A support worker’s guide to Mable

Currently, there are [stats="independent-sw"] independent support workers signed up on the Mable platform, and they provide a range of support services , from personal care and social support to nursing services and much more. As a starting point for first-time support workers, we recommend you explore our comprehensive guide ‘ Becoming a support worker ’ for questions around responsibilities of support workers, skills, qualifications and how to find clients on Mable. To help get you started on your journey with Mable as a support worker, we’ve compiled a frequently asked questions list covering important topics for independent support workers. How should I charge clients according to my experience or lack of experience? All independent support workers on Mable are independent contractors or sole traders. Therefore, they have the freedom to set their own rates. It is, however, important to take into account a few things before setting your indicative hourly or flat rates on Mable , s

As an independent support worker on Mable, you are an independent contractor, and therefore, you have the flexibility to build your small business the way you choose. This means, you have the freedom to book the clients you want to work with, set your own rates , and work the hours you want. These are just some of the benefits of being an independent support worker on Mable . When you start out as an independent support worker on Mable, it’s important to be really clear about your intentions and set the right expectations about the work when you meet potential clients. That’s why a meet and greet session is so helpful. Why a meet and greet is important Many independent support workers on Mable offer a ‘meet and greet’. While these meetings are often an informal chat over a cup of coffee or a virtual session, they’re also a crucial opportunity to: Set out your expectations for how you would like to work with the client Understand if you are a right fit for each other Ask each othe

Practices evolve in line with new evidence-based research, technologies, guidelines and treatments. So it’s important that professionals keep their theoretical and practical knowledge current. The amount and type of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) you attain is signified in ‘CPD points’. One of the ways to gain CPD points is through the Mable Learning Hub , where independent support workers can access more than 170 training courses. What are CPD points and what is their role? CPD connects an individual with the latest knowledge and skills to help address people’s needs effectively. CPD points are a standardised measure of the completion of professional development activities a person undertakes. The points provide tangible evidence of the person’s commitment to their ongoing development. Individuals are required to keep evidence of their CPD for a period of five years. Access CPD points courses in Mable’s Learning Hub Mable’s Learning Hub, where independent support worker

Being a support worker can be incredibly rewarding, but it can be challenging too. You may be providing complex support to older Australians or people with disability. You are running your own small business and so, you manage your own tax, super and other administrative aspects. You also need to balance your professional and personal life . We all need guidance or support from time to time as we navigate our personal lives and careers. And that’s where the Mable Wellbeing Platform comes in. As an approved support worker on Mable , the Mable Wellbeing Platform is one of the key benefits to which you have free access, any time, any day. What is the Mable Wellbeing Platform? The Mable Wellbeing Platform is a support service for all support workers registered on the platform. This service is free of charge for all registered support workers and is available 24/7. The three key features you can access through this platform are: 1-on-1 counselling: 24/7 access to qualified counsellors f

We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of the Mable community. That’s why we have safeguards for both clients and support workers who work together through Mable. To ensure clients and workers are safeguarded, they are required to comply with Mable’s Terms of Use when providing or receiving support through Mable. Breaching these can put clients and workers at risk and have serious consequences. One such example is taking a booking off Mable, which means having a support session that is not booked through the Mable platform. Mable won’t hesitate to suspend or terminate the profile of a client or worker who breaches the Terms of Use in this manner. Safeguards for support workers and clients Every booking made on Mable gives clients and support workers a range of benefits included in Mable fees. We call some of these benefits, ‘safeguards’. Safeguards include: Suite of insurances Verification processes including NDIS Worker Screening and Working With Children Check Incidents

As an independent support worker, you may be asked to do a sleepover support session for a client. This may include active support and passive support during your overnight stay. It’s important to understand the type of support involved in a sleepover session, for yourself and your client’s wellbeing. About sleepover support rates and the NDIS price guide The NDIS price guide sets the maximum rates that can be paid by plan and agency-managed NDIS participants. These maximum rates are intended for use by NDIS Registered Providers who tend to have higher overheads reflecting their regulatory responsibilities. As a non-registered, small business with lower overheads, you have the opportunity to charge a more cost-effective rate benefiting you and your clients. While self-managed NDIS participants don’t need to adhere to price limits, plan-managed and agency-managed NDIS participants have to. While you have the opportunity to set your rates, it is recommended that you take these fac

As an Independent Support Worker on Mable, you are running your own small business . You manage your own tax, super and hours. Being your own boss can make it hard to balance your professional and personal life. We asked two support workers on Mable, Susan and Sandy, how they manage work-life balance. What does work-life balance mean to you? Susan For me, work-life balance means I can: Avoid the grind, expense and time wasted in travelling to the office Take control of my shifts and the hours I work. I can change my hours to suit my routine or take on more work to meet my financial goals. I can also design my work life to spend time doing the things that matter to me, like spending time with my pet or my personal projects. My work fits me, I don’t have to fit into a 9 to 5 job. Sandy For me, work-life balance means being able to maintain my workload and still having time to spend time with my family, especially my children. Having said that, it’s equally important for me to ensure

Independent Support Workers on Mable offer various support services . One of these is personal care. But what exactly is personal care and what qualifications do you need to offer it? What is personal care? Personal care includes hands-on support services that help a person perform their day to day activities and maintain their independence. To provide personal care, support workers need to have the right qualifications and skills . Personal care can be delivered in different settings. For example, a client living at home alone, with their family, or when out and about with their support worker. What does personal care include? The type of personal care a client may require depends on their support needs. A person with dementia , for example, might have different personal care needs from a person with disability, or a person who needs aged care support, or someone recovering from a stroke or surgery. Examples of personal care include: Support with showering and washing Assis

You might have seen the term ‘allied health’ and wondered what it means. Here’s a guide to what allied health entails, what support services allied health professionals provide, and qualifications you may need to provide support through Mable. What does allied health mean? Allied health refers to a wide range of health care professionals who are qualified to treat various illnesses and conditions. According to Allied Health Professions Australia, allied health professionals are university qualified practitioners who specialise in preventing, diagnosing and treating various conditions and illnesses, but are not part of the medical, dental or nursing professions. Allied health professionals often work as part of a multidisciplinary health team to provide different types of support for a person’s specific needs. They work with doctors, medical specialists, nurses, midwives and dentists to find the best solutions to help the person. What kinds of practitioners are allied health pra