Link to...Accommodation & Home Support
When a hand-up supports meaningful living Kylie is a disability support worker in regional Victoria. She spoke to Agata Zema about the challenges of looking after people with disability during Covid.
“C
ovid, to a point, has made it difficult”. With almost 30 years working as a disability support worker, Kylie has seen many changes and challenges in how people with disability are cared for through disability services and support organisations. “Covid has changed outlooks and outcomes for many people, regardless of industry and personal opinion,” she said, and part of the job is to constantly adapt and be flexible. Kylie works in a four-customer group support setting with varying care needs. Although each day is a similar routine, from domestic and personal care to teaching independent living skills, there are always situations that require a different approach or adjustment. “These may be in the form of roadblocks, Covid related or not and it’s hands-on. There is direct care, but there is administration too. Disability support workers are required to think on their feet quickly and act with respect and compassion to maintain, defuse or change the course of possible outcomes.”
affected their usual routine, leaving her to explain why they could not attend their regular outings and placements, because “people are sick or may get sick and to prevent them from getting sick.” Undoubtedly, providing direct care requires focus and a dedicated willingness to help people with disability achieve personal goals geared towards their care plan. But a good disability support worker looks beyond the hurdles and establishes a way forward for staff and clients.
Kylie shared an example of this on a sleepover shift, when a client was not in the mood to sleep but waiting with bags packed and lunch ready, all set to attend his day placement program.
“Everyone has good and bad days and people with disability are no different. Your training, professional development and ongoing upskill techniques are drawn on daily. You try and show your clients what they are capable of, rather than step in and do it for them.”
“During lockdowns, we couldn’t take anyone out. They had to stay home and that has been challenging in itself,” she said. Clients did not understand what was happening globally and why this
In general, adapting a routine during the pandemic has required staff and management to show cooperation towards each other more than ever. “Support from within your team,
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knowing you have each other’s back and working in a good team makes all the difference.” Yet, staff numbers remain an issue. Lack of support workers and working longer hours is demanding, and yet another challenge brought on by Covid. Also impacting work hours is the long wait for new applicants to be ‘house ready’. “A lot of people apply, but there is a long process from start to finish following the initial interview. Newcomers are required to finish an induction and pre-training before they start and some just give up and try for work elsewhere.” But she acknowledges that “some people aren’t always a good fit” and encourages those wanting to work in the industry to check their intentions before applying for support work. “Specifically, having compassion towards clients and be willing to help them achieve a better quality of life, attain personal goals and learn skills to promote independent living.”
