How to Choose the Right Disability Support Worker

Some tips to success, from our decades of experience:

Choosing a disability support worker is a significant decision given its importance to your life and well-being. Finding the right support worker for you who aligns with your needs, values, and goals is crucial. Drawing from Nextt’s decades of experience, here are some tips to guide you in choosing disability support workers.

1. Figure Out What You Need & Want

Start by making a list of what you need and what matters to you in a support worker. Consider factors such as:

• Do you need someone with specific skills or experience in certain areas?
• A person whose personality and interests align with yours can make the support experience more enjoyable and effective.
• If language or cultural background is important to you, include this in your preferences.

2. Be Part of Choosing Your Team

You have the right to be actively involved in selecting your support workers.

Communicate any preferences such as gender, age and interests. Finding a support worker who shares similar values and interests can enhance the quality of support. Depending on the circumstances, you might ask to review potential support workers to assess their compatibility.

3. What’s Working & Not Working?

It is really important to feel comfortable and confident with your support worker. This person will be closely involved in aspects of your life, so trust and comfort are non-negotiable.
Like in any relationship, communication is key to a successful support relationship. Ask how your provider will encourage open conversations and feedback.

4. Consider The Value of a Registered Service Provider

While independent support workers are an option, think about the significant benefits of working with a larger team that has NDIS registration.

• Worker Screening: Are disability support workers screened so that you feel safe and confident in trusting your supports with them?
• Complaints Management: Does the provider have someone to listen to and respond any concerns you have, and to ensure you get a good quality of service? Registered providers should maintain an in-house complaints resolution system to address any concerns effectively.
• Incident Management: If anything goes wrong, how will the support to you be managed to keep you safe, but also to stop anything from happening again? Ask how any service-related issues will be quickly addressed to ensure continuous quality supports.
• Key Contact: Ask if you will have a key contact person, separate from your support workers, who you can talk to about any concerns and give any feedback about support workers.
• Your Team: Will you have the peace of mind of having a local number you can call 24/7, a regional senior manager you can contact, and a scheduling team that can help with roster changes and any requests you have for flexibility?

5. Tracking Your Goals

A great support worker is one thing, but how will the supports they provide and outcomes be tracked against your plan goals?

Nextt uses a special digital platform to work with clients on goal setting and tracking. Your Nextt key contact will check in every three months to review progress and feedback. Nextt can also provide reports that can help support funding review applications.