Meet our Support Workers: Q&A with Oscar
A closer look at the people behind the care: Meet Oscar
This month, we spoke with Oscar, a support worker with three years of experience in care. Before coming to the UK, Oscar spent time supporting children through his church in Uganda. That early experience helped shape the patient and caring approach he brings to his work today.
As Oscar is our Support Worker of the Month for September, we asked him about his journey into care, what he enjoys most about his work and what the role has taught him.
How did you first get into support work?
Before coming to the UK, I was part of a church group in Uganda that supported children who had lost their parents or other people close to them.
We gave them our time, played with them and showed them that they were not alone. That experience is part of why I find the work I do today comes naturally to me.
I came to the UK to work in care, and I have now been doing the job for three years. I joined SNG in March.
What does being a support worker mean to you?
I see it as a responsibility. When I am supporting someone, I like to treat them the way I would love to be treated.
When I am working, I give it my all. I focus on providing support and doing it to the best of my ability.
I work with people of different ages and in different settings. I don’t have a personal preference because every person I support gives me a different experience.
What do you enjoy most about being a support worker?
I enjoy having interactions with the clients I work with and supporting them. Most of all, I like putting a smile on their face. It’s satisfying to see that someone has a good day because of me supporting them.
I’m happy to help someone with their personal care or whatever other support they need. I don’t want them to feel as though I am being forced to help or that I am only doing it because it is my job.
My biggest aim is to put a smile on their face and support them to the best of my ability. When you support someone, you can ease things for them and help them feel happy.
What has been the biggest challenge in your role, and how do you handle it?
Sometimes the person you are supporting can become agitated when they cannot have something they want or when an activity has to come to an end.
When someone becomes agitated, you have to be patient. Keep talking to them, explain things clearly and give them another option.
You need to stay calm and give them time. Sometimes you can divert their attention towards another option. You also have to think about the person you are supporting and how they might understand what you are saying.
When you’re dealing with people, people are totally different. I’ve learned that we have to be patient and see things from their perspective.
As you get to know each person, you learn how they communicate and which approach works best for them. The way you explain something to one person may not work for someone else. The training we receive helps a lot with that.
Can you share a moment or story that has stayed with you?
I remember supporting someone who became upset while we were out because they wanted to buy something they did not have enough money for.
Someone nearby offered to pay, but I felt it was important to help the person understand the situation and make another choice. I kept explaining what they could afford and helped them look at the other options.
Eventually, they understood and asked me whether another item was within their budget. I told them it was, and we went home with them feeling very happy.
It showed me that if you remain patient, explain things clearly and offer another option, you can help someone understand the situation and make their own decision.
How has support work changed you?
This job has changed me a lot. I used not to be patient with people when I was younger, but through this job, and growing up, I have learned that everyone is different and we have to be patient with each other. And have compassion.
It has also made me more open-minded. In the past, if I gave my opinion and believed it was the right one, I might not listen to someone else’s opinion. Working as a team has shown me that when you listen to another person’s idea, it more than often works out.
The role has made me see life in a different way. I have learned a lot from it.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a support worker?
First and foremost, you have to have love for the job. That is the first thing I would tell someone.
| “You also have to be empathetic, passionate and resilient.”
It may be hard at the start, but you build resilience through experience, getting to know the people you support and working as a team.
Teamwork helps a lot. You need to be able to rely on your colleagues and be there for them too. There may be times when a person does not respond well to you in that moment, and having someone else step in can help.
You learn through experience. As you get to know the people you support, you become more confident in understanding what they need and how best to respond.
What do you value about working with SNG Healthcare?
Working with SNG has been an amazing experience. The team makes me feel comfortable, and I receive my shifts in good time so I can prepare and go for them.
I am very grateful that SNG gave me the chance to work with the company. Being named Support Worker of the Month makes me feel excited, and I appreciate the support the team has given me.
Thank you, Oscar, for your patience, kindness and commitment to helping the people you support have a good day. We’re proud to have you on the SNG team. 💚
Want to find out more about working with SNG Healthcare? Get in touch at www.snghealthcare.co.uk.
