What makes a good complex support worker?

Like a lot of people, I fell into complex care by accident.  My background was ten years working for the NHS in a rehabilitation unit, promoting enablement through physiotherapy. When my children were young, I moved into running home care for an agency.  Fourteen years later, my children were older, and I became a Registered Manager in home care, mostly elderly care.  I was ready for a new challenge.

After a few interviews, I met a lady who would change my direction completely. She ran a company with supported living and outreach for those with LD, autism and complex needs. Her view was refreshing, and she was dedicated to ensuring these people had the very best life possible, taking control of their lives as much as possible.  Her passion was infectious and here I found my passion.

It takes a special kind of person to be a good complex support worker.

 You need to have passion, to be the voice of those who cannot speak up, to want a person to live their best life and be ready to step up and be that persons advocate.

You need patience and understanding with an ability to get to know someone who maybe cannot tell you about themselves.  Solving the puzzles of behaviour, working out what the unmet needs are that spark behaviours and pre-empting their needs.

A sense of humour is a must. We all like to have fun and having complex needs does not negate this.  We need to find the ‘funny bone’ and ensure everyone has some fun in their lives.

An ability to provide a way to achieve, whatever it is the person who we support wants or needs to achieve, enhancing their lives.  Finding a way to remove or negotiate barriers in the way of that achievement. For example, if a person wants to drive a car but is not able to have a licence.  How can you make this wish come true?  Maybe an off-road experience or even a virtual experience. You need to have vision and creativity.

A great deal of empathy. An ability to know that sometimes, we want to be left alone and not do all the usual activities planned.  We all have times when we want a quiet day. We have times when we want to have all the fun. Being able to read a person’s mood is a skill at any time, but when a person cannot tell you how they feel, it’s a huge bonus.

Complex needs is a broad and non-defined term and as a person who is not keen on labels, one I am not keen to use, but how on earth you define a complex support worker from the needs of the role with only one word like complex is beyond me.

So, what are the rewards for the complex support worker.  The achievements, seeing them being able to do things for themselves they couldn’t do before. For example, the lady with complex LD, profoundly deaf who can now choose and pay for her own snack in the shop. When you get to the end of the day and can reflect that whilst the day had its challenges, you had a great day because you got to the beach despite the noises and sensory challenges and they had the biggest smile on their faces.

Work for a company that pays the enhanced rates, supports you, even when things are very challenging and understands why you do the job you do. They understand the and share the passion.

If you feel you have the skills and traits to be a complex support worker, get in touch with Primcura Healthcare and maybe you will find your passion with us.