possible service.

It can be tough work dealing with people with disabilities, but it is essential that you remain patient and flexible. People with disabilities may have unique needs that require a different approach than what you are used to. Be sure to adapt your approach as needed in order to provide the best possible service.


Take Time for Yourself

You are an important part of the disability support worker team, so don't forget to take time for yourself. This means setting aside time to relax and recharge after a long day of work. You will be more productive and able to provide the best possible service when you are well-rested. Don’t forget to ask for help if you need it.


Be Organised and Professional

Being organised and professional is essential when working as a disability support worker. This will help you keep track of your work schedule and meet the needs of your members. It is also important to dress appropriately for the occasion, so that you project a positive image to your members.


Be Honest and Upfront

When providing service, be honest and upfront with your members. This will help them know what's expected from them and help prevent any confusion or misunderstandings. Honesty is also key in building trust between you and your member.


Stay In Touch

It is important to stay in touch with your members throughout their journey. This way, you can provide updates on their progress and offer support if needed. It is also helpful to keep in touch to ensure that you are aware of any changes or updates that may occur in their lives.


Use Technology Wisely

Technology can be a great tool for disability support workers. This means using technology to keep track of your work schedule, communicate with members, and document your work. As long as you are aware of the risks associated with using technology, it can be a valuable tool in your disability support worker arsenal.


Learn New Skills

Keep learning! This way, you will be able to provide the best possible service to your members. There are always new tools and techniques available that can help you provide better support.

If you are interested in becoming a disability support worker, be sure to check out our website for more information. We have a variety of resources that will help you get started on your career path.


Stay Connected to Your Community

Being a disability support worker is a rewarding experience. Stay connected to your community and continue learning new skills so that you can provide the best possible service to your members. Look out for interesting and inclusive activities so that your member can be involved with their community and develop important communication skills.


Have Fun!

Having fun while working as a disability support worker is essential. Not only will having fun help you relax and stay productive, but it will also make your members feel more welcome and comfortable.

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Want to learn more? Read our article on the qualities that make a great disability support worker.


How do you apply to become a support worker

Below is the process of becoming a Support Worker with Ascend Health, but you can use this as a guide for other companies.

Check that you meet the criteria

At Ascend Health, we try to do things a little differently. We only hire Support Workers who are studying a health science degree at University such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Psychology, Physiotherapy, Nursing or Medicine. By doing this, we are able to provide members with passion and dedicated providers with a background of knowledge in healthcare and disability. Whilst we will need to ensure you are a health science student, we also make sure you display the qualities that make a great Support Worker such as passion, empathy, patience, reliability, initiative and confidence. If you believe you hold these qualities, then we would strongly encourage you to apply for a role as a Support Worker!

Apply for the role

If you believe you meet the criteria above then it’s time for you to apply! To apply for a role all you need to do is complete a short form on our website and email your resume to hello@ascendhealthgroup.com.au

Complete an interview

If your application interests us, you will be asked to be interviewed by our recruitment officer. It is always best to prepare for the interview and think about your answers to some questions that may be asked such as what skills and experience you have and what qualities do you have that will make you a great Support Worker. You may also be given a few scenarios where we will ask how you would make decisions in challenging situations.

Access the online provider portal

If your interview was successful, congratulations, you are on your way to joining the Ascend Health team as a Support Worker. We will get you started by setting up a provider profile for you on Ascend Health Plus, from here we will ask you to upload your mandatory checks such as your National Police Clearance, First Aid Certificate and Working With Children Check - just to name a few. Once we have these or assisted you with arranging them we will provide you with a contract and some more fun admin tasks!

Orientation

Up next is orientation, this is an opportunity to learn the fundamental concepts of the disability sector. This is a 3 part workshop covering topics such as the NDIS funding, restrictive practices, empathy based care and much much more. This is a great opportunity to connect with our Senior Therapists to gain extensive insight and advice before beginning your role as a Support Worker. 

Begin your job Trial

To make sure you are trained and comfortable settling into your role as a Support Worker. You will begin a job trial by assisting a Senior Experienced Support Worker on their sessions with members. This is a great opportunity to observe, learn and gain confidence in your role as a Support Worker.

Start solo sessions with your members

Congratulations! You will now commence sessions with your very own members. This is an opportunity to build great relationships with your members and provide comprehensive care that ultimately makes a big difference in their lives.


Source:   https://www.ascendhealthgroup.com.au/news/working-as-a-support-worker

10 self-reflection questions for career growth

June 13, 2024
As the year draws to a close, it is vital to pause and reflect on your journey and relationships in your personal lives and careers. Self-reflection is a powerful tool for introspection, helping us understand our core nature and facilitating personal growth as we work towards a better version of ourselves. Whether you’re evaluating your work-life balance , personal development , or career progression , self-reflection can be incredibly empowering and beneficial for your overall well-being. The value of reflection and introspection Harnessing the power of reflection As we approach the end of the year, taking the time to reflect on the past twelve months is not just a ritual but a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Reflection allows us to pause in our fast-paced lives and examine our experiences, decisions, and actions. It allows us to celebrate our successes, learn from our mistakes, and acknowledge our growth areas. By looking back, we gain valuable insights that empower us to approach the future with a more informed and intentional mindset. Understanding ourselves better Introspection is a vital component of self-reflection. It involves diving deep into our thoughts, feelings, and motivations. This process helps us understand why we do what we do, what drives our decisions, and how our actions align with our core values and goals. Understanding ourselves better is crucial for personal development and helps us make more authentic and aligned choices in the future. Setting the stage for future success Reflecting on the past year sets the foundation for setting realistic and meaningful goals for the new year. It helps us identify what we truly want, what areas need more attention, and what strategies worked or didn’t work. This clarity is essential for setting goals that are both ambitious and achievable and aligned with our personal and professional aspirations. Promoting well-being and reducing stress The act of reflection can be therapeutic. It allows us to process our experiences, both positive and negative, and can lead to a greater sense of peace and closure. This is especially important in today’s world, where we often rush from one task to another without taking the time to process our experiences. Reflecting on the year helps us close chapters, reduce stress, and approach the new year with renewed energy and optimism. Fostering continuous learning and adaptability The world is constantly changing, and adaptability has become a crucial skill. Reflecting on how we’ve navigated changes in the past year, both expected and unexpected, prepares us for future uncertainties. It reinforces continuous learning and adapting, essential in personal and professional contexts. Year-end review: 10 questions for self-reflection Here are 10 thought-provoking questions to guide your year-end reflection. These questions cover various aspects of your life, including work experiences, personal growth, work-life balance, and future aspirations. As you answer them, be honest and consider writing down your responses for a more tangible record of your thoughts and goals. Sample answers help guide and inspire you as you reflect upon your year. These example answers provide a glimpse into the kind of introspection and planning that can result from such reflective questions, helping you assess your current state and set meaningful goals for the future. 1. Best and worst work experiences What were your best and worst work experiences in the last 12 months? Be specific about projects, teams, roles, and activities. Sample answers Best: Leading a successful project launch, mentoring a new team member, and receiving positive client feedback. Worst: Facing a project delay due to miscommunication, struggling with a software tool, and experiencing a stressful team conflict. 2. Job success and satisfaction elements Can you identify three elements of your job that contributed to your success and satisfaction? Conversely, what three elements hindered your success and fulfilment? Sample answers Positive: Collaborative team environment, challenging tasks that foster learning, and recognition from management. Negative: Limited resources, unclear company direction, and infrequent feedback. 3. Skills development What five skills, talents, or pursuits would you like to develop or attain in the next 12 months? Sample answers Improve public speaking, learn advanced data analysis, enhance leadership skills, develop a new programming language, and cultivate creative problem-solving techniques. 4. Passion in work What topics in your work can you talk about non-stop? Does this energise you consistently? Is this your passion or something else? Sample answers I am passionate about designing user interfaces. Discussing design trends and user experience energises me and is a significant part of my job satisfaction. 5. Unachieved goals What’s one significant goal you didn’t achieve in the last 12 months, and why? How would you change the outcome? Sample answers I aimed to get a professional certification but couldn’t due to time constraints. I plan to manage my time better and enrol in a course next year. 6. Fearless ambitions What would you aim to achieve in the coming year if you knew you couldn’t fail? Sample answers If I knew I couldn’t fail, I would aim to start my own tech startup focusing on innovative educational tools. 7. Role evaluation How would you rate your current role out of 100%? What factors prevent you from reaching 100%, and how can you overcome them? Sample answers I’d rate my role at 75%. To reach 100%, I need more creative freedom and opportunities for professional development. With these, I could be fully satisfied. 8. Future aspirations Without any limitations, what experiences, skills, activities, and responsibilities would you like to have in the future? List up to 12. Sample answers Lead larger projects, develop expertise in AI, participate in international conferences, mentor others, work abroad, achieve work-life balance, publish industry articles, learn a new language, adopt sustainable work practices, engage in CSR initiatives, explore different company roles, and start a professional blog. 9. Personal growth and development How have you grown personally over the past year? What personal qualities or habits have you developed, and what would you like to work on? Sample answers I’ve become more resilient and patient over the years. I want to work on my time management and stress management skills. 10. Challenges and overcoming obstacles Reflect on the biggest challenge you faced this year. How did you overcome it, and what did you learn? Sample answers My biggest challenge was adapting to remote work. I overcame it by creating a structured daily routine, investing in a better home office setup, and improving my digital communication skills. Reflect to grow Remember, the purpose of these questions is not just to reflect on what has been but also to pave a path for what lies ahead. By understanding where you currently stand and identifying your goals and aspirations, you can approach the new year with clarity, purpose, and a renewed sense of direction. Source: https://www.pagepersonnel.com.au/advice/career-and-management/success/self-reflection-questions-for-career-growth

Difference Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment

June 13, 2024
Both job enlargement and job enrichment are human resource strategies used to improve employees engagement and increase efficiency that helps to achieve organizational more effectively. Job enlargement refers to increase tasks and responsibilities to the existing role of the employees. On the other hand, job enrichment is a technique of motivating employees by adding extra responsibilities to make job more challenging and meaningful. Difference Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment The main dissimilarities between job enrichment and job enlargement are as follows: 1. Introduction Job Enlargement: It involves increasing the number of tasks and duties to be performed by workers to an existing role. Job Enrichment: It involves increasing responsibilities and content in the job to increase challenges and scope that provides opportunity for growth. 2. Nature Job Enlargement: It is purely quantitative in nature because number of tasks are increased for employees. Job Enrichment: It is qualitative in nature. It means this technique is used to increase the content and quality of the job. 3. Objective Job Enlargement: The main objective of job enlargement is to increase employee motivation and engagement by decreasing monotony and boredom. Job Enrichment: The main objective of job enrichment is to promote growth and development by making jobs more challenging and exciting. 4. Additional Skill Job Enlargement: It does not require additional skill because tasks are increased as per the qualification and ability of employees. Job Enrichment: It requires some additional skills because it involves new responsibilities that require creativity, decision making and problem solving. 5. Authority Job Enlargement: It does not increase the level of authority as it only increases the number of tasks. Job Enrichment: It increases the level of authority as per the creativity and ability of employees. 6. Supervision And Control Job Enlargement: It requires more supervision, direction and control because it increases the workload of employees that increases the chance of errors and mistakes. Job Enrichment: It requires less supervision and control than job enlargement because workers exercise self-control. 7. Training Need Job Enlargement: It does not require additional training because employees are familiar with the jobs and responsibilities. Job Enrichment: It may require additional training to empower workers to increase creativity, decision making and control over the job. 8. Result/Outcome Job Enlargement: Results may be positive or negative depending on the motivation level and workload of the employees. Job Enrichment: Generally, it gives positive result because of increased morale and self actualization. Basis Job Enlargement Job Enrichment Nature It is quantitative by nature It is qualitative by nature Objective To reduce boredom and monotony To promote growth and development Additional Skills Not Required Required Increase In Authority No Yes Outcome Positive Or Negative Positive Supervision And Control Requires more supervision Requires less supervision Distinction Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment In Brief * Job enlargement refers to quantitative expanding of jobs. But job enrichment is qualitative improvement of the job. * Job enlargement does not require special training, but job enrichment requires training and development program to improve the performance. * Job enlargement requires more supervision than job enrichment * Job enrichment increases the level of authority but job enlargement increases the number of tasks only. * Job enlargement is horizontal expansion of job and job enrichment is vertical expansion. * Job enlargement does not promote growth and development but job enrichment helps in personal growth and career development Source: https://marketinglord.blogspot.com/2024/05/difference-job-enlargement-job-enrichment.html
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