What Qualities Make A Good Support Worker?

It takes a special kind of person to be a good support worker. If you’ve got a burning desire to help people and improve their quality of life in every way possible, you might have just found your perfect career. 

Support work is extremely varied and extremely rewarding; no two days are the same and every day you get to make a positive impact on someone's life. Not only that, but each situation you come across will be unique. Your daily work life can differ as you care for different people in different environments, and yet your presence is incredibly impactful. 

No matter who you’re working with, whether you support vulnerable adults, children with disabilities or the elderly, your role will involve carrying out tasks in order to empower your clients to live a more fulfilling and independent life. 

These tasks could involve helping out with household chores, shopping and meal preparation. As well as being there physically for your service users, it is just as important to provide emotional support, too. Due to the nature of their disabilities or conditions, many of the people you support could be prone to feeling isolated, so your presence also offers both companionship and friendship to those who need it most. 

Like any career, some day will inevitably be tougher than others, but if you’ve got the right traits, characteristics and a willingness to learn, you’re sure to thrive in this rewarding role. 

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Top Ten Qualities 

Working in care and support isn’t necessarily about the number of formal qualifications you have. Whilst there are relevant mandatory training routes that you could take to get into care, these aren’t always essential. 

Regardless of whether you hold a care qualification, you need to be able to show that you possess the soft skills that highlight your caring nature and desire to help others. 

Here are the top ten traits our team look for in support workers: 

Problem Solver

As the work done throughout the day is so varied, you’ll often need to be able to think on your feet and find creative solutions to challenges 

Good Communicator 

Communication is a two way street, so actively listening is just as important as talking. Many service users might struggle feeling heard so these interpersonal skills can help you develop a strong bond quicker with the person you’re caring for. Listening and conversing with your client can help you build trust and rapport with one another. 

Empathy and Compassion

Empathy is the ability of putting yourself in someone’s shoes, and being understanding about the situation they are in. Being empathetic means taking the time to understand the emotions of the person you’re working with, allowing you to provide the best care possible whilst showing genuine concern and kindness. 

Adaptable 

When you work supporting others, you never really know what your day is going to include. A good support worker must be adaptable and flexible in order to best suit their clients needs and adapt on the go. 

An Interest in Others

In order to be an effective support worker, you need to be a people person. You should want to learn about your client and understand what makes them tick. What are their favourite activities? What’s their favourite meal? Taking an interest in your service user can help you to create a personalised care plan, or simply help build a strong connection between you both.

Remaining Calm under Pressure

As previously mentioned, some days can be challenging. Sometimes service users can get upset and frustrated for a variety of reasons but you need to remember that it’s nothing personal; you need to be able to bounce back from difficult situations all the stronger. 

Sense of Humour

Laughter is the best medicine. If you can make people laugh and smile, it can help develop a sense of connection and companionship with those around you; whether that’s your service user or your colleagues. In heavy situations, laughter is a great way to provide light relief to everyone involved. 

Organization 

As the workload is so varied, the ability to prioritize tasks for yourself and your client is essential. You need good time management too, as this will help you carry out all of your tasks effectively and on time. 

Positive Outlook

Smiles are infectious. If the people you care for or their families are going through a tough time, they’ll need all the smiles they can get. It can be tough to see people you care for in pain, but your positivity can give them hope and can help improve their mental wellbeing. 

Honesty 

In order to develop a strong bond with your service user, you need to be authentic, real and honest. This means communicating honestly, being yourself and showing that you care. This can help build trust with one another and strengthen your relationship, allowing you to provide more effective, tailored care. 

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There are ,of course, many other qualities that a good care worker may possess, but these are just some of the key characteristics that can help when delivering high quality care. 

Practical skills needed for care work can be taught and practiced, but it’s often the softer, people skills that makes care and support workers so exceptional in their role. 

So, do you think you’ve got what it takes? 

Get in touch with us today! At The SKA Group Ltd, we have ample job opportunities for caring and supporting people who want a rewarding career. We offer competitive pay, full training and ongoing support, as well as flexible shift patterns to suit your schedule. 

If you’ve got the qualities we’re looking for and you’re keen to develop the knowledge to put them to use, contact us today via our website, or send us a message on our socials. We’re eager to hear from passionate, dedicated people looking to kick start their journey into care.