Dear Tweetie: I’m finding it hard working alongside another support worker

Dear Tweetie,

I’ve been feeling uneasy on shifts with another support worker.

They’ve been in the role longer and seem confident, but their way of supporting the person feels very different to mine. I end up feeling tense, second-guessing myself, or staying quiet when something doesn’t quite sit right.

I don’t think anything bad is happening, it just doesn’t feel good on shared shifts.

I really don’t want to make things awkward or seem difficult, especially since I’m newer.

How do you deal with differences between support workers without it becoming a problem?

— Walking on Eggs

Dear Walking on Eggs,

This is a really common experience on shared shifts.

Different support workers often have different styles, and more than one approach can work for the same person. What matters most is how the person being supported responds. Whether they feel comfortable, heard, and respected is more important than every worker doing things the same way.

It can help to separate discomfort with a different style from concern about the quality of support. Feeling uneasy because someone works differently does not automatically mean they are doing something wrong.

At the same time, there is a clear line.

If the other worker’s approach seems to go against what the person wants, or starts to look unsafe, careless, or neglectful, that is no longer just a difference in style. That is something you do need to raise with your provider or team leader.

When it is about different approaches, some workers find it helps to stay focused on the person rather than the other worker. Notice what helps the person settle, engage, or feel at ease during shared shifts.

If you regularly leave shifts feeling tense or silenced, that is worth paying attention to. Shared support works best when there is room for different styles and room for workers to speak up when something does not feel right.

— Tweetie