What do you look for in a support worker?
It really depends on the job. I think initially I was just looking for someone who I’d feel comfortable with. I started looking for workers with common interests, like hiking or sewing or going out and about. But then what I've noticed is that the things that I actually need help with can be really specific, like meal preparation. Sometimes it was even the workers giving me the idea, so suggesting chopping all the veggies for the week and have them in containers in the fridge, rather than having to do it every night.
It's like a working document, it keeps changing and amending.
What are your tips for building a team?
I would recommend putting time into recruiting and to get to know people. Then it's so easy to just reach out to people that you've already connected with and say, "Hey, are you free today?" on short notice.
But trying to find someone on a bad day, that can be overwhelming. And it's easy to forget the team maintenance in a way. On a good day to go, "Hang on, are these the right people at the moment? Do I feel comfortable?" So I like the flexibility, but it can be a bit hard to do things yourself. Having said that, if they’re in your team and in your contacts it's actually easy.
So you choose the best worker for the job at hand?
Yes. And that's what gave me the most confidence. It’s worked for me to have really clear boundaries. Like workers who say, "Yeah, I'm happy to do this,” or “no, I don't want to do any housework." When they know their boundaries, I feel like I can trust them more because I know they won't do something they're not comfortable with.
What’s your advice for someone new to Hireup?
Don't be scared to say no to a worker if they’re not right for you. Most of the time the workers are just really nice, so I found it really hard to do a meet and greet and then go, "oh, no thanks." Because it's quite an overwhelming number of people that will respond to a job post. Keep in mind that this is about you (the client) and the best support for you. I found that a bit challenging in the beginning. It takes time to get it right. It takes time to get to know someone, for them to get to know you. And it keeps getting better, you work better and better together.
