How to Build A Strong Relationship with Your NDIS Independent Support Worker
The relationship you share with your support worker is one of the most significant relationships in your life, especially when considering the influence this can have on your overall well-being.
After all, it allows for everything from open and honest communication to genuine companionship and support. Not only that, but it also allows you to develop a lasting relationship, which means that you will not need to find a new support worker anytime soon.
However, that’s not to say that establishing this relationship is easy. For example, if you’re fiercely independent, adjusting to this dynamic or accepting help can be hard, which means that your relationship may start on rocky ground.
In this article, we’ll explore the importance of strengthening this relationship while also providing you with practical tips and advice that you can follow to build a long-lasting partnership.
Why is the relationship you share with your support worker important?
There are many reasons why the relationship you share with your support worker is important. As mentioned above, it allows for open and honest communication on both ends. This way, you find it a little easier to open up and talk about how you are feeling. This, in turn, can improve the level of care and support they are able to offer you. For example, you’ll be able to speak up should you feel as though your care plan needs adjusting or if you need more help than you initially envisioned.
In addition to this, building a strong relationship with your care worker often means that you’ll find it easier to trust them. This will provide you with greater peace of mind moving forward, especially when you consider the fact that you’ll be letting them into your home. It is particularly crucial if they’ll be offering support with tasks such as personal care.
Furthermore, building a strong relationship with your support worker means that you can continue to work together for years to come. This will, again, provide you with greater peace of mind, as you know that your health and well-being are in good hands.
How to Build A Strong Relationship with Your NDIS Independent Support Worker
There are many steps that you can take to ensure that you build a strong relationship with your NDIS Independent Support worker.
Assess Compatibility Ahead of Time.
When searching for an NDIS Independent Support worker, it is always recommended that you assess your compatibility beforehand. This ensures that you’re on the same page when it comes to your values, your expectations, and the approach you’d like them to take to your care. For example, depending on your preferences, you may want them to be as personable as possible, or you may wish to keep things a little more formal.
Treat Them With Kindness.
They say the world needs more kindness, but it is something that can be found in abundance within the care industry. However, it is important to note that caregivers deserve kindness just as much as those who they are caring for do! As such, you should be sure to treat your Support Worker with grace and kindness.
There are many ways in which you can achieve this goal, starting by simply thanking them for their help. You’d be surprised about how much of an impact this can have on their mood or the trajectory of their day!
Practice Mutual Respect.
You should also ensure that you repay your Support Worker by showing them the same level of respect they show you whenever they enter your home. Again, this can be demonstrated by thanking them for their hard work, being patient and understanding, and following any instructions or advice they may give you. After all, your well-being is their number one priority, meaning that any advice they offer is in support of that.
It is also important to remember that while they will go above and beyond to provide you with the support and care you need, they are only human. This means that you should not hold a small mistake over them, especially if they have already apologised for this.
Communicate Clearly.
Effective communication is the cornerstone of any great relationship. As such, you should always ensure that you’re maintaining strong communication with your support worker, whether you’re talking face-to-face or over the phone. This way, you’re always on the same page, whether you’re discussing a potential outing or addressing any health concerns.
On a similar note, you should make sure to express your needs as clearly as possible. Support Workers are great at what they do, but they are not mind readers. As such, they cannot continue to meet your expectations if you do not clearly outline what they are. This is especially important if your needs change or develop over time, as it means that they may need to tailor their approach to your care in accordance with this. If you’re unhappy about something, communicate this as politely as possible and work toward finding a solution.
Final Thoughts.
In short, there are many steps that you can take to build a strong relationship with your NDIS Independent Support Worker. This will provide you with much greater peace of mind moving forward, as you know you can truly trust and rely on the person taking charge of your care.
If you’ve only just started looking for a support worker, we’re here to help. You can search for local NDIS Independent Support Workers through our easy-to-use online database, which produces results in just seconds. All of the Support Workers and care professionals featured on our site are fully-vetted, which means that you know that you can trust them from the outset.
If you’d like to find out more or have any further questions about building a strong relationship with your Support Worker, please do not hesitate to get in touch today.