The Open Minds team in Townsville have introduced a new way to pair people with Support Workers best suited to them – a catalogue of staff profiles.
The catalogue of staff profiles is symbolic of our commitment to choice and control under the NDIS – people who are considering using our services can literally flick through and choose their preferred Support Workers.
The Open Minds team in Townsville have introduced a new way to pair people with Support Workers best suited to them – a catalogue of staff profiles.
Lisa Carnegie, Area Manager for Far North Queensland, said: “We’ve always been mindful of making sure we match people with the right Support Workers. We decided to introduce this catalogue so that they can browse through photos, and read about what kind of people the Support Workers are.
“This allows them to select who they feel will best meet their needs. At the end of the day, we provide people to support people, and getting to know each other is an important first step. This catalogue helps them build a sense of familiarity before they’ve even met.”
Our Support Workers have a challenging but highly rewarding job: assisting people with mental illness and disabilities to work towards their own unique recovery journeys.
This support can be far-ranging and include anything from assistance with cooking, bathing, transport, getting out and about, meeting new people, and much more.
Not only does the type of support vary, but the length of time the support is required for varies too. Some of our clients may only need a few hours of support per week, and others may need support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It’s often a lot of one-on-one time and that’s why it’s crucial that our clients are matched with Support Workers who they can get along with and enjoy each others company.
When people are choosing a new service provider, we understand how daunting it can be to not know much about the Support Workers beforehand.
That’s why the catalogue helps to put their minds at ease, it includes a photo of the Support Worker, and some information about their likes and dislikes, what their hobbies are and what interests them most.
Wayne, a client of Open Minds, said: “I found the staff profile book excellent. It allowed me to choose a Support Worker who has some of the same interests as me. Also, it has been very accurate with workers profiles – my thanks to you all!”
Glenn, a Support Worker at Open Minds, said: “The staff profiles are extremely helpful when it comes to supporting someone new.. When you first meet them it’s a little like they already know you and it’s easier to start conversations. The participants are more relaxed, and much easier to form a positive working relationship.”