One of the biggest concerns for support workers—especially those in high-intensity support—is:
“What if my participant makes a risky decision? Will I be blamed?”
This fear often grows when supporting participants with complex medical, behavioural, or decision-making needs. It’s natural to want to prevent mistakes, but our role isn’t to control—it’s to support informed choice.
Every participant deserves autonomy, dignity, and the right to make their own decisions—even when those choices involve risk. The challenge for support workers lies in balancing safety and independence while offering gentle guidance.
Your Responsibility as a High-Intensity Support Worker
In high-intensity support, many participants need help with daily medical and personal care, such as PEG feeding, trachy management, bowel care, or diabetes monitoring. While these tasks require specialised skills and clinical oversight, participants still have the right to choose how their care is delivered.
At Avas Support, we train and empower our team to handle these moments with confidence, safety, and respect.
As a support worker, your responsibility is to:
- Explain risks clearly, using language the participant understands
- Share tools and strategies that support informed decisions
- Keep accurate records in progress notes
- Raise concerns with supervisors or key stakeholders when needed
When you take these steps, you’re meeting your duty of care.
However, suppose a participant’s risky behaviour continues and begins to impact their health or safety. In that case, it’s time to involve their wider support team—this might include coordinators, family members, or health professionals.
Real-Life Scenarios: Supporting Choice Without Overstepping
Scenario 1: Medication Refusal
A participant with diabetes chooses not to take insulin or check their blood sugar. You can:
✔ Gently remind them why the task matters
✔ Bring in someone they trust to help reinforce the message
✔ Record the refusal and notify the team if it becomes a pattern
➡ If a health crisis occurs, your role is to report it and take the right steps to escalate early.
Scenario 2: High-Risk Food Choices
A participant with dysphagia wants to eat something that goes against their meal plan. You can:
✔ Refer to the risks and their agreed plan
✔ Offer alternative foods that are safer
✔ Inform your team if this keeps happening
➡ You’re there to inform, support, and respect their right to choose—not to force a decision.
These examples show how high-intensity support requires strong communication and clear professional boundaries.
When Consequences Happen: Are We Responsible?
Even when you follow every step carefully, challenges can still arise. A participant may face health complications, social difficulties, or financial trouble. In these moments:
1️⃣ Show empathy without judgement
❌ “I told you this would happen.”
✅ “That sounds really hard. Let’s look at what we can do together.”
2️⃣ Help problem-solve together
- Focus on what’s possible and respectful
- Offer steady support without blame
3️⃣ Protect your role and wellbeing
- Stick to your responsibilities (for example, don’t pay for things out of pocket)
- Speak up and document if issues repeat
Boundaries Matter in High-Intensity Support
Participants have the right to make choices—even ones we might not agree with. At the same time, support workers have the right to protect their time, wellbeing, and role.
Set boundaries early and clearly around:
- Time – Be open about when your shift begins and ends
- Care – If essential care is refused, follow your escalation steps
- Role – Stay professional and consistent, even when things get tough
Boundaries help everyone feel safe and respected—especially in high-intensity support, where the risks and emotions can run high.
Creating a Culture of Respect and Communication
At Avas, we believe that the best outcomes come from strong relationships between participants and their support teams. When workers feel confident, and participants feel heard, trust grows—and that trust leads to better collaboration, safer decisions, and more positive outcomes.
Clear communication is at the heart of high-quality support. This means:
🗣 Asking questions rather than giving orders
🧠 Checking understanding, especially during stressful moments
💬 Creating space for the participant to express how they feel or what they need
These small actions build a foundation of respect. They show participants that their voice matters and remind workers that every decision is an opportunity to empower rather than direct.
At Avas, We Train Our Team to Be Ready
Great support starts with great preparation. At Avas Support, we invest in staff training so our team feels confident when delivering high-intensity support. Our workers are equipped to balance safety, autonomy, and dignity in every situation.
While we’re not offering external training at this time, we’re proud to stand by our team and the people they support.
We’d love to hear from you if you’re searching for a provider who values compassion, clear boundaries, and excellent training.
📞 1300 472 461
📩 [email protected]
