How to work collaboratively with support workers

Tell Clare what you think here!Are you tired of seeing your clinical recommendations gather dust once you leave a session? Discover how to design realistic, collaborative therapy programs with support workers that multiply your client's progress without draining their funding.Episode Summary: In the Series 1 finale of the How to Be a Better OT podcast, host Clare Batkin addresses one of the most vital yet underutilised opportunities in capacity building: working collaboratively with support workers. Whether you are navigating the NDIS or another funding scheme, upskilling the people who support your clients daily is the fastest way to drive long-term independence. Clare introduces a practical 10-step framework, co-developed with OTs Stacey Manfield and Carly Nisner, to help you plan, implement, and evaluate collaborative programs. She also shares real-world case studies demonstrating how this 10-step process can be brought to life. Key Takeaways:Why Collaboration is Non-Negotiable: With tightening budgets across sectors (especially the NDIS), intensive clinician-only sessions are no longer standard. Transitioning to a collaborative model ensures therapy carryover and helps justify your capacity-building recommendations.The 10-Step Collaborative Framework: A complete step-by-step process covering client readiness, selecting and profiling the right support worker, goal setting, joint coaching, and setting up communication channels.Understanding Your Support Worker: Learn why we must challenge the "just a support worker" narrative. Discover how to adapt your teaching to their unique learning styles, interests, and background to set them up for success.Do yourself out of a job: Why the ultimate goal of capacity building is to build self-management skills for the client and their support network, because systematically grading down your involvement is an outcome funding bodies love to see. There’s also a sneak peek at some of the topics that will be coming up in series 2 of the How to be a better OT podcast! Links & Resources Mentioned:Freebie: Download the Working Collaboratively with Support Workers PDF, which gives you a one-page snapshot of the 10-step process outlined in this podcast episode. You'll find it in section 4 of the Free Learning Library.Freebie: Download the PROOF Framework Worksheet to justify your capacity-building recommendations in the Free Learning Library.On-demand webinar: Watch the NDIS FAQs Webinar to learn about recommending support worker hours and writing strong justifications.Deep Dive: Watch extended on-demand webinars on working collaboratively with support workers as part of a paid Your OT Tutor membership: Connector membership – Contains a webinar recording outlining the 10-step process. Alliance membership – Contains an extended webinar featuring guest presenters Stacey Manfield and Carly Nisner, who share their insights, expertise and examples from the field. Connect with Experts: Reach out to OTs Stacey and Carly for more support and resources: Stacey Manfield - Manfield Consulting - https://www.manfieldconsulting.com/ Carly Nisner – Support Workers Association of Australia - https://www.supportworkerassociation.org/ If you've loved Series 1 of the podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, and share your favourite episodes with your colleagues! Join Clare again soon for Series 2, where she will be sharing her thoughts on billable KPIs, supervisor roadmaps, outcome measures, and writing reports efficiently. Thank you for listening, and we'll see you in Series 2!Want to continue learning with Clare? Here are your options:Check out my FREE Learning Library full of resources and coursesSign-up for one-on-one or group training and supportBook a time for a chat to see how I can helpSign-up for a Your OT Tutor membershipFollow me on social media – vist my Linktree for the links you need!