A Supported Life Exploring opportunities to share extraordinary lives Success Breeds Success Carissa Pereira (BA Hons Psych, Pgdip Couns) Alice Kendall (BHSc – Health Promotion)

Background Residential Contract 16-65 (20-60) Supporting 59 Adults who have an intellectual disability 21 homes in West Auckland Connections into the community – two4nine, group volunteering, individual volunteering, community group participation, paid employment

Focus on Development and Connection through FUN

Who is in the room ?

Thinking about the role of a Support Worker within your organisation please write down the three most important qualities you look for when recruiting.

Within the sector there is a desire to attract staff who: Have lived experience of disability Are from diverse age groups and backgrounds (with younger groups beginning to be targeted for recruitment) Have relevant professional qualifications

Our Recruitment Journey Clarifying who we need. Moving from hoping to find them to actively going after them. Developing Articulate Ambassadors Drawing people in through Community Education Targeting tertiary providers

The right skills (for ASL) Recruiting for relationship, energy + technical skills to support development Ability to develop clear teaching strategies, implement these and mentor other staff to do the same (functional skills/ positive behaviour support) Active Support – not sitting on the side-lines (knitting!!!)

Developing Articulate Ambassadors Everyone is a recruiter Developing team members to have the confidence and passion to promote the awesomeness of the people we support as well as being able to articulate the values of the organisation. ‘The best place in the world’

Community Education

Community Education

Targeting Tertiary Providers

Internships Need to have clear purpose Buy into the value of that skill set Connect with provider Built in mentoring Aim to keep them!

Orientation Values + Skills + Relationship building + team connection Always check in on staff running orientation to make sure they are still passionate and articulating the organisations values consistently.

Progress so far……

Lived Experience as a strength 39% of the Support Workers at ASL have lived experience of long term disability.

“I like learning different skills and doing it together.”

“I like it when we play sport and they teach me sport.”

“I like going to the league together and learning emails.”

‘I like having younger staff support me, because its like we are at the same stage in life. They don’t own a house or have kids, they are still learning things and so am I, its kinda like peer support, we are equal’.

Come and say hi!