How to Manage the Performance of Support Workers in Partnership with Your Agency.

Disability and youth support services rely on contingent (casual/agency) staff to keep programs running, maintain safe staff-client ratios, and respond quickly to changing needs. But even the most skilled support worker can only succeed when we all—agency and host organisation—share responsibility for communication, expectations, and wellbeing.

At Be Recruitment, we don’t “fill shifts and forget.” We work with you to set support workers up for success, identify issues early, and ensure services are safe and consistent.

Why collaborative performance management matters

  • Ensures quality, person-centred support for NDIS participants and at-risk young people

  • Catches and addresses issues before they escalate

  • Builds a trusted casual pool you can rely on

  • Increases engagement, consistency, and accountability

  • Protects the well-being of workers and clients alike

Six practical steps to managing performance in partnership

StepWhat to doWhy it works
1. Brief properlyTake 5 minutes to outline the client group, specific support needs, behaviour management approaches, and any risks.Sets the worker up for success, especially in disability or trauma-informed youth settings.
2. Clarify expectationsBe clear on what’s required—support plans, progress notes, use of personal care skills, professional boundaries, etc.Helps the agency send workers with the right mix of training and temperament.
3. Provide fast feedbackShare quick feedback—positive or constructive—within 24–48 hours.Enables timely coaching or replacement, ensuring client needs continue to be met.
4. Build a preferred worker poolLet us know who fits well with your team and service model—and who doesn’t.Supports continuity and consistency, especially for clients who need familiar faces.
5. Recognise great workCall out when a worker does something well. Let us pass that on.Reinforces positive behaviour and keeps great workers engaged and coming back.
6. Escalate issues transparentlyIf something goes wrong, don’t go silent. Loop us in early, so we can communicate with the worker and help resolve it.Protects psychological safety, ensures procedural fairness, and upholds your standards, just as you would for your own staff.

What Be Recruitment does to support you

  • Tailored worker briefings and risk alerts

  • Same-day response to feedback or incident reports

  • Structured investigation process aligned with your policies

  • Retraining or coaching plans where needed

  • Full transparency and documentation of conduct and incidents

  • Support transitioning strong casuals into permanent roles

Why does this benefit your service?

1. Better client experiences
Well-prepared workers = calmer shifts, clearer communication, and more consistent support.

2. Fewer critical incidents
Addressing behaviour or performance concerns early reduces the risk of client harm, escalation, or complaints.

3. Greater continuity
We help you build a list of workers who truly “get” your service and clients, especially important in disability support and therapeutic youth care.

4. Less time spent on performance management
We share the responsibility—whether it’s coaching, replacing, or escalating issues.

5. A stronger team culture
Even contingent workers feel part of the team when they’re supported and included, which lifts morale across your service.

6. Safer, compliant services
Our joint approach ensures compliance with WHS, NDIS Code of Conduct, and fair work standards—protecting your clients and your reputation.

7. Higher quality workers over time
Feedback allows us to refine screening, match the right workers to your service, and offer training where needed.

In short, managing performance is a shared responsibility—and when done well, it leads to safer services, stronger teams, and better outcomes for the people we support.

We care about the mental and physical safety of every worker we place, and the dignity and care of every client they serve. If you’d like help streamlining your feedback or escalation process, let’s talk.

Reach out today to build a safer, more effective support team.

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