Booking a new support worker can feel like a big task, but with Mable, I’ve always enjoyed the process because of the features provided on the app and website, and all of the other support Mable provides to make the process a smooth and easy experience.

If this is the first time you are booking an Independent Support Worker through Mable, have a look at the fabulous set of resources Mable has put together. These resources cover all of the fundamentals when it comes to choosing the right supports for you. From interviewing a support worker to how to write a great job post for a support worker, Mable really has you covered. It’s the attention to detail that makes Mable my go-to platform for booking support workers.

In this article, I’ll be covering my personal process when I book a new support worker and will share with you my tips and tricks for engaging in the process in the most enjoyable and successful way I’ve found possible.

The life audit

Before I begin my process, I do a bit of a life audit (similar to what is covered in the what to consider article) and see where the support gaps are in my life, so I can hone in on the kind of support I need to keep my life flowing in a positive direction. 

I work as a content writer and a peer mentor for autistic teens and adults. I work from my home office and spend most of my time at home apart from going shopping, seeing friends in the community occasionally, going for short walks and going to appointments. 

The support workers I need mostly consist of a cleaner to keep my home environment hygienic and comfortable and someone to accompany me to some of my appointments and community activities. 

The support worker search hacks

Once I’m clear on who I need and I’ve ensured my budget will cover these supports, I head over to the Mable app on my phone and start the process of looking for my new support worker. 

I’m actually in the process of hiring new support workers at the moment as I’ve just moved to a new city. It’s an exciting time, but also a very busy time with lots to organise. So with that in mind, these are my hacks for finding a new support worker in the easiest, most relaxing and fastest way possible:

Step one: Get specific

Don’t be afraid to look for exactly who you want. If you have a preference for a non-smoking worker who is calm and relaxed, support workers registered on the Mable platform indicate this on their profiles, so it’s super easy to be particular. This is your life and we all have our needs and preferences. Do what makes you happy and comfortable and start the search with the criteria that works for you and your lifestyle.

I usually go a step further and write a list of the qualities I desire in my ideal support worker, including shared interests, personality and the skill set I’m looking for, according to the role I need them for. 

Step two: Post a job

Then I go straight to the Mable app, press ‘Post a job’ and I post a job straight away with all of the qualities and requirements I wrote down in Step one. The reason I post a job first is because it’s the most efficient use of my time and energy. The job post gets sent to independent support workers in my area. This is particularly good when I have a ‘last minute job’ that needs doing. It’s faster to do this than manually searching the list of workers in my local area, as some may already have a full client list. 

If I don’t get a response from the job post within a reasonable time frame, I then use the search function and message support workers individually. Today, I had a response from two support workers within minutes of posting my job. The ‘Post a job’ feature can be a very efficient, time-saving process.

Posting your own job is also great because you get to include all of the details you are looking for in a support worker, thus maximising your chances of finding your ideal support worker. For example, my job post today was focused on finding a cleaner. I included that they must have their own vacuum cleaner and that I will supply the cleaning products, mop and bucket. It sets the expectations from the outset and avoids any potential communication misunderstandings.

If you have the capacity to reply to support workers, it would be a nice thing to do, even if it’s to say they’re not quite the right match.

Step three: Interview and assess

If it’s a last minute job, I do a quick phone interview to make sure the essential bases are covered in terms of their skills and experience being up to scratch and I assess their overall suitability for the task. You can learn more about how to conduct an interview with a potential support worker here.

When it comes to booking a support worker I want to work with on an ongoing basis, I do a more detailed chat and possibly a meet and greet in person first. This process definitely depends on my support needs at the time and what the job description is. 

Step four: Have a backup plan

To ensure life flows as smoothly as possible, I like to have more than one support worker for community access. Life happens and support workers sometimes aren’t available, so having additional support workers you can call on when your main support worker isn’t available, is a wise move. You can put this in place by occasionally booking your backup workers, so that they know you and the job, in case you need them at short notice. 

I hope you’ve found my tips useful.

About the author

Kathy Divine is the author of six books, founder of a print and digital magazine and a peer mentor to autistic teens and adults, based on her lived experience. She plays the drums for fun and
sensory regulation.