Top 5 Skills of Support Workers and Techniques to Get Better at Them
Age care and support work are fulfilling jobs. However, they are not without their challenges. Developing and mastering the right skills are key to conquering these obstacles. Read the article below to determine which skills make an excellent support worker and what you can do to improve them.
In this article:
Professionalism
Flexibility
Communication
Empathy
Eagerness to learn
1. Professionalism
Professionalism is a must in all lines of work, especially when you’re an aged care provider or support worker. You’ll be in constant contact with people from different backgrounds. As a professional aged care or support worker, you’re expected to treat everyone with the utmost respect, whether or not they have the same beliefs and interests as you do.
Being an aged care professional also means understanding other people’s needs and respecting how they want to be assisted. Doing so means you’ll be able to help the clients you work with comfortably.
A good support worker who’s respectful of other people’s beliefs and needs means creating a peaceful working environment that allows you to deliver the best care possible.
How to be more professional as a support worker: Have an open mind each time you go to work. Acknowledge that everyone believes in different things, and the care you provide should not be affected by these things. It’s also important to practice extreme tolerance, especially when working with people who have completely different beliefs.
2. Flexibility
In the field of aged care, no two days are ever the same. You’ll be expected to do different tasks day in, day out. You’ll need to be flexible enough to keep up with the changes to fulfil your duties. You must be adaptable, both to these new things and people.
Being flexible also allows you to think on your feet and tailor your response to each task based on the situation. When something unexpected happens during the job, having an adaptable attitude will help you overcome the challenge gracefully and effectively.
It all comes back to the fact that you are required to work with a variety of people each and every day. As an aged care worker, you should be flexible enough to provide care based on the different wants and needs of those you work with.
How to be more flexible as a support worker: Make contingency plans for the tasks you regularly do while on the job. While protocols are in place to help you provide the best service during any situation, always expect and prepare for the unexpected.
3. Communication
Working in the field of aged care means you’ll likely meet seniors who have long-term health concerns. Many of them will likely have a hard time communicating clearly and effectively.
Your task as an aged care worker is to not just talk to them as their companion. You should also be able to read between the lines, interpreting the things your client says (or doesn’t say), does (or doesn’t do), or needs (or doesn’t need). You need to trust your gut at times when you feel that the person you’re assisting needs more than they’re telling so you can provide them with the right care.
Being communicative isn’t just something you do for the people you work with. It’s important also to keep the lines of communication flowing among you and your colleagues. This way, you can coordinate with them about your clients' care preferences.
How to be more communicative as a support care worker: Being an efficient communicator starts with being a good listener. Each time the client you’re working with is talking to you, make an effort to really listen. Turn your body towards them and establish eye contact during your conversations with them. And when it’s your turn to talk, respond conscientiously and with intent.
4. Empathy
Rendering support or aged care services aren’t just about going through a to-do list every day. Empathy plays a big part in being a support worker. To do your job effectively, you must feel compassion and provide genuine care for the clients you’re working with, all while considering their feelings.
Understanding the things your client is going through — their feelings, challenges, and issues — is a critical part of being an aged care worker. Remember that as a care provider, your best work comes out when you put yourself in your client's shoes and see life as they do. That’ll give you some perspective that will guide the care you provide.
How to be more empathetic as a support worker: Exercise patience each time you’re with your clients. Try to imagine yourself in their shoes to get more perspective on how they live their lives.
5. Eagerness to learn
Each day on the job as a support worker is a chance to learn new things. As mentioned, no day in this line of work is the same. As a support worker, you should greet each day with an eagerness to learn. Spending time with people from various backgrounds means you can pick up on new ideas and ways of working. Being eager to learn can improve the way you deliver care to the clients you work with.
How to be more eager to learn as a support worker: Try different ways of doing routine, everyday things. Ask your clients if there’s anything new they’d like you to do, and do your best to try these new ways. When it works, stick to it. If it doesn’t, you can always revert to the old ways of doing things.
Key Takeaways
Don’t beat yourself up if you feel like you haven’t mastered any of the skills we’ve listed above. It takes time, practice, and experience to develop a good sense of professionalism, flexibility, empathy, thirst for knowledge, and communication skills. The important thing is that as you perform your support and aged care duties, you work on improving your skills to provide top care for the clients you work with.
At Tunstall Healthcare, we’ve made it our mission to develop our Connected Healthcare solutions, including personal alarms and fall detector, to help empower allied health and aged care providers in providing the best service for their clients. Contact us about our solutions today to start making a difference.