What Is a Personal Support Worker?

Since a good part of world’s population is aging, the requirement for personal support workers is bound to increase considerably. Also, focus is now shifting towards restructuring and expanding community based health care services in order to take care of the needs of aged population. Besides taking are of elderly, a personal support worker can work to help other individuals as well, such as new parents, handicapped individuals, individuals with mental health conditions, etc. The job of a personal support worker is quite challenging, daunting and exhausting. But it is definitely very rewarding and satisfying as well.

Enlisted below are the responsibilities of a personal support worker:

• The primary job is to take care of the concerned individual during turbulent times, such as period of incapacitation, family disruption, convalescence, etc.

• A personal support worker has to administer personal and bedside care such as helping the individual in moving, bathing them, helping them maintain personal hygiene, helping them in getting undressed and dressed.

• They have to plan and prepare meals for the person they are responsible for. This includes taking care of their special diets, feeding or assisting the client in feeding him/herself.

• If he/she has been employed by new parents, a personal support worker needs to demonstrate infant care to them and take care of the infant in absence of parents.

• Another important responsibility is to carry out daily health related duties which include administering medications, changing non-sterile dressings, gathering specimens under general direction of a trained nurse, etc.

• They also have to perform housekeeping duties that involves making beds, washing dishes, doing laundry, etc.

• A personal support worker also offers companionship and personal care to convalescent and elderly clients, usually under general direction of family members.

When you wish to take up the job of a personal support worker, you need to have certain qualification. A number of colleges and private institutes offer courses in this field. These courses, in general, include intensive training in the role of a personal support worker and nature of the job, interpersonal skills, safety, assisting a person with mobility, meal preparation, household management, providing optimal care and support, assisting an individual in personal hygiene, protecting client against abuse, dealing with cognitive impairment and other mental health issues, assisting the client with medication, assisting a terminal client, etc. 

Once you have achieved the desired qualification, you can get yourself registered with the concerned local organization. These organizations will provide you with job opportunities depending on your qualification, experience and requirements. A personal support worker can get employed in a home setting, a hospital or a long term care facility. The personal skills required to be a good personal support worker includes: maintaining a positive attitude, having compassion and patience, good management skills, ability to be flexible and adaptive and ability to work as an individual and as a part of a team. As a personal support worker, opportunities are plenty but wages may vary depending on the work setting and the area you are working in.

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