Finding a support worker for your child can be stressful. It is important not just for your child, but your whole family, that you find the right person. After all, this person will be in your home, they need to be able to fit into the daily rhythms of your family, respecting your values in your parenting. While you would typically provide training and support to the worker, there are also qualities that you would hope they would bring to the role, qualities that are just a part of their character. An important one, is social awareness, this is relevant for many reasons, as we want them to have the ability to notice the small details about your child and your family life. This is especially important for children with additional support needs, for example, some children are more energetic in the morning but then need a quiet, settled environment in the afternoon as they may be prone to meltdowns. In these situations, in my experience, the parents may adjust their behaviour accordingly, they may be quite chirpy in the mornings but use lower, quiet tones in the afternoon. Your support worker should notice these changes throughout the day and also adjust their behaviour, or at least require minimal prompting to follow this approach. However it is important for them to notice this of their own accord, as there are likely to be many situations such as this, when the support worker needs to use their wisdom to predict and meet the needs of your child. They need to be aware of your child’s unique traits and hold these in mind in different situations and environments.
The things that come naturally to you, need to come naturally to them, in time.
What should you always look for in a support worker?
Curiosity is key, are they interested in your child? Are they curious about their inner world, their thoughts and feelings? This is especially important for children with additional needs, as in some cases, they may not be able to communicate their needs adequately.
They may not have the verbal skills to state what they need or how they are feeling, or they may not be able to find the words to state their needs. In some cases, they may also have limited understanding of their own emotional state and can become easily overwhelmed. This is when curiosity is most important for your child’s wellbeing.
Curiosity about your child is such an important trait to look for in a support worker, because this means they are more likely to anticipate the child’s needs, be thorough in meeting the needs they communicate but most importantly, think through any needs they may not tell the worker about.
If they are curious about your child, they are more likely to seek the underlying cause of a child’s behaviour.
A caring, aware, curious support worker can give families more freedom, your child new experiences and build their skills and abilities. A curious support worker will help your child develop relationships with people beyond their family, helping them learn they can trust other people and that their world is a safe place. Isn’t this what all parents want for their children?
I hope this has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions about NDIS and support work, please contact us, we would love to hear from you and support you in caring for your child.
Need help hiring and managing a support worker? It can seem like a big job, which is why we have created resources to help you with this.
The steps are broken down into short videos with notes and downloads. You can pick and choose which parts you do at any time.
These courses can be funded by NDIS if you are self or plan managed.
For more information click the button below: