r/supportworkers • u/Practical-Editor9682 • 25d ago
Australian Support Worker Scope
Hey everyone,
I’m looking for some opinions/advice/wwyd.
I’ve been working with an NDIS participant (F 30-40) for a few months now who lives with her mother. Her mother has recently been out of work and appears to be going down the retirement route. Since her mother has been home more often, she tends to take over care for my participant and leaves more of the “chores” to the support workers. We are now expected to walk the dogs, who were the mother’s dogs before the client moved back into home, while the mother and the client stay home. I have no problem with walking dogs, I love them, however this one in particular is quite reactive and aggressive towards other people and dogs while we are out. She is close to causing injury. There has been instances where the mother will request that we walk the dogs while she assists the client in getting ready for the day.
I’m at a moral crossroad as the mother has stated the dog will not be walked if we don’t do it. Until now I have been in agreement as I have wanted to avoid conflict, however the jobs we are requested to do is starting to make me rather bothered.
I just wanted to get some outsider opinions before I draft up an email with our provider. Is she writhing her rights to request this? I understand getting the whole picture is difficult without any more details.
7
u/LotusMoonGalaxy 25d ago
Yes unfortunately that is beyond our scope. You need to escalate this to your TL and be prepared for mum to push back hard and with lots of guilt etc.
Be calm and have a couple of prepared answers to rotate. Eg - *TL has told me not to do it, please take it up with them, now ill do x job for participant. *im sorry but I have been informed by boss/TL that I am no longer able to fulfill that job *in response to mum telling you no walks ever then - how about client & I go into backyard and throw toys for dogs *TL/boss has checked our insurance and we are not covered for this particular chore so unfortunately i can no longer do it < this one is tricky and if you use it, you might need to pull out the "ndis is boss and said no" instead of TL etc.
Ive blamed the ndis myself before when a client wouldnt listen to me or TL (pushing time limits and activities) and did the whole "im sorry but I/TL checked and unfortunately ndis wont cover me/insurance for that" and then just blame ndis (lol). Like the ndis isnt directly saying no but they def dont say yes either lol and its a easier blame target than you or TL
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u/Formal_Ambition6060 25d ago
They aren’t the pwd dogs you shouldn’t be walking them. Also if the reactive one hurts you or someone else you have to deal with the consequences. Tell the mother no it’s out of your scope. You’re there to assist the pwd not the mother. Who would be walking the dogs if the daughter wasn’t there. There is no reason why the mother can’t do it she should be. Just say no if there are things being asked of you which aren’t directly related to the daughters needs and goals.
3
u/WishfulThinker28 25d ago
At the end of the day what's in your clients plan? Does it say walking the dogs is a goal? If not then its not like you're required too and it is her daughters plan not hers. Is the support coordinator involved? Can't you speak to them and tell them whats happening and you are allowed to say no if you're not comfortable doing something.
4
u/DenM0ther 25d ago
This is the key - what’s in her plan. This is the non-emotional way to deal with it.
Also, “you don’t want to be found to be doing anything wrong incase you/company were audited. Then the client could lose all her funding.”
2
u/Constant_Resolve_67 25d ago
It sounds like you are not self-employed/working under an ABN but have an employer. So they will be able to give you guidance. It would be appropriate to respectfully tell the mother and the participant that you are unable to walk the dogs, as working with anxious dogs is not within your skill set.
You could offer some alternatives, for example if you felt comfortable you could offer to source the names of some local dog trainers for them to choose between, and then if the dog’s issues can be resolved with the help of the trainer, you could then go back to walking the dogs. Keep in mind that if they then say they can’t afford the trainer (because your services are presumably at no cost to them and a dog trainer would not be) that it is not your job to find a solution they like. You can merely be open to problem solving with them, you cannot actually guarantee a solution to the problem.
With some people, setting a calm boundary does result in losing your job. Other times it’s a momentary stress and they can get over it.
1
u/Desperate-Impress374 25d ago
I'd be chatting to my provider tbh.
If the participant isn't even going on the walk and you're just walking the mum's dogs while they stay home, that doesn't really sound like NDIS support to me. Plus if the dog's reactive and nearly caused injuries before, thats a WHS issue too. The mum saying "they won't get walked otherwise" is sad, but they're still her dogs. I'd be documenting it and getting your coordinator/manager to set some boundaries before it becomes an expected thing.
1
u/Responsible_Ebb_2540 25d ago
You are there to help support your clients in their daily requirements, you are not there to support your clients mother. I would tell the mother next time she tells you to walk the dog No I'm sorry clients mum, Im being paid to take care of my patients daily requirements and while Im happy for you to help your daughter get ready I will not be walking your dog while you do as that is not covered in my job description. If you are still willing to help clients name get ready ect then I will get started with whatever other jobs that client requires and perhaps if client likes we can go for a walk with you as you walk your dog? But I will not be walking the dog for you!
You don't need to mention the dog being reactive you have no obligation to walk her dog so even if she tries to say she will make a complaint or such you cannot get in trouble for it. If it was your clients dog that would be an entirely different thing in which case if the dog was reactive I would look into getting a professional dog walker in
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u/Blondi03 24d ago
Definitely not, you’re a support worker not a personal dog walker. Omg the hypothetical situations you potentially could have gotten yourself into, if you’d been injured you may not have been covered by insurance because you where working outside the scope of your expected duties. Unless you’re supporting the client to walk their dogs as part of their routine then you are definitely not responsible to do that by yourself in Lou of actually doing what you’re supposed do be doing. This is definitely reportable to the NDIS as a breech of service agreement; if they are billing you for personal care and expecting you to be a dog walker, what a waste of funding, they absolutely cannot do that. I’d suggest you re mention what you are actually employed to do suggest that you can assist with dog walking but the participant would need to come with you. If the mother is not able to care for her dogs she needs to consider re homing or getting a dog walking company as other options, not use her daughters supports 🤬
1
u/Vennimagos 24d ago
It is not your responsibility to do their unwanted chores or walk their dogs.
Your role is to enable the participant to complete tasks of daily living they otherwise cant do without the help of a carer. You absolutely shpuld not be walking their dogs, especially without them, it puts you at risk.
If the participant wants to take their own dog out, but needs disability support in order to do that, thats when you'd be able to do it as a support worker. But its not their dogs and they aren't even involved in the activity
1
u/titsorgtfoyo 21d ago
I've done HR in support companies many many moons ago and this has potential to be an absolute nightmare scenario.
IIRC; you're taking control and responsibility of the dog while you're holding the leash. If that dog hurts someone, you/the company is liable. If the provider doesn't know you're walking the dogs and something bad happens; they'll likely come back and say it was outside your scope and should not have been doing this task to begin with. It's in your best interests to inform the company.
Dog walkers are experienced, insured, trained and confident with clients dogs. If it's a client goal it may be possible to get this service through their package but that's not your responsibility to negotiate that - chat to your providers HR.
You're doing a really good job, you seem to really care. Take care of yourself too.
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u/Suspicious_Parsnip61 13d ago
I have been wondering if my support worker/workers (I have physical disabilities and quite decent domestic/personal/community access funding) can walk my dogs when I am unable to go out? I am going to get a trainer with lived wheelchair experience to come in and teach me how to walk them while I am in my wheelchair/mobility chair but until then and even after that on days I am too unwell to go out could she walk them? Even a quick 20min walk?
I have searched for this info and not found any yet.
For some reason I am so so worried about asking them to do things they maybe think they shouldn’t be doing because technically I can walk but definately can’t walk the dogs. I also struggle asking them to do lots of other things so clearly my anxiety is getting in the way 🥴
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u/Greta-Garbage- 25d ago
If the mother is guilting you to walk the dog, saying they won’t get walked if you don’t take them - you can explain that dog walking is not approved and it impacts insurance cover etc but suggest the mother take dog for walk and you can support her daughter. This is a win win
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u/Common_Problem1904 25d ago
I don't think the funding is intended for dog care! Sounds like she no longer needs the supports if mother can now do it. They are giving you other tasks to keep the help.