the disability support worker copyright © 2011 pearson australia (a division of pearson australia...

The Disability Support Worker

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) – 9781442544529/Arnott/The Disability Support Worker IM

Chapter 3

Work effectively with people with a disability


Models of disability Medical model Social model

Personal problem Social problem

Individual treatment Need for social action

Dominance by professionals Responsibility shared by individual and everyone else in society

Medical control Self -determination

Care Rights

Control Choice and decision making

Prejudice and bias Rights and responsibility

Individual needing to adjust Society needing to change


Developmental disabilityDevelopmental disabilities mostly result from

damage:

Before birth at the prenatal stage

Around birth (perinatal)

Neonatal and post natal


Acquired disabilityPeople may also acquire a disability as a result of an accident, disease

or during the process of ageing.

Examples include:

Neurological impairment such as paraplegia and quadriplegia from a diving accident

Acquired brain injury from a car accident

Psychiatric illness from a post traumatic disorder from war service

Dementia including Alzheimer’s disease as an age related condition


Loss and grief issues

When an individual acquires a disability through injury or illness, which subsequently has a significant effect on their lifestyle, they go through a period of loss and grief for which they may require support


Loss and grief issues According to Worden 1991 there are four stages of grieving and the

stages are:

(1) Acceptance of the reality of loss

(2) Working through the pain

(3) Adjusting to the environment

(4) Moving on

You should assist clients at each stage of the grieving process


Loss and grief issues Encourage people to talk in detail about acquiring the disability as it helps to accept

the reality of the loss

Encourage people to express their emotional feelings Encourage people to strengthen existing relationships and to develop new

relationships Take note of any maladaptive ways of coping, such as excessive alcohol consumption

or smoking and seek specialist assistance

Be prepared to actively listen and to show genuine concern and avoid bland reassurance which is not helpful

Be aware of the physical symptoms that are a feature of normal grief, but do not disregard the possibility of physical illness

Speak to your supervisor and refer to help if required


Issues in meeting individual needs and goals You should use your interpersonal and communication

skills to meet the individual needs and goals of people.

One of the most important factors in meeting individual needs and goals is a positive attitude

Your positive attitude should relate to providing support to maximise independence and opportunities for inclusion


Family Support Family and friends are often involved in providing

personal care and/or support to an individual with a disability.

It is very important to ensure that families are well supported so that they can continue to provide this assistance

There are many different types of support that is available to families e.g. Respite care, support groups, counselling, home alterations and modifications


Policy, standards and laws The move away from an over-reliance on a medical

model towards a social model has resulted in governments legislating to remove obstacles to enable people with a disability to participate in society

The context for the work that occurs in the sector relates to areas including:

the Disability Services Act 1986 the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 Disability Service Standards in each state


Commitment to access and equity principles As a disability worker your work involves strategies to

remove barriers to enable people with a disability to participate in society.

Aim is to maximise access to valued opportunities and valued roles accepted in mainstream society.

Your role should therefore be reflective of the aims of the social model of disability in terms of empowering people with a disability to pursue their goals and ambitions


Strategies to exercise rights and independence Assist people to exercise their rights and independence whilst

balancing any risks involved with reasonable measures

Get to know clients and using your intuition to introduce new experiences and to discover rights that really matter to individuals

Don’t be too rigid and if necessary adapt to changes in circumstances in the interests of enabling people with a disability to exercise their rights and independence


Strategies to exercise rights and independence

Consult with your co-workers and your supervisor where you are unsure of how to assist individuals to exercise their rights and responsibilities

This is particularly important where you are balancing dignity of risk with the need to ensure duty of care to those you support.


Strategies to exercise rights and independenceLook for opportunities to provide new

experiences

Encourage contact with other people and networking

Directly empower people by involving them in decisions


Ensuring client requirements are acknowledged You should develop strategies that aim to maximise independence, to

enable choices to be made and to provide for the rights and interests of clients

This requires that you take into account factors, which relate to each

individual

These factors include:

Individual needs An individual’s dreams, goals and interests An individual’s strengths skills and talents Support already available including family, financial, physical, emotional and

behavioural, employment, education and training. Individual and cultural diversity attitudes and values


Reporting situations which pose a health risk or safety concernsYou should always be alert to any issues in the

overall environment that impact on health and safety for people with a disability, co-workers and members of the general public.

Aim is to eliminate or reduce any risks, by observing any unsafe situations and reporting your concerns in accordance with organisational procedures


Reporting situations which pose a health risk or safety concernsYou need to be aware that you are working with

the most vulnerable people in our society

You should be actively involved in responding to situations of risk or potential risk and report to appropriate people


Supporting individuals in responding to situations of risk Establish rapport so that you are able to help in minimising threats

to health and safety.

Be prepared to listen and to directly follow up on any personal health and safety issues that are raised.

Use your observation skills to make sure you are 'tuned in' to any changes in demeanour, which may alert you to any concerns.

Empower people to take more control over situations and to minimise risks


Supporting individuals in responding to situations of risk Where required provide formal training to identify and

respond to risk as a part of living skills.

Intervene and be prepared to protect people who are placed in a position of risk because of the actions of others.

Consult with others and be prepared to seek advice from your co-workers and supervisors on your concerns and on actions which you are considering.


Different areas of disability work in the sector

Community development

Education and training

Health promotion

Case management

Person Centred Planning

Behaviour management

Working with families

Peer support/self help

Advocacy

Home based support

Employment support

Lifestyle support

the disability support worker copyright © 2011 pearson australia (a division of pearson australia...

Documents

disability slide

disability people

support slide

grief issues

natal slide

reality of loss

grieving process slide

period of loss