Aiding those who have a handicap or are disadvantaged in some way can be an incredibly rewarding vocation. However, it’s important to understand that it can be a very difficult and time-consuming profession, one that requires compassion, patience and understanding. It’s a vocation that changes from person to person and is predicated on a wide range of factors. So, if you are interested in disability support worker jobs, make sure you read on to find out the finer points of the field.
What do they do?
Disability support workers jobs from Civic involve several key tasks. Firstly, they are required to provide care, assistance and supervision for people who are disadvantaged. This assistance can take place in a wide range of environments, including the person’s home, residential establishments, a hospital or a medical clinic.
What sort of qualities are required?
To be a suitable for a variety of disability support worker jobs, it is best that individual have the following skills:
Patience
Some days will go longer than others, depending on the person you are helping. Those with a severe handicap will need a greater level of care and understanding. If you feel like you can’t be this patient throughout the working week, then be aware before heading down this career path.
Responsible
Naturally, if you are caring for another human being, you need to be responsible for them. There will be times when you make mistakes and when they make mistakes. You need to be accountable and compassionate during these times.
Strong communication skills
As a social therapist or occupational assistant, you need to have strong communication skills. You need to be clear and transparent when communicating with the individuals you work with.
Good collaborative skills
You also need to be able to work as part of a team if you want to work in disability support worker jobs. This is because you might need to work in a share house or assisted living accommodation, where there will be several occupational therapists to help everyone in the house.
Ability to cope with the physical demands
The physical demands of disability support worker jobs can be immense at times. The hours can be long and arduous. There will be times when you’ll be tired beyond belief. However, if the thought of you giving back to the community or to people in need appeals to you, then go for it.
What type of education is required?
You can work in a variety of disability support worker jobs without formal qualifications. This is because you’ll receive a lot of informal training on the job. Having said this, your chances of gaining employment in the industry are massively improved if you have a formal qualification next to your name. A VET qualification from a tertiary education facility will go a long way in bolstering your credentials.
Bachelor of Social Work
This degree will give you plenty of experience and technical understanding when it comes to aiding those in challenging circumstances. Generally, the degree is four years of full-time study, however, it massively boosts your chances of employment. This can be attributed to the fact that students are required to gain practical experience in the field before they can graduate with their degree. One semester is generally spent working in the industry, in a hospital, clinic or other institution.
Traineeship
If the university route isn’t quite for you, there are still plenty of options at your disposal. You can get involved in disability support workers jobs via a traineeship. This is basically a program where you combine employment with training, finishing up with a great qualification. They are generally full-time, however, there are many different structures available.