Family support is all about providing development, rehabilitation, medical, and other services to a specific family member or a whole family that has gone through an emotional or financial breakdown. This breakdown can occur as a result of family disputes, substance abuse, sexual abuse, loss in business, or any other reason that has resulted in a turmoil. The organizations working in this regard appoint a family support worker who handles the responsibilities of bringing back these families into a state from where they can look forward to live a life without recalling the trauma of the past. A family support worker is assigned with the task of investigating into matters a person or family has gone through. This helps him to understand the root cause of the problem a family is facing, and accordingly adapt an approach to help the family overcome the trauma.
A family support worker is required to provide emotional support to the family members while spending time with them for purposeful tasks to distract their attention from what they would think about while doing nothing. He is required to play with children and teach them in the process. A family support worker goes to unbelievable lengths while performing his responsibilities and works with personal dedication rather than just executing his duties.
Sometimes, a family support worker has to deal with violent and mentally unstable persons. The family support worker is required to work tactfully with these types of patients and allow them to cope with the adversities of life with a winning attitude.
Family support worker responsibilities have been explained in details below for your reference. It will help you understand this profession from different perspectives and accordingly you can prepare to become eligible for this position.
Establish Trust and Win Confidence
The first and the most important responsibility of a family support worker is to win the confidence of the family members he is to work with. He has to build a rapport that allows them to share their sorrows and grievances openly.
Identify Root Cause of Conflict
The family support worker is required to identify the root cause of the conflict that has resulted the family to seek his support. He has to discuss every aspect of the problem and help the family realize that it is for their good to explain the cause of conflict.
Provide Emotional Support
The family support worker has to look after the mental state of the family member(s) and support them as a peer. He has to be on their side as they face emotional breakdowns periodically and motivate them to get over it rather than being trapped in the obnoxious circle of nonexistent distress that builds up in their mindset.
Recommend Lifestyle Changes
A support worker has to recommend changes to the members regarding their lifestyle. This enables them to break the clutter of routine life and in turn experience new things, adapt a new thought process, and perceive life positively.
As a family support worker, an individual should:
There are no specific educational requirements to become a family support worker. Individuals from any walk of life can work as a family support worker, although some experience of working with children and adult problems in beneficial.
Average salary of a family support worker is around $49,000.
After reading the family support worker responsibilities, you can adapt yourself for this profession by learning the necessary skills.