Question

describe as disability support worker how you support clients to make choices when no choices had been made what actions,communications, steps can you take?

Answer 1

A diability worker's function is to support the elderly and disabled clients in performing a variety of tasks pertaining to daily living.The main quality that a DSW should possess is resilience and effective communication skills, along with ability for critical thinking and decision making and ability to work independently as well as along with a team.The DSW can support a client in the following ways:

Right based approach: recognise and support a human rights-based approach to serve people thereby assisting them to pursue individual lifestyles.Through this approach, the client rather than being a passive care ‘recipient’, becomes an active participant in planning and receiving the support that they feel might best meet their needs. The service provider still is accountable for the quality and outcomes of their sevice and their main role is enabling; providing advice and supporting the people with a disability, to exercise choices and control as much that is possible over their life.

Duty of care: ensure that necessary actions are taken to prevent or minimize the risk of harm to your client. Attimes clients with disability are not allowed for decision making or to participate in activities that may sound risky to others. It may cause a negative impact on  their self esteem and confidence. A DSW can assess the risk and develop plans to reduce the impact of any identified risk without compromising with the client's quality of life.

Substituted decision making: Is a term parallel to health care surrogate.A person who is leagally appointed to make health care decisions for a person who is not capable of taking decisions for self. A DSW can work hand in hand with the guardian to avoid leagal issues.

Participation of Supporters: It include all the non paid supporters like client's family and friend circle whose involment in care may provide a positive impact on the mental and therby physiological status of your client.

Supporting decision making: this is when a client with complex needs like cognitive or communication needs are assisted to better understand, consider and communicate their preferences.