Your support workers are the faces you see daily. The people you invite into your life and into your home. They are your biggest cheerleaders in supporting you to achieve your goals. That’s why choosing support workers that fit is so important. The right person will uplift you, help you feel seen and understood, and support you to reach your goals with confidence and comfort. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, things don’t click right away, or fissile out down the track.
Whether it’s the vibe, the communication style, or something you can’t quite put your finger on. It’s completely normal to feel that a support worker might not be the right match for you. Here’s what you can do to make a change.
Early Signs It’s Not the Right Fit
1. You don’t feel comfortable being yourself
You might feel tense, guarded, or unable to relax around them. Of course, that’s expected when being around new people. If these feelings don’t go away after a few visits it’s a sign that this isn’t the right fit for you.
2. It’s hard to speak up or ask for changes
If you’re holding back your opinions or avoiding requests because you feel unsure how they’ll react, that’s a sign your voice doesn’t feel safe. Your voice is the most important and if you’re not comfortable using it, it’s time for a change.
3. They don’t “get” your goals or needs
Maybe they’re not asking the right questions. Maybe they assume things instead of checking in with you. Either way, if you ever feel unseen or misunderstood let your Support Coordinator know.
4. The energy or communication just isn’t right
Sometimes it’s not about what they do, it’s just a vibe or disconnect. That spark of motivation, ease, or connection is missing. You don’t need to explain yourself. Your supports are there to help you thrive, not just go through and connection is key.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not overreacting or being difficult. Remember, this is your life and your plan. Talk to your Support Coordinator as soon as you can and together, we can start taking the steps to change.
Tips to Catching a Support Mismatch
- Check in with yourself after each visit
Ask yourself: How did I feel during that time? What worked? What didn’t?
- Talk to someone you trust
Whether it’s a family member, friend, support coordinator, or another support team member, saying it out loud can help you feel clearer and more confident.
- Use trial periods
If you’re starting with a new support worker, discuss treating the first few weeks as a trial. Let your provider know you’d like to check in after a few shifts before locking anything in.
- Provide feedback
Providers should be checking in regularly. If they aren’t asking how you are going, you can still tell them. It benefits you and your provider to have ongoing check-ins and feedback.
- Remember: it’s your life, your plan
You never have to justify wanting a better fit. You’re not “too picky.” You deserve support that feels right.
How to Start the Conversation
A mismatch doesn’t mean anyone did something wrong. It simply means the connection isn’t right. You can go directly to your Support Coordinator about how you feel. You don’t need to justify why you’re feeling this way, just share your experience and let me know it isn’t going how you expected it. Your Support Coordinator will organise the next steps. If the support worker is from an agency, you can contact the agency directly. Most providers want you to feel supported and will be happy to help you find someone better suited.
Here are some ways to approach the conversation:
“I appreciate the support so far, but I don’t feel like this is the right match for me. I’d like to talk about what’s not working and explore other options.”
“Something doesn’t feel quite right. I can’t explain it all yet, but I’d like to have a chat about it.”
Taking Control of Your NDIS Plan
Use this experience to learn what you like and what works for you. Then you can tell your Support Coordinator or provider what would work better for you next time. Whether it be age, gender, communication styles, personality or experience. The more they understand what matters to you, the better the next match will be.
You’re not locked into a worker or a provider. You can request a new support worker within the same provider, change providers entirely or adjust your supports at any time.
At Achora, we don’t believe in finding a “good match” between you and your support workers. Your support team should work with you, not just for you. And that starts with having the right people by your side.
Here’s what we want you to know:
- You’re in charge of your plan. You get to decide who’s in your support team.
- Your comfort matters. You should never feel like you have to “just deal with it.”
- Raising concerns is not being rude. Your voice matters and it takes strength and self-awareness to use it. We are so proud when our participants communicate how they’re feeling.
- Good providers will thank you for your honesty, not punish you for it. If not, you’re with the wrong provider entirely and that’s something that needs to change.
Looking for help with your NDIS support team?
You deserve a team that always makes you feel safe, seen, and supported. And if it’s not right? We’ll support you every step of the way until we get the perfect match.
Let’s build you a support team that works for you. Start by reaching out to us here.
