Support Worker Job Description, Duties, and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the support worker job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requirements you may be expected to fulfill to be hired for the support worker role by most employers/recruiters.

What Does a Support Worker Do?

A support worker (who can also be referred to as a healthcare support worker), is responsible for working with people with vulnerability in diverse ways. The types of vulnerability may (in most cases it is certain) differ from patient to patient.

The support worker job description sometimes involves helping people with mental health problems; those recovering from addictions; persons with learning difficulties; and people with disabilities.

The day-to-day activities or duties of a support worker are usually based on the needs of patients at any given time. That is to say that there is little or no routine pattern when it comes to their daily activities.

He/she may be required to provide physical care to patients, like bathing, dressing, and feeding (depending on the different needs of each patient).

The support worker tries as much as possible to provide leisure and/or recreation activities for the patients he or she is taking care of.

In some cases, he/she may be required to teach and assist patients with their daily personal and/or community responsibilities. This may include the administration of medication, shopping etc.

It is important to note that most support workers (specifically those that work closely with patients) carry out their work description under the supervision of a nurse or physician as the case may be.

Support Worker Job Description Example/Sample/Template

Support Workers perform various functions in making sure that patients’ different needs are met at all times.

The job description below is a typical example of the kind of tasks, duties, and responsibilities commonly assigned to individuals who work as support workers in most organizations or settings:

• Communicating frequently with the patients so as to be able to identify their needs and attend to them accordingly
• Making sure that appointments are made and adhered to with patients’ physicians as at when due
• Being responsible for the well-being and safety of patients under care
• Seeing to the availability of a patient’s medication at all times
• Interacting respectfully with patients and their relatives (if the need arises)
• Keep all matters related to patients or their families confidential at all times
• Extend support/care period if the need arises
• In the case of serious side effects or health-related issues, notify the patient’s physician and family.

Requirements – Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge – for the Role of a Support Worker

When hiring for the support worker role, most employers will expect you to meet the following requirements to qualify for an appointment:

• Good communication skills are a must-have for any support worker
• He/she must have good interpersonal skills so as to be able to easily identify the needs of each patient
• Ability to understand and be patient/calm irrespective of provocation from patients being cared for or supported
• Must be compassionate when carrying out his/her duties
• Flexibility in work patterns and schedule is of great importance
• Ability to work as part of a team if need be
• Ability to work with minimal supervision always
• He/she must display a great level of trust and honesty at all times
• Must possess excellent problem-solving abilities
• Must be able to adapt to different conditions and cases
• In some cases also, he/she may be required to act as a role model to the patient that is being supported or guided
• Evidence of experience as a support worker or care provider
• A good level of general education, especially in communication and healthcare-related fields
• A diploma in health and social care would be of added advantage.

Conclusion

You will find the sample job description for the support worker position provided in this post useful if you are an employer hiring for the role.

You will be able to produce a great description for the position in your organization easily and as clearly as possible too, by making use of the content of this post, and that will enhance your chances of getting the best-qualified individuals to apply for the job.

Individuals interested in a career in the field of healthcare support will also find this post helpful in learning about the duties and responsibilities that characterize the position of a (health care) support worker.