Disability support workers are healthcare workers providing assistance to people with disabilities. They work with clients with mental or physical disabilities by aiding them in daily activities like eating, bathing, dressing, and even medication management. A disability support worker also provides emotional and social support to the people assisting with accessing resources and other healthcare services. Their goal is to help a client reach their maximum potential. They work to ensure the client’s needs are met in a respectful way that is customized to their needs. It ensures the client is satisfied and happy with the services while being comfortable and having the support they need. The importance of a disability worker cannot be overstated. So, if you are thinking of hiring them for your loved ones, ensure you make the right choice. The right qualities can make a difference between a good disability support worker and a bad one. The blog below discusses the qualities you need to look for in a disability support worker.
Top qualities a disability support worker should have
- Knowledge about disabilities
A challenge that many disabled people and their families face is dealing with support workers with limited knowledge and training to look after a disabled person safely. If a disabled support worker is not well-versed and knowledgeable in disability-related topics, they are not the right match for you. The right worker will have an understanding of the various rules & regulations related to providing care to a disabled person. Also, they will be able to provide the right information to the clients. With Drake Medox, you will not face this problem, as you will find a disability support worker with the best training and updated knowledge, ready to provide care.
- Impressive communication skills
Being able to communicate effectively is imperative to having a great working relationship with your clients. A good disability support worker must have excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills. They must be able to understand their client’s needs verbally or non-verbally. Also, expressing their thoughts to their clients should be easy.
Open communication should be there to set clear boundaries between the disability support worker and the client. A client can overstep boundaries, like being inappropriate or not communicating respectfully. In such cases, the caregiver needs to respectfully communicate their thoughts and make it clear that they do not condone such behaviour. Working with an agency that has a clear plan to set boundaries between a client and worker is important.
- Having patience
A good disability support worker should have patience. When you work with a disabled person, you need to be patient because they have physical or mental challenges. Working with them is challenging; you might get frustrated repeating yourself or while providing support. However, you need to ensure that you handle such situations in a professional and calm manner. The workers should also know when to offer help and when to pull back and let the patient work. Patience is not just a necessity but also a way to show respect to your clients as you help them build independence and confidence. A right worker never assumes; they always ask you what you want support for. For instance, unless you want them to, they should not communicate on behalf of the patient.
- Empathy
One of the greatest qualities a disability support worker should have is empathy. Understanding your clients and the challenges they face is a key skill to have. A worker having the ability to put themselves in the shoes of their patient and then provide help is immensely important. Being compassionate while providing care is important for a disability support worker. Taking feedback from your client or their loved ones to know whether they are okay with the care or not is a great way to assess your work.
Conclusion
To conclude, a disability support worker, apart from having a healthcare certificate or degree in helping disabled people, should have some soft skills, too. These include compassion, the ability to communicate, patience, and flexibility. Also, remember, a disability support worker may have all the right qualities, but sometimes they and the client are unable to build rapport and trust. In that case, finding a new support worker is totally okay.
