Arranging a meet and greet before booking your first shift with a new support worker is optional, but it is a great way to find out if the support worker is a good fit for you.
A meet and greet is like an informal interview. It is a chance for you and the support worker to get to know each other and understand the skills they are looking for in a worker.
Below are some key topics you could expect to discuss.
A meet and greet is around 15 minutes and free of charge, there is no booking made through the Hireup platform. We recommend where possible, a video call via ‘Zoom’ or ‘Google Meet’ to discuss the support worker’s experience to see if their skills are a good fit for your needs. Reserve providing your mobile number until after a successful meet and greet and a booking has been confirmed. Hireup strongly encourages mobile numbers not to be provided and communication should be through the Hireup platform.
What information should you share?
Sometimes meeting someone for the first time is very daunting. This guide shares some tips and tricks to help you feel confident and comfortable in a meet and greet with a new support worker. Ultimately, it’s about determining if the support worker has the skills you need and qualities you want to be able to work together.
This conversation is like an informal job interview, asking the right questions and sharing the right information about yourself can ensure this is successful.
Use this guide to mention things that are important to share about yourself and your support requirements.
- Introduce yourself: Tell the other person a little bit about yourself. This could include your hobbies or interests, if finding someone with similar interests is important to you. This helps the support worker get to know you, and helps them understand if they are the right person to support you.
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Talk about your support needs: Be open and honest about your support needs. This helps provide a realistic and suitable understanding of what it will be like to work with you. The support worker can consider whether they’re ready to start supporting you or whether they may need additional education and training before they begin.
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Get to know your potential new support worker: Communication is one of the strongest tools we have to build strong working relationships. Take the time to actively and really listen to what they are saying. Especially pay attention to their words, tone and body language. It’s also good to ask specific questions and recap what they said in different words to make sure you have understood them. If people know you are really hearing them, they will be more open and this will help build trust and empathy by connecting you emotionally and helping you take into consideration their feelings, concerns and points of view. This will also help you to understand if they will be a good fit to help support you.
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Talk about your expectations: Sharing your goals and expectations helps your potential support worker know if they are well suited, ready, and on the same page.
- Talk about their availability: It’s crucial that you find a support worker who is able to not only provide the support you need, but provide it at the times that you need it. Sometimes, this may mean building a team of multiple workers, so you’re always covered when you need it.
What questions should you ask?
- Have you had any experience providing X support (such as manual handling or mealtime management)? It’s OK if they say no, ask if they are willing to learn (Hireup can help equip you to train a worker, if you need assistance).
- If you have, can you tell me about your experience of providing that support?
- Can you tell me about your experience as a support worker?
- Do you have any relevant qualifications? (if this is important to you)
- What is your availability?
- Can you commit to long term support? (if required)
- Would you benefit from a buddy shift?
- If you require transport support, share your requirements for travel (is the support worker expected to drive their own vehicle or yours?)
What to do:
- Arrange to meet online via zoom or in a safe, public place such as a cafe
- If meeting in your home is the best option for you, consider having a friend/family member with you
- Keep the meet and greet under 30 minutes
- Once establishing the support workers history and experience then keep the conversation focussed on your support requirements.
- Feel free to bring a friend or family member with you
- Create a booking in the Hireup platform if the meet and greet goes for longer than 30 minutes, to make sure the worker gets paid
- Hireup strongly recommends that all communication take place within the messages function of the Hireup platform. If this doesn’t work for you, communication via phone can take place if both people feel comfortable with it.
What not to do:
- Start training your support worker. A paid buddy shift or a first shift is the opportunity for training
- Expect support to be provided during the meet and greet
- Arrive late or cancel without notice
What next?
Not everyone you meet will be the right support worker for you, and that’s OK. It’s important to communicate with the person to let them know that you want them on your team or that they aren’t the right fit. Hireup can help you with this if you don’t know how to have that conversation.
If you want to continue the relationship:
- Ask the support worker if they are genuinely interested in providing support now that they’ve gotten to know you!
- Let them know that you are interested in working with them
- Talk about your availability and when your possible first shift might be
If you don’t want to continue the relationship:
- Thank the support worker for taking the time to meet with you. Let the worker know at the end of the meet and greet that they’re not able to meet your support needs, giving reasons if possible. For example: “I require a support worker who has more experience with x, y and z.”
- If you are not comfortable speaking with the support worker in person, let them know you will consider what they’ve talked about and get back to them soon.
- Send a message within a few days to let the worker know what you’ve decided, citing reasons if appropriate
If you are not comfortable having this conversation, Hireup can help guide you. Contact the team on (02) 9113 5933 or send an email to hello@hireup.com.au
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