Personal Support Worker

**Summary of Function**

Under the supervision of the Care Team Supervisor, the Personal Support Worker (PSW) provides personal support and homemaking services to individuals. Care is provided within the framework of policies, procedures, standards and quality & risk management as established by Carefor Health and Community Services and the management of the Pembroke Civic Complex. The PSW collaborates with members of the health care team in meeting the needs of individuals to attain an optimal level of independence and wellbeing. A PSW is responsible to work within his/her scope of practice, performing the care and activities for which they have the necessary training and for which they are competent. The PSW is to inform the manager or designate if they require additional training with tasks.

**Qualifications**
- Secondary school education preferred
- Personal Support Worker or Health Care Aide certificate
- Current Standard First Aid Certificate, required
- Current CPR level C Certificate, required
- At least 1 year experience working with elderly or ill individuals.
- Experience working with seniors who have dementia, Alzheimer’s, and mental health illnesses
- Experience working in a retirement or nursing home facility

**Skills**
- Ability to evaluate situations and use policies and procedures as guidelines
- Effective problem solving and decision making skills
- Effective communication skills (verbal, written)
- Good assessment skills
- Awareness of community resources
- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to take direction well
- Ability to work independently
- Ability and availability to work shifts in a 24 hour operation
- Ability to bend, sit, stand, kneel for short periods of time
- Assist or provide care according to the Resident Care Plan. Assistance may need to be provided on a short or long term basis to individual residents including but not limited to personal care, lifts and transfers, observing nutritional status, light housekeeping, assist in taking prescribed medication, etc
- Observe resident for changes in behaviour or signs or symptoms of decreasing health status and report to Care Team leader.
- Chart care given and give verbal/written report to RPN or other team members on any unusual behaviour and observations made with respect to clients/residents
- Evaluate the individual's need for change in the personal support care plan and make recommendations to RPN or designate.
- Contributes to the development of the personal support care plan by reporting, to the RPN or designate, all observations or information obtained from the resident and/or family regarding needs and the effect of the care he/she provided.
- Plans and organizes each day’s activities, setting priorities for personal support and other activities, to effectively utilize time, energy, supplies and equipment.
- Completes documentation/paperwork according to Carefor policies and procedures
- Functions and reports in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety legislation, regulations, and Care_f_or policies and procedures
- Reports the absence of or defect in any equipment or protective device of which he/she is aware and which may endanger him/herself or another worker
- Reports any violations of the Health and Safety Act or the regulations, or the existence of any hazard
- Ensures all workplace incidents are reported in a timely manner in accordance with legislation, and Care_f_or policies and procedures for workplace injuries and incidents

**Experience**
- At least 1 year experience working with elderly or ill individuals.
- Experience working with seniors who have dementia, Alzheimer’s, and mental health illnesses
- Experience working in a retirement or nursing home facility

**Responsibilities**
- Assist or provide care according to the Resident Care Plan. Assistance may need to be provided on a short or long term basis to individual residents including but not limited to personal care, lifts and transfers, observing nutritional status, light housekeeping, assist in taking prescribed medication, etc
- Observe resident for changes in behaviour or signs or symptoms of decreasing health status and report to Care Team leader.
- Chart care given and give verbal/written report to RPN or other team members on any unusual behaviour and observations made with respect to clients/residents
- Evaluate the individual's need for change in the personal support care plan and make recommendations to RPN or designate.
- Contributes to the development of the personal support care plan by reporting, to the RPN or designate, all observations or information obtained from the resident and/or family regarding needs and the effect of the care he/she provided.
- Plans and organizes each day’s activities, setting priorities for personal support and other activities, to effectively utilize time, energy, supplies and equipment.
- Completes documentation/paperwork according to Carefor policies and pr