What Are The Duties And Responsibilities Of A Disability Support Worker? 

Disability support workers are skilled professionals whose job is to help make life more accessible for their clients so that they can conduct as many tasks as possible independently. Disability support worker duties include helping seniors and people with disabilities do a variety of daily tasks. These include helping with personal hygiene, getting around, shopping, making food, doing housework, and organising social events.  

A big part of working in disability is about making sure the person has company and friends, as well as giving them emotional support. Disability support workers may come to their client’s homes often or even move in with them. 

Disability Support Worker Key Duties & Responsibilities

The role of support worker is no easy one, and this is especially true for disability support workers. In this highly accountable role, clients have many different needs, and knowing what is expected is essential. 

The main support worker duties fall into three groups: 

Personal Care Support 

• Assisting people in carrying out essential daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, grooming, tooth brushing, medicine administration, and restroom use. 
• Supporting the client’s physical and mental health with routine checks, administering prescriptions and measuring blood pressure. 
• Providing a safe environment for the client by monitoring their surroundings for potential dangers such as fire hazards and tripping hazards.  
• Collaborating with other healthcare providers to coordinate clients’ care plans.  

Household Support

• Providing a diverse range of activities such as arts & crafts or games for clients who can’t go outside. 
• Supporting clients socially and arranging visits or outings in the community. 
• Identifying needs and developing plans for improving the quality of life for those suffering from disabilities or mental health issues.  

Emotional Support

• Providing a diverse range of activities such as arts & crafts or games for clients who can’t go outside. 
• Supporting clients socially and arranging visits or outings in the community. 
• Identifying needs and developing plans for improving the quality of life for those suffering from disabilities or mental health issues. 

Skills & Qualities of a Good Disability Support Worker

To become a disability care worker, you need various skills specific to this profession in the healthcare industry. 

A formal tertiary qualification such as a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) will teach you the relevant skills to work effectively with disabled people, giving them greater quality of life while you support them to live independently. 

During a tertiary course, you will learn a broad range of skills, including how to: 

• Empower the person receiving support 
• Support clients properly with their independence and well-being 
• Work legally and ethically 
• Follow safe work practices 
• Address the needs of people with a chronic disease. 

Aside from completing a certificate or diploma, requirements for disability support workers include having the following personal qualities:

1. Patience  

It’s not always easy working with seniors and people who have disabilities because they sometimes have different ways of thinking than other people do. It takes patience to learn how to deal with these differences effectively so you can help them achieve their goals. 

2. Communication Skills  

You’ll be working with people with different needs. This means that you will need to listen carefully when people talk. You should also be able to communicate clearly so that your clients can understand what you want them to do. 

3. Good Organisational Skills  

There will be paperwork involved in this line of work. You may have many different tasks to perform each day, and they all need to get done on time. That’s why you must be organised with everything.  

4. Empathy  

Disability support workers also provide emotional support to their clients. They counsel their clients on managing their time and finances since many people with disabilities have limited or no income at all. They may work with a client’s family members to help them understand their needs and goals to offer appropriate assistance. 

5. Passion for Continuous Learning  

Disability support workers must have a passion and commitment to ongoing learning, including the need to gain more knowledge and skills to improve their practice. 

NDIS and Disability Support Workers 

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has a code of conduct which all disability care workers must follow. It ensures clients are cared for effectively, without disadvantage or fear of harm. 

The code of conduct states that disability workers must: 

• act with respect for individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination, and decision-making in accordance with relevant laws and conventions 
• respect the privacy of people with disability 
• provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner with care and skill 
• act with integrity, honesty, and transparency 
• promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that might have an impact on the quality and safety of supports provided to people with disability 
• take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse of people with disability 
• take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct. 

Learn more about the NDIS code of conduct 

How to Become a Disability Support Worker? 

If you love working with people and have an empathetic nature, helping others learn to adapt to life with a disability, then you will likely enjoy working as a disability support worker. The requirements for disability support workers are varied, depending on the role they undertake. As their name suggests, they perform an important role in supporting disabled individuals or their support groups, such as family or carers, by providing emotional and practical assistance.  

If you’re interested in disability care work, Insight Training provides comprehensive Disability Support Courses. Start your career as a disability worker with Insight Training by contacting us here.  

Empower lives. Become a Disability Support Worker today! 

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