Support Work: The Role

Thinking about becoming a support worker? 

Support workers play a vital part in supporting vulnerable people who are struggling due to learning difficulties, mental health conditions or physical impairments. Continue reading to discover more about the role and why it could be the perfect career path for you. 

What is a support worker?

In summary, a support worker looks after the health and wellbeing of others who are vulnerable. They can provide both physical and emotional support, enabling service users to live a fulfilling life whilst promoting independence. There are ample types of support worker positions available, including mental health, community support and learning disability support, to name a few. 

The role and the day to day specifics can be extremely varied, as each person who requires support will have various requirements, needs and preferences. One element of the role is always certain though - being a support worker is incredibly rewarding as you get to witness the positive impact you have on people's everyday lives. 

The Job 

At the heart of a support worker job description is support (I know, who’d have guessed?). It’s all about providing practical help, encouragement and understanding to those people facing challenges. The support provided should be person centered, tailored to individuals’ needs in order to enable independence and promote well-being. 

Specific roles and responsibilities of a support worker include 

• Offering practical support for service users and their families

This is imperative, and includes assistance with household tasks, cleaning, shopping and personal care

• Emotional and behavioural support

You will be responsible for keeping individuals safe as their support worker. You will be required to guide, advise, listen and build trust with vulnerable members of the community

• Helping service users get up and about

This can encompass many elements,  such as encouraging individuals to take up a new hobby, join a local support group or connecting them with like minded individuals. 

• Supporting communication styles

Understanding the ways in which a person communicates is an important aspect of the role, and you may need to adapt your communication methods to suit the service user

• Monitoring healthcare needs 

If somebody has medical requirements, you may need to support them with medical management, attending appointments and talking to medical professionals in order to ensure routine checks are in place 

• Monetary assistance

Some vulnerable individuals struggle with money management and budgeting, so you may need to support and help service users understand their finances 

• Helping people achieve their goals

Supporting an individual's short and long term goals is a key part of the role.This varies depending on the individual, but could include helping them learn new skills, or finding a job or suitable university course - it depends on what the service user would like to achieve. 

• Developing support plans

Implementing holistic person centered support plans is a crucial element to the job. You may have to work alongside other support workers or medical professionals in order to draft up a complete and effective care plan per person. 

The Benefits

Working within this sector can be immensely rewarding. Not only does it give you an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, but it can also provide a wide range of tangible benefits. 

We’ve explored some of the advantages of working in the care industry, and why it can be such a fulfilling experience. 

Helping Others

Whether you’re a support worker or care assistant, the roles are always invaluable in improving quality of life for many. Being able to do something which is appreciated by someone you are caring for is enough to make someone feel like they are making a difference in the world. Often, that is reward enough for many already in the sector. 

Valuable Life Skills

Even without you realising, working in the care sector will give you an abundance of skills that you can utilise to help you through your life, too. You’ll know how to be compassionate, patient with communication and you’ll know how to empathise with others. All of this, and more, can come in useful with various scenarios you will come across in your own life.

Flexibility

Many people who travel down this career path do so with the flexibility in mind. Whether you are studying, have a family or external responsibilities, there will always be shift options available for you. Care is required 24/7 across a wide variety of locations, and shift patterns vary too. Longer, 12 hour days are preferred by some, and shorter, snappier shifts are preferred by others. Oftentimes, you can bag a handful of shift patterns in a rota that suits your life and routine, which can be incredibly beneficial to those with a tight, ever changing schedule. 

Every Day is Different 

Due to the nature of care work, many people find that no two days are the same. You’ll find yourself working with different people, clients and teams, listening and sharing experiences and stories. 

Qualifications, Training and Opportunity

As the population increases, demand for care professionals is always on the rise. It is expected that over 1 million health and care professionals will be necessary over the coming decade to match growing demand. The sector is always expanding and roles are often always available. 

A career within the care sector offers several opportunities for career progression. There are ample chances to climb the care career ladder, and land a role with more responsibility and authority, but there are also many chances to gain more qualifications from care. Role depending, it may not be necessary for you to hold any qualifications, but a lot of employers provide training and development courses to help you build new skills. 

As well as the potential of gaining physical qualifications, there will be some skills that you’ll passively improve on as time within care passes. For example, you might be performing daily activities such as supplying physical care, administering medication, preparing meals and managing finances. You’ll have chances to improve on organisation, communication, problem solving and interpersonal relations. 

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Although care work can present some challenges, there are few job paths as rewarding or satisfying as a career in the care sector. Many care roles come with impressive employee perks as part of the package. Aside from the aforementioned options for flexible working and professional development, other benefits include competitive pay rates, pensions, healthcare and holiday allowances. Employers aren’t only friendly and adaptable, but they also reward their staff accordingly. It’s pretty much a win-win career choice. 

Lots of us are naturally caring people. We may have cared for family members or friends in their times of need, or we might be the go to neighbor who everyone asks for help, or the aunt that everyone can rely on. For many people, being a carer is an extension of who they are. 

If you are looking for a truly rewarding role, where the companionship and comfort you provide will bring smiles and safety to those you care for - apply today! We are looking for friendly, compassionate and kind individuals to join our team. We have several care roles available, all with generous benefit packages, flexible hours, competitive pay and more. 

Get in touch today to see how you can make a difference.