For Fergus, disability has always been part of his life, having grown up with a family member with disability.
Fast forward to today, he works as a support worker on Hireup for two brothers providing social and educational support. The biggest thing Fergus has learnt so far as a support worker is that the needs of every person with disability are different. That’s why he thinks it’s important to work with clients’ allied health professionals.
“Support workers are often the people spending the most time with their clients - more than their healthcare team, sometimes even their families. That’s why it’s important for me to know what the boys’ psychologist is working on with them.”
Fergus has learnt a lot about how to best support his clients from working with their psychologist. The boys he supports both have ADHD, and require behaviour support. By observing their psychologist - seeing the behaviour strategies in action - Fergus has a better understanding of how to best support the boys and help them meet their goals.
One of the best examples of this is when Fergus supported one of the brothers to achieve his goal of going to TAFE in person, rather than online. This was a huge step for him. Working closely with his client’s psychologist, Fergus was able to support him to achieve his goal of going into TAFE - which is what support work is all about!
But Fergus says that working with allied health professionals isn’t just about providing great support. It can also be helpful for health professionals.
“I’m able to offer a different perspective” says Fergus. “I see behaviours that are different to the boys’ parents, and I can provide an unbiased view that’s a bit more ‘removed’ from the situation. This really helps their psychologist with behaviour support and planning.”
So what’s Fergus’ advice to other support workers?
“Everyone is different, and the type of support you give is always going to be different in different situations, so you have to adapt. I found I had to be really patient at the start and let everything wash over me, so then I could make an informed decision about what to do rather than being rash. That’s where I also consult the psychologist if it is a tough situation.”
If the clients you support have allied health professionals as part of their team, why not try working with them? It might help you provide even better support to your clients to live the life they choose.
