POSITION TITLE: CARE SUPPORT WORKER
REPORTS TO: Team Leader
ROLE PURPOSE
· The Care Support Worker at ITSOWEL can expect to work with care recipients who receive services either from our Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) or Support at Home Program (previously known as HCP).
· The Care Support Worker will develop a professional relationship with care recipients and their family members or representatives to provide a reliable, high quality service where the care recipient’s goals regarding their autonomy, wellbeing and cultural needs are primary.
· They will maintain a consumer focused approach in all activities.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
· The position holds working relationships with internal stakeholders:
- Executive Officer
- Team Leader
- Care Partners
- Scheduling Officer
- Social Support Group Facilitators
- Administration Officer
POSITION TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The employee’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:
1. CHSP: Individual Social Support & Flexible Respite
· Individual Social Support is normally provided in the consumer’s home but may include accompanying the consumer on an outing, transport to appointments, shopping. The support provided is consumer focused and helps them to participate in the community and remain independent in their own home.
· Flexible Respite is to assist carers to have a break from their caring role whilst providing support to the aged person in their own home allowing the primary caregiver to take a break. This support is tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the care recipient and their family. It can include social support, assistance with daily tasks, such as general domestic or preparation of a meal and personal care.
2. Home Care Packages Program
The range of duties provided within a HCP is broader and is inclusive of Personal Care (including medication prompting), Cleaning and Household Tasks, In-Home Respite, Social Support/Community Participation. The Care Support Worker will respond to the needs identified, within the physical limits listed below, and encourage consumers to participate in any aspect they choose.
Personal Care
· Assist in shower with soaping and rinsing hard to reach areas (ask the consumer first)
· Ask consumer if they would like their hair washed and assist with drying hair (use warm heat in winter)
· Dry consumer with large towel, offering the consumer a hand towel to dry themselves if they wish
· Wash feet and dry between toes where indicated
· Dress consumer from bottom to top reducing the consumer’s need to sit-stand-sit-stand
· Check consumer’s skin integrity, apply moisturising creams gently and as directed
· Note any skin integrity problems for action (i.e. report back to the consumer’s representative)
· Medication Prompting – see below
Cleaning and Household Tasks
The extent of tasks will depend on the service duration, prioritisation of tasks with consumer may be required.
· Ensure bathroom is left tidy, floor is mopped and dried of water, shower is wiped down
· Laundering of towels and other items used in showering the consumer
· Clean areas used by consumer – vacuuming and mopping floors, small rugs shaken outside, clean toilet etc.
· Dusting of furniture within reach, consumer can assist if possible
· Ironing of essential items of clothing if required
· Laundering of essential clothing items and linen, without overextending to hang, if required
Social Support/Community Participation
· Accompany consumer to go shopping
· Assist with meal preparation, encourage consumer to participate
· Accompany to medical appointments
· Accompany to participate in social activity, visit cemetery or other community participation activities
In-Home Respite
· Provide respite to the carer when they are absent from the home.
Medication Prompting
· Medication prompting will be provided only when the consumer has all of their current medications dispensed via a Webster Pak.
· If consumer is unable to pop open the blisters in the Webster Pak, open it for them and place tablets into a small cup or dish. Count tablets with consumer. Watch them take the tablets.
· Never make a suggestion for an additional dose of a particular medication
· Apply scripted medicated creams as directed whilst wearing gloves
· Consumer dials up the required dose if they use an insulin pen or other dispenser. Aged Care Support Worker checks dosage against prescription. Consumer self-administers.
· Update Medication Record in folder in consumer’s home each time medication prompting occurs
· Report back to Home Care Advisor any medication incidents – i.e. consumer refuses to take medication, throws them away, tablets due at time are missing from the blister cell in the Webster Pak
Accountabilities within the Role
· Identify hazards/risks affecting the safety of the consumer and yourself in the workplace; remediate the hazards/risks yourself if possible; report to Home Care Advisor for action if necessary
· Aged Care Support Worker is not to leave the service visit early even if tasks are completed; ask the
consumer ‘what else can I do you for you today?’ or provide social interaction
· Report requests from consumer (or representative) for variations to service to Care Partner for decision
· Maintain at all times a professional approach to working with consumers and their representatives:
e.g. do not provide them your personal mobile number; avoid contact with them via social media; do not accept gifts from the consumer or their representative
· Document after each service visit the tasks completed/any other relevant observations in the Record of Visit form held in the consumer’s home folder and in client management system (AlayaCare).
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE ROLE
· Frequent manual handling up to 16kgs
· Frequent bending at knees and/or hips
· Kneeling
· Hand grip strength
· Good cardiovascular fitness
· Standing for long periods
· Ability to reach overhead
· Ability to reach below knee height
· Ability to reach forward
· Sit for long periods
· Bilateral lift 10 kgs
· Unilateral carry 10 kgs
· Frequent pushing / pulling
· Capable of driving up to or greater than 1 hour.
CORE COMPETENCIES – ALL POSITIONS
Commitment to Organisational Values
· Commitment to ITSOWEL and its values and purpose.
· Respect for internal and external stakeholders.
· Compliance with all organisational and operational policies.
Commitment to Safety and Security
· Understands, adheres to and encourages and carries out the principles of integrated safety management; complies with safety policies and procedures; completes all required training and takes personal responsibility for safety.
Customer services
· Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers.
Flexibility
· Is open to change and new information.
· Rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
· Works in a flexible manner.
Integrity/Honesty
· Behaves in an honest, fair and ethical manner.
· Shows consistency in words and actions.
· Contributes to a culture that fosters high standards of ethics.
Interpersonal skills
· Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity and respect.
· Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of others.
Motivation
· Willingness to work well and achieve outcomes.
· Displays initiative.
· Willingness to work with community spirit.
Communication
· Listens effectively, clarifies information as needed, and facilitates open communication.
· Maintains professionalism.
Reliability
· Demonstrates sound work ethic.
· Completes work in a timely, consistent manner.
· Is committed to doing the best job possible; keeps commitments.
Quality of Work
· Takes pride in presentation, quality and efficiency of work.
· Maintains high standards and quality of work.
Professional Development
· Commitment to attend training to increase knowledge and skills in the area of aged care.
· Willingness to identify personal skills deficits and seek methods to remediate them.
· Participate in regular meetings as required.
SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES AND COMPETENCIES
· Confident using email, mobile apps and online meeting platforms such as Zoom.
· Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
· Good problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively with others.
· Able to work independently and respond appropriately to feedback and direction.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Essential
a. Certificate III or IV in Aged Care/Individual Support.
b. Current First Aid Certificate and Medication Competency.
c. Unrestricted driver’s licence and reliable, registered and comprehensively insured vehicle.
d. Current National Police Check (less than 12 months old).
e. Valid Australian working rights.
f. Willingness to travel within the Wollongong and Shellharbour areas and work flexible hours, including some weekends.
Desirable
a. Experience in working in the aged care sector and an understanding of issues relating to older people, people with dementia and their carers.
b. Ability to communicate in Italian is highly regarded.
Pay: $40.76 – $45.29 per hour
Expected hours: 10.0 – 25.0 per week
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
