From family conflict, education and career choices, to drugs, alcohol, sex and relationships, disability support workers deal with a range of topics and issues on a daily basis.  They are specially trained to offer guidance and support on matters that mean the most to the young people and facilitate programs to support the wider community.

Just like Disability Support Work,  being a support worker for a younger person or child is an extremely rewarding and diverse career choice where no two days are the same, and allows workers to meet people from all walks of life.  If you’ve been thinking about becoming a support worker for the younger generation with disabilities you might be asking what exactly is it like and what do they do day-to day?

A day in the life of a support worker can be fast-paced, diverse, and challenging, but it will also allow you to make a real difference to a young person life, and we promise there’s no better feeling than helping someone in need.

Teens and children who need support and guidance will often be referred to you through schools, youth centres, university or faith-based organisations, and you’ll find yourself working both in and office and out in the wider community.

But what does a day in the life of support worker for a youth actually look like? Like we mentioned before, every day will be different, but there are a few main tasks that will guide your day to day responsibilities.

• One-on-one meetings with youth

One-on-one counselling sessions are an important way to understand the youth’s issues and will be where you make your assessments about their health, safety and wellbeing. Together with the youth you will discuss the issues their facing and work together to put a plan or strategy together to help them overcome their issues. During these sessions it will be important to offer empathy, refrain from holding any judgement, keep your meetings confidential, and most importantly earn the youth’s trust.

One of our exceptional support workers is Rachel who works with Cayleb who is autistic. Rachel supports Cayleb with various activities such as boxing, swimming, cycling and grocery shopping.  Rachel extends on building communications skills (as Cayleb does not yet talk to Rachel directly)  by using sign language, which Rachel learns a new sign each shift with Cayleb.  This demonstrates relationship and trust building.

• Organise and attend community youth programs

Youth workers are also responsible for organising and facilitating community programs and projects that are aimed at helping build self-esteem and confidence in young people, while also connecting them with their peers and other community groups. These programs can include things like arts-based activities, sporting projects, social outings, or outdoor camps, etc. It’s important to know that some of these programs and events will take place outside of your normal work hours.

• Liaise with other support personnel

As a support worker you’ll also work alongside the likes of teachers, social workers, parents and the local authorities. You may find yourself advocating on behalf of the young people, or collaborating with their teachers and families to ensure that they can reach their full potential.  You may accompany a youth to their appointments, put them in touch with a medical professional, or help them find safe housing arrangement.

• Administrative tasks

Just like any other jobs, there are times when you will need to undertake routine administrative tasks. This will include things like sending emails, writing reports and scheduling appointments. You may also be required to compile reports and documents, plan projects and events, or source funding for community programs.

Becoming a disability support worker will allow you to make a real difference to young (and older) people’s life’s and can really help them make the most of their future. You will be constantly rewarded by the positive impact your work will have on not on the youth’s life, but within the wider community.

The post The Day In The Life Of A Support Worker appeared first on Real Community Services.

Becoming a disability support worker is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling jobs you can find. It’s a career that provides opportunity for continual learning, introduces you to people from all walks of life, and allows you to give back to the community and to those in need. Some would even say it’s the best job in the world.

But being a disability support worker can also be challenging, will force you to think on your feet, and can mean holding a lot of responsibility. Becoming a disability support worker takes patience, an eagerness to learn and help, and of course the ability to show empathy and resilience.

Here at Real Community Services we have a team of dedicated disability support workers who do a wonderful job of looking after our patients both through in-home care and community participation programs.  We recently asked our team to put together a list of things they think someone should know if they considering becoming a disability support worker and what traits they think help make a good disability support worker.

We spoke to our long term Support Worker Sally (5 years + career) and these are the main things Sally shared in what you need to know about becoming a disability support worker:

• Be prepared for shift work, early mornings, and working weekends
• Each patient will be different and it will take time to build rapport with each one
• And there will be some patients that no matter how hard your try, you just won’t be able to build rapport with
• There will be tasks that are personal and often intimate in nature
• It can be hard to say goodbye to a longstanding client.
• There are days when you will work alone with clients.
• Every day will be different and you will never stop learning
• You will become part of a wonderfully supportive community

What makes a great disability support worker:

• Empathy and compassion – being able to put yourself in another person’s shoes and build a true connection
• Patience – remember that simple tasks can take longer than usual when you are helping someone with a disability
• Passion – to be able to pick yourself up after a hard day
• Adaptability – no two days, situations, or clients are the same

Interested in becoming a disability support worker with us here at Real Community Services? We aim to provide flexible employment arrangements to support our staff and their families and offer opportunities for our team to engage with us and the wider community. We also provide ongoing training opportunities for professional improvement with many of our coordinators, administration, finance and management previously working as support workers.

Be sure to check out our vacancies or email us at recruitment@realcommunityservices.com.au.

The post Thinking of becoming a Support Worker? Here’s what you need to know! appeared first on Real Community Services.

The Christmas season is almost upon us, and while it can be a wondrous, exciting and festive occasion celebrated throughout the world, if you are living with a disability or are caring for someone with a disability, the silly season can bring with it, its own challenges.

While everyone else is rushing about finding presents, heading to Christmas parties and looking forward to a few well-earned days off with family and friends, when you are living with a disability it can be difficult to shake the anxiety of another year going by with little changes to the day to day problems and circumstances that you cannot take a break from.  The role of carers are crucial over the festive season and while support workers and carers are motivated to ensure their clients are supported and to help them get into the festive spirit, with so many things to consider when arranging activities; like their interests, health conditions, mobility and keeping them cool during the heat of summer, it can be difficult to know where to start.

At Real Community Services we recognise that it can be difficult for a care giver to find the time to move beyond the immediate care needs of a client, to plan meaningful activities and to help them prepare for a wonderful and safe festive season.  To help you get started our team have put together 8 activities for carers to enjoy with disability clients during the festive season.  At Real Community Services we also understand that Christmas is not celebrated by everyone.

1. Christmas Activity Count Down

Routines are important to clients with disability allowing them a measure of control and calmness in knowing what will happen, so it’s understandable that special occasions like Christmas can bring with it a little anxiety of the unknown or disruption to the calmness of day-to-day life.  Spending time with your client to recognise what they like / don’t like about the festive season is a good starting point.  Also having an understanding on where they will be on Christmas Day can help you better understand how to help them prepare.

From here you can create a ‘Christmas Activity Calendar’ using it as a count down to Christmas Day and giving them something to look forward to as every day from the 1^st of December gets marked off.  There are some great Christmas activity calendar ideas on Etsy that you can use to create your on unique calendar!

2. Deck the Halls

Helping your client to decorate their home or room with Christmas decorations is a simple but effective way to begin building the excitement of Christmas no matter their age.  If they do not have a box of decorations stored from previous years a visit to the $2 shop can affordably acquire what you need or instead you can spend time creating decorations together that they can continue with making them on their own.  There is nothing like lights on a Christmas tree to make the magic of Christmas begin.

3. Christmas Cards

With the age of social media, the giving (and receiving) of Christmas cards is all but lost.  Yet nothing can ebb the magic you feel when you open your letter box to a special letter or hand-written card during Christmas.  And it’s a magic you can re-live as you place them on your dresser or hang them from string on your wall.  A great way to increase your client’s chance of receiving a card is to get them started early writing or even encourage them to make their own unique Christmas cards in advance.  There are plenty of Christmas card ideas to be found online.  If you can, get in touch with family members and encourage them to also sending cards as this can make people feel loved and cared for even if they may not see get to see all their family during Christmas.

4. Local Christmas Events

Depending on the mobility and location of your client, Christmas in Brisbane and in nearby towns is an exciting experience offering plenty of free Christmas events and markets that you can take your client to during the festive season.   Many of these events start as early as November and while many can be outdoors, planning to visit the event early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds and escape the heat can be a great idea.  Shopping Centres are also filled with local Christmas events and Christmas cheer with the welcome of air conditioning to escape the heat and if you get in before the School Holidays start your client get have their picture taken with taken with Santa without having to line up for hours in a cue.

5. Christmas Shopping

Christmas shopping is a great idea to escape the heat and to install some Christmas cheer – especially if you get in early, avoiding the crowds in the week before Christmas when school holidays start.   Shopping Centres start decorating the stores in Mid-November so it’s hard not to get into the spirit.  To make the process smoother, before you head to the shops work with your client to create a Christmas gift list with Christmas gift ideas, noting people they would like to buy a gift for, allocating a Christmas gift budget for each person.  If your client prefers to avoid the shopping centres during Christmas, you can help them to find the perfect Christmas gift online or alternatively you could locate a local Christmas market close by which would make for a fun morning out with unique Christmas Gifts on offer.

6. Plan their Christmas outfit

If your client will be spending time with family on Christmas Day, start planning with them what they would like to wear.  It’s a festive occasion so you can both work together to decorate existing clothing or simply decide on the outfit well in advance.  This will make your role at as a care giver a lot easier as you assist each of your clients in getting dressed and ready for the day with their families and making them feel more comfortable and prepared on the day.

7. Christmas cooking and Christmas crafts

Preparing Christmas Baking Gifts like Christmas cookies, White Christmas and other Christmas baking ideas can be a fun activity to do with your client in the comfort of their own home.  If the space is not available, consider some Christmas craft ideas which can easily be garnered from websites like Pinterest that will also make great home-made gift items for loved ones or treats to bring along with them to enjoy together on Christmas Day.

8. Make Christmas Memories last

The build up to Christmas can be an exciting time and Christmas Day, while enjoyable, can go by too quickly and the normal routine (let’s face it) can be without the same excitement factor.  One way to make the Christmas last is by creating memories.  Take photos throughout the lead up to Christmas Day of all the activities you did together, of the Christmas decorations, the Christmas tree, pictures with Santa, opening presents and really encourage family members to take photos and send them through.  Create a Christmas Memory Scrapbook with comments under each picture, buy a glue gun from Spotlight and paste in some of the Christmas craft and decorations made for your client to flip through and relive the magic of Christmas when their spirits are low.

The post Support Workers Guide to Christmas Activities appeared first on Real Community Services.