Bree’s Approach to Building Genuine Rapport With Participants in Disability Support Work

During my journey as a support worker, I have learned that building genuine rapport is not achieved through big gestures, but through small and consistent acts of respect, empathy and empowerment, which form the foundation for effective communication and person-centred care. Here, I will be sharing how I approach connection in a way that nurtures trust with and promotes independence for the participants I support.

Being a support worker is intimate and personal, as each participant vulnerably opens themselves up to the prospect of allowing a stranger to assist them in their daily lives. Being respectful of your participants as individuals and putting them before their disability, shows that you value their identity, choices, and autonomy. Remember to be accepting of your participant's personal preferences and how they would like to be addressed.

Participants are great at reading people; they often know and feel when someone is truly listening or not. Showing genuine interest through making eye contact, displaying a warm and calm nature, and using open body language indicates that you are present with them. In conversation, some participants can get flustered easily due to communication barriers or often forget their train of thought. Due to this, I often avoid interrupting, even if I have something nice or meaningful to add. This allows participants to express themselves freely, showing you value what they have to say.

Establishing common ground or shared interests, I believe, is one of the quickest and easiest ways to develop genuine rapport. Whether that be through a favourite TV show, sport, pet, music, or hobby. Common interests create a natural and instantaneous bond with participants that make them feel seen and understood. Furthermore, taking the time to learn about what matters to your participants will strengthen your connection, making supporting them effortless.

Being consistent and reliable is a great way to build and maintain rapport as it shows your participants can count on you. This can look like; showing up on time, following through with your word, and maintaining a positive attitude. Creating firm, but safe and respectful professional boundaries is essential due to the intimate nature of the relationship between a support worker and participant. This further strengthens the consistency and reliability of your support.

Showing genuine empathy, rather than pity, is crucial in support work. Participants do not want to be pitied or felt sorry for, they want to be acknowledged, respected and, validated. Rather than approaching them with the idea of trying to “fix” them, approaching them in a non-judgemental way that fosters independence and confidence.

Building rapport isn’t about having all the right words or solutions. It’s about showing up in an authentic and respectful manner. By implementing a person-centred approach coupled with actively listening, consistency, and empathy, you create a safe space where trust is created and maintained. When support becomes more than just a service provided, it develops into a meaningful connection.