Becoming a disability support worker is one of the most rewarding career paths you could take, and it’s good to know that talented support workers are always in high demand. Now that the world is becoming a more accessible place to people with disabilities, they need talented and skilled support workers more than ever before to help them reach their goals, aid them on their journey, and allow them to lead the life they deserve.
Without a doubt, to become a successful disability support worker, you need to have the right personality traits and to love your vocation, but you also need the professional skillset and the right certifications that will allow you to work with people and various disability support providers. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most important traits you need to have as an aspiring disability support worker, and how you can set yourself up for a successful career in this rewarding field.
Professional training and certification
First and foremost, every successful career in this sector starts with proper training, education, and getting the right certification to qualify you to support people with different types of disabilities. Depending on your location and country regulations regarding disability support, you can expect to undergo extensive training and you will need to invest in one or several certifications depending on your goals.
You can get training online and offline nowadays, which is a good thing considering the limitations imposed by the pandemic and endless lockdowns. You could also attend college and get a bachelor’s degree in social work, but that is not always necessary as private institutions and disability support providers usually offer all the training and education you need. Specialized courses are a great way for you to specialize in a disability and start working quickly.
Positivity and zeal
Alongside professional training and education, you also need to possess some key personality traits and internalize certain behaviors that will help you thrive at your job. It’s important that you’re caring and compassionate, and that you’re able to develop a trusting friendship with your clients. After all, people want a support worker whom they can trust and rely on, someone who understands them on a deeper level.
Positivity and zeal are two additional traits that all successful disability support workers should have, because people want to be cared for by a lively, positive individual. Remember, people with disabilities will rely on you to lift their spirits and help them push towards their goals, and you can only achieve that with a positive attitude and some much-needed alacrity.
Exuding positivity and zeal on a daily basis can be a challenge, but it’s something that you can learn and adopt over time. It will also come naturally as you start to gain a deeper understanding of the disability the individual is living with, what they can or cannot do, which will help you better understand how you can help them achieve their goals.
Working closely with the disability support provider
People with disabilities are nowadays able to get government funding and comprehensive support from local and national disability support providers. These companies offer a whole host of services to people with disabilities, and work closely with support workers to ensure the best quality of care for the user of the schemes and programs.
A great example is Australia’s NDIS service provider that offers support and assistance in various ways to people with disabilities. From supported independent living to therapeutic support and beyond, the NDIS works with participants and support workers alike to provide the right care, resources, and long-term support.
What this means for you is that you need to work closely with the disability provider that your clients are using, because you need to meet the standards of the provider. Meeting the provider’s standards for quality of care will ensure you always have a job and that you build a successful career in the field.
Overcoming challenges through creativity and skill
When you’re caring for a person with a disability, you will constantly have to overcome new challenges, probably on a daily basis. Remember, you are helping the person live their life, but you’re also helping them achieve any new goals they set out to achieve, so you will need to get creative at times.
Having good problem-solving skills is a major plus in this field, and coupled with your professional skillset, you should have no problem helping your clients overcome any new challenge in their lives.
A personalized approach to every client
Lastly, always make sure to provide personalized support and care. Two people might have the same disability, but that doesn’t always mean that their needs are the same, or that they want the same things out of life. Your job is to provide the kind of personalized care that allows them to achieve what they dream of, not just go through life.
Make sure to empower the individual to dream bigger and achieve better things, and to always seek new opportunities in their personal and professional lives. After all, there’s nothing they won’t be able to achieve with your guidance and support.
Over to you
Becoming a disability support worker is a great way to build a thriving career, but you need to have the personality traits and the right skills to succeed. Use these tips to pave the road to success in this field and help your clients live their lives to the fullest.
About the Author:
Keith Coppersmith is a business and marketing expert who has experienced both the rise and fall of many businesses. As a regular contributor at BizzmarkBlog, he enjoys writing and providing insight of the industry based on both practice and theory.
