What to Wear and Pack for a Support Worker Shift

For a support worker shift, wear comfortable, practical clothes you can move in and wash easily, with closed, flat shoes. Carry photo ID, your phone, the shift details, a notebook and pen, and water. The rest depends on what you and the care seeker have agreed, so check the plan for each client before you leave.

What to wear

Support work is physical. You bend, reach, carry laundry and spend a lot of the day on your feet, so comfort comes before style.

• Closed, flat shoes with grip. Floors can be wet or polished, and you may walk between rooms many times in a visit.

• Clothes that move with you. Plain trousers and a top you can reach and bend in work better than anything tight or restrictive.

• Layers. Homes run warm or cool, and you may go from a heated house to a car and back.

• Something you do not mind getting wet or marked. Showering help, cooking and cleaning can all leave a mess.

• Minimal jewellery. Rings, long necklaces and dangling earrings can catch or scratch, so leaving them at home is simpler.

• Tidy hair and short, clean nails. Hair tied back stays out of the way during close work.

If a client or a person arranging their care has asked for a particular way of dressing, follow it. If nothing has been agreed, plain and neat is a safe choice. The way you dress is part of how you arrive at someone's home, and a calm, respectful first impression helps.

What to pack

Keep a small bag packed and ready, so each shift starts the same way. Most of this stays in the bag between shifts.

• Photo ID, so a new client or family member can see who you are.

• Your phone, charged, with a charger or small power bank.

• The shift details: the address, the start and finish times and the tasks agreed for the visit.

• A notebook and pen for notes after the visit, as covered in how to write a handover note.

• A water bottle, and a snack if your visit is long or you have several in a row.

• Disposable gloves, if your agreement with the client includes tasks where you would use them.

• A spare top or cardigan, in case yours gets wet or marked.

• Tissues, hand sanitiser and any personal items you need through the day.

Do not bring anything that was not asked for. Leave medication, equipment and cleaning products to what the client already has at home or has agreed you will bring.

Before you leave home

A short routine makes the shift smoother, and it takes about five minutes.

1. Read the plan for the visit, including any change since last time. Managing shift and schedule changes explains how to keep on top of those.

2. Check the address and the travel time, and leave enough room to arrive when you said you would.

3. Charge your phone and check that your ID, notebook and gloves are in the bag.

4. Eat and drink something, because you may not get a long break.

Common mistakes

• Packing too much. A heavy bag is tiring to carry from visit to visit. Keep it to what you use.

• Forgetting the notebook. Writing notes straight after the visit is easier than remembering them later.

• Wearing the wrong shoes. A visit on a slippery floor is a poor time to find out your shoes have no grip.

• Leaving ID behind. A client may not know you yet, and showing ID helps them feel comfortable.

More habits to avoid are in common mistakes new support workers make.

If you are new to the work

Your first few shifts are about learning each person's routine. What to expect at a first in-home support visit describes what a first visit looks like, and what a support worker does covers the tasks you may be asked to help with. If you are still deciding whether the work suits you, you can find out how to join as a support worker.

Frequently asked questions

Do support workers have to wear a uniform? That depends on the arrangement for the work. If a client or the person arranging care has asked for something particular, follow it. Otherwise, plain, neat and practical clothes are a safe choice.

What should I pack for a 12-hour shift? Add to the basic kit: more water, food you can eat easily, a spare top, your charger and your notebook. Plan breaks with the client so you know when you can eat.

Should I bring my own gloves? Bring disposable gloves if your agreement with the client includes tasks where you would use them. Check what is already in the home first.

Do I need to bring cleaning products or equipment? Only if that has been agreed. Ask the client before the shift, and leave anything you were not asked to bring at home.