Support Worker Interventions and Skills

 

Every person is different. People with disabilities may have different individual support requirements, so a Direct Support Worker may need specialised competencies depending on the person, their goals, and the environment in which support is provided.

 

Key Skills and Competencies

Household skills: Supporting a person with cleaning, organizing, doing laundry, and maintaining a safe home.

Money management: Supporting budgeting, shopping, paying bills, and making informed spending choices.

Health and wellness: Supporting healthy routines, exercise, healthcare appointments, and following health-related instructions.

Food safety: Supporting safe food preparation, storage, hygiene, and prevention of food contamination.

Job coaching: Helping a person learn workplace skills, understand workplace expectations, and succeed in employment.

Education: Supporting learning, developing new skills, and accessing educational opportunities.

Personal care: Providing appropriate assistance with personal-care activities while respecting privacy, dignity, and independence.

Social and community participation: Supporting people to develop relationships, access community activities, and participate in their community.

Mentoring and coaching: Encouraging the person to develop skills and confidence rather than doing everything for them.

Why These Skills Matter

 

Support workers need different skills because every person is different.

 

The type of support required can depend on:

 

The person's individual needs and preferences.

Their strengths and abilities.

Their personal goals.

Their home, community, education, or workplace environment.

The level of support they require.

Important Principle

 

The support worker should not simply do things for the person. Where possible, they should support the person to learn, participate, make choices, and develop greater independence.

 

Easy-Read Summary

 

Every person is different.

People may need different types of support.

 

Support workers need the right skills and competencies to support each person safely and effectively.

 

These skills can include household management, budgeting, health and wellness, food safety, personal care, education, employment, mentoring, coaching, and community participation.

 

Good support focuses on the person's strengths, choices, needs, and goals.