Comedian Oliver Hunter has been a Mable user for 3 years. In that time, he’s found a crew of independent support workers that perfectly fit the bill for him.
Oliver has worked with one of his current support workers Steph for roughly 2 years. Over that time, they’ve developed a strong relationship that perfectly balances a friendly connection with professionalism.
“Steph always arrives on time and with a smile on her face. I know I can trust Steph, which is an important quality, especially when you are allowing someone into your house.”
Oliver continues, “we always have a good chat and a good laugh - Steph always has a good story to tell.”
What I look for in a support worker
Everyone has different needs, and everyone looks for different qualities in their support workers.
For Oliver, there are three key things that he looks for in a support worker.
Trust
The most important thing Oliver looks for in a support worker is trust. “You’re letting someone into your home, so you need to be able to trust them,” he says.
Oliver has a partner and baby at home, so his support workers will likely be in contact with his family. “Your family is trusting you to find someone who is quality.”
Flexibility
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. For Oliver, flexibility is key when looking for a support worker.
Being on time
A lot of the support work Oliver seeks is transport to and from his comedy gigs. He needs his support workers to be on time and consistent so he can rely on them to get him to where he needs to be.
Oliver’s tips for finding a support worker
Finding the right support worker is a process. Oliver shares his top 5 tips for finding the right support worker for you and your needs.
Trust your gut
“If you meet someone and you feel a bit funny or off about them, trust that.”
Inviting someone into your home and having them support you is a personal, and at times, a vulnerable experience. It’s important to trust your instincts when looking for a new support worker, and go for someone who feels right for you.
It’s professional
“Remember it’s professional, and you need to have a good working relationship with them.”
While it’s nice and important to have a friendly relationship with your support worker, at the end of the day it’s a professional relationship. You are engaging with them to support you with your needs.
It’s important to note that there are layers to support relationships. “In saying that, I’ve met some amazing people that I’m still in touch with,” Oliver shares. “You can meet people who become your friends”.
However, it shouldn’t be your first priority when looking for a support worker. First and foremost, your needs need to be met in a professional way.
Treat a meet and greet like a job interview
The purpose of a meet and greet is to see if you and your potential support worker are a good fit. This is very similar to a job interview, where a company is meeting with an applicant to see if they are right for a role.
Oliver suggests to “have questions ready, and sort out what you need from your end.”
Being organised going into a meet and greet will help you be clear with your potential support worker, and easily identify if they will be a good fit.
If possible, give yourself time
“If you can, give yourself as much time as possible.” While it’s often hard to have the luxury of time when finding a support worker, if you do, it’s a good idea to make the most of it.
Oliver shares the example of moving - “if you know you’re moving somewhere, start looking early.” This can help you hit the ground running with support when you move into your new city, town or area.
You don’t have to settle
Above all, Oliver’s advice is that you don’t have to settle. It may take time for you to find a support worker that’s your perfect fit, and that’s okay. In fact, it’s pretty normal.
Oliver shares that he’s had to move on from support workers in the past because they weren’t quite right. “It’s not personal, it’s just not a good fit” he says.
It’s a process. “Trust your gut and stick to your guns.”
Find the right support worker for your needs on Mable.
