Disabilty Support Worker

SUPPORT WORKER POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION PURPOSE

To support and assist with participant independence and quality of life in their homes by providing both physical assistance and emotional support, whilst adhering to Best of Home Cares’ policies and procedures and demonstrating our values.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

Your main responsibility as a Support Worker is to support participants with all aspects of everyday living – personal care, washing, cleaning, laundry, preparing and cooking meals and shopping, ensuring that they have maximum opportunity for developing quality lifestyles. You will provide opportunities for choice, self-advocacy and participation in matters relating to the participant’s home environment as well as facilitating access to community services and facilities. In addition to adhering to Best of Home Care’s policies and procedures, you are responsible for:

Personal and Professional Qualities

• Presenting a professional image regarding your appearance and standards of dress and maintain excellent standards of personal hygiene at all times.
• Conducting yourself in a manner that aligns with Best of Home Cares’ Policies & Procedures and Code of Conduct.
• Arriving to your shift on time and clocking in accuratelyPromoting teamwork to achieve participant’s goals.
• Assisting others when needed whilst demonstrating consideration for proper procedure.
• Follow all practices as set out in Best of Home Care’s Employee Handbook.
• Following all reasonable instruction given by an authorised person (eg. SIL Coordinator, Director).
• Prioritising your workload and  work unsupervised in a professional manner
• Only working within the scope of practice that you have been trained in. 
• Engaging in Supervision as conducted by the SIL Coordinator

Work Health and Safety

• Reporting accidents, WHS incidents or near misses as soon as practicable using the WHS Incident Hazard Report Form in the BHC App.
• Completing thorough Home Visit Risk Assessment when visiting Homecare participants’ homes
• Reviewing participant files prior to attending sites to check for newly identified hazards.
• Complying with reasonable instructions that are given by Best of Homecare, in order to comply with the WHS Act and Regulations.
• Maintaining a tidy environment that remains free from hazards.
• Taking reasonable care for your health and safety, the health and safety of those in the participant’s home, including family members and other Best of Homecare staff.
• Ensuring that during your work, your behaviour does not put anyone else at risk. 
• Personal protective equipment (PPE), if issued must be worn and used at all appropriate times. 

Participant Engagement

• Taking a person-centred approach to supporting participants
• Be polite, friendly and welcoming when communicating with participants
• Displaying sensitivity to participant’s different cultures, languages, communication needs and customs
• Exercising a duty of care when supervising participants whilst supporting dignity of risk decisions.
• Perform household tasks such as vacuuming, clothes washing, meal preparation, cleaning and other duties as required.
• Medication management within scope of practice (where appropriately trained)
• Reviewing participants' documentation and planning in line with participants goals.
• Planning and engaging participants in daily activities and appointments
• Ensuring you have the skills, knowledge, and ability to support participant advocacy requirements and decision-making.
• Meal planning and menu creation with participants (Senior SIL Workers only)

Privacy

• Reminding participants of their right to privacy
• Ensuring ongoing security of participant information when accessing, storing, retrieving, or disposing of participant information.
• Not disclosing participant information where consent has not been provided.
• Respect and protect participant property and privacy

Reporting

• Ensuring progress notes are updated each shift.
• Medication and medication charting (where trained)
• Being proficient at using the Best of Home Care App.
• Completing behaviour reporting charts and other charts as needed e.g. sleep and bowel charts.
• Notifying the SIL Coordinator of any newly identified risks to the participant.
• Acting upon and trying to resolve issues concerning complaints from participants or their supporters.
• Advising the SIL Coordinator if a participant has sought access to an advocacy service regarding Best of Homecare. 
• Documenting and notifying the Directors of any participant decisions that may compromise the organisation's duty of care.
• Documenting and notifying your supervisor of any suspected instances where there has been a breach of confidentiality has occurred.
• Reporting any incidents or complaints to the SIL Coordinator through the BHC App.
• Identifying and reporting participant risk to the SIL Coordinator
• Identifying and reporting WHS risk through the completion of the WHS Hazard and Incident Reporting forms in the BHC App.
• Updating Environmental Risk Assessment forms when emerging risks present and entering the risk onto the participant database (for Home Care participants).
• Supporting participants to articulate and document their complaint.
• Creating the shopping orders for participants with approval from the SIL Coordinator (Senior SIL Workers only)
• Check the SIL home landline for messages and record any appointments on whiteboard (Senior SIL Workers only)
• Responsible for operations of the home on weekends and during absence of SIL Coordinators (Senior SIL Workers only)

Screening Requirements:

• 100 points of ID.
• Right to Work in Australia.
• NDIS Worker Screening Check.
• An international police check (where applicable).
• Working with Children Check.

Key qualifications, competencies, and skills:

• NDIS Worker Orientation Module Certificate.
• Infection Control Training Certificate.
• Proficient verbal and written English communication skills.
• Medication Management Training (mandatory) and demonstrated competence in medication management processes.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting people with multiple complex needs including psychiatric disability, substance abuse, dual diagnosis, and ABI with the ability to work with participants with challenging behaviours and being able to manage risk.
• Relevant degree in disability, mental health, or aged care (desired)

Specialist Skills and Training based on Participant’s Requirements:

• Positive Behaviour Support Training (where supporting participants with behaviours of concern)
• First Aid and CPR Mandatory where responsible for Medication Management 
• High Intensity Support Training and demonstrated knowledge and competence as outlined in the HI skills descriptors (where working with participants who have high-intensity needs)
• Mealtime Management Training
• Manual Handling Training