Your First Shift (or First Meeting) With a New Person
Sometimes a “first shift” isn’t even a full shift.
It might be a short visit at someone’s home, a coffee at a café, or a one-hour meet and greet.
Sometimes the person is seeing whether they feel comfortable with you.
Family members might be involved too, and everyone is quietly working out whether the support feels like a good fit.
In some situations these meetings are quite organised.
At other times workers arrive with very little information and end up needing to work things out as they go.
Before you go (if you can)
If there is a provider or support coordinator involved, you may receive information beforehand.
This can include things like:
- who the person is
- the kind of support they’re looking for
- anything that tends to work well or doesn’t
- safety information or behaviour support guidance
It can also help to know:
- who to contact if something goes wrong
- whether this is a meet and greet or a full shift
- whether there is a behaviour support plan
Sometimes that information isn’t available or isn’t provided. When that happens, the first meeting can be a chance to understand what support could look like for that person.
Starting the conversation
People communicate in different ways.
Some people enjoy talking. Others prefer short questions, need a little time to think, or communicate without speech.
Starting simply can work well.
You might ask:
- “What do you like to be called?”
- “How are you feeling about meeting a new worker?”
- “What does a good support worker look like to you?”
Sharing a little about yourself can also help the moment feel more like a normal conversation.
During the time together
First meetings usually work best when things aren’t rushed.
There’s no need to get straight into activities or try to fill every moment. Early on it can help to notice how the person likes to do things and follow their lead where possible.
Paying attention to small signals can be useful. Some people are happy to talk straight away, others prefer a quieter start.
If it’s a full shift, keeping plans fairly light often makes things easier. Early on it’s about beginning to understand what support could look like.
The best first shift could even be just an ordinary hour together. Two people starting to get comfortable with each other.
Safety
If there is a behaviour support plan or clear safety guidance, you will need to follow it.
Those plans are usually there because they help keep everyone safe and comfortable.
Before you leave
Before finishing, some worker like to check in.
You might ask:
“How did that feel for you?”
It’s can also be helpful asking yourself the same question.
If you’re working through a provider, you may need to pass on a short update or fill in shift notes.
The real point of the first meeting
First shifts are not always easy and smooth.
They can feel a little awkward while everyone is still figuring things out, which is completely normal.
The real point of the first meeting is simply to begin a relationship and see how support could work going forward.
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