Wilk: Sorrentino's Canadian Textbook for the Support Worker, 5th Edition
Chapter 1: The Role and Responsibilities of the Support Worker
Chapter 1
The Role and
Responsibilities of the
Support Worker
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Role of the Support Worker
(1 of 2)
Provide client-centred care and assistance
to accomplish the tasks of everyday living.
A variety of assistance may be required for
some clients, and very little for others.
Includes personal care and support
services
You make a difference in people’s lives.
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Role of the Support Worker
(2 of 2)
Ultimate goal of support work: To improve the
client’s quality of life
Provide care in a kind, sensitive, and
understanding manner
Use discretion (responsible judgement)
Honour the client’s right to confidentiality
Display empathy (having an understanding of
another person’s emotions)
Advocate for clients (speaking or acting on their
behalf)
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Support Work Across Canada
(1 of 2)
The client is always the focus of care.
All member of the health care team work to
meet the client’s needs.
The nature of support work varies across
Canada.
There are differences in educational
programs, work settings, job responsibilities,
and terms used to describe support workers
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Support Work Across Canada
(2 of 2)
There is no legal scope of practice for support
workers in Canada.
Scope of practice depends on employer and
varies between provinces/territories.
Different terms are used to describe support
workers:
Appendix at end of the textbook outlines what the
support worker is called in different provinces and
territories
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Settings for Support Work
Work in a variety of agency-based and
community-based settings.
In all settings, PSWs ensure the safety of
their clients, including those with cognitive or
mental health challenges.
Includes providing clients with social support
or social reintegration.
Provide comfort and end-of-life care to dying
clients.
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Support Worker Responsibilities
(1 of 2)
Personal care—assisting with ADLs (activities
of daily living): eating, bathing, grooming,
dressing, toileting, moving and positioning,
walking
Assist with instrumental activities of daily
living (IADLs) in community settings
Provide support for nurses and other health
care professionals by following the
established care plan for each client
Provide family support
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Support Worker Responsibilities
(2 of 2)
Social support
Housekeeping or home management
Documenting and reporting any basic
assessments, observations, and care
provided in the client’s record or chart
Support workers are not responsible for
deciding what should or should not be done.
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People You Support
Patient—person receiving care in a hospital
Resident—person living in a live-in facility
Client—person receiving care or support
services in the community; general term for
all people receiving health care or support
services
Remember: Every person is unique.
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Caring for Individuals
Older persons
People with disabilities
People with medical issues
People having surgery
People with mental health issues
People needing rehabilitation
Children
Mothers and newborns
People requiring special care
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The Health Care Team
Group of people working together toward a
common goal.
Includes professionals with a variety of skills
and knowledge.
Goal is to provide quality care.
The support worker is an important member
of the health care team.
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Regulated Workers
A regulated profession is self-governing.
It has a professional organization called a
college that sets education and licence
requirements.
The college establishes the scope of practice,
codes of ethics, and standards of conduct for
its members.
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Unregulated Care Providers
(UCPs)
An unregulated profession does not have a
professional college; there are no official
requirements for educational programs.
There is no code of ethics, but UCPs must
adhere to codes of behaviour as dictated by
employer
Support workers are unregulated workers,
referred to as unregulated care providers
(UCPs)
(See textbook Table 1.1: Support and Health Care
Team Members)
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Scope of Practice
There is no legal scope of practice for support
workers in Canada.
To protect the client from harm you must
know what you can or cannot do, within the
limits of your role.
Support worker’s role determined by their
province/territory’s educational standards and
employer’s policies.
Never perform a function or task that you
have not been trained to do or that is beyond
the legal limits of your role.
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Sources of Information
About Scope of Practice
Educational program
Employer’s policies
Supervisor
A nurse is licensed and regulated by the province
to maintain overall responsibility for planning and
provision of care.
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Supervision of Support Workers
RN (registered nurse):
Assesses, develops nursing plans, implements
and evaluates care, and carries out physician’s
orders
An RN is usually the team leader of the health
care team, which also consists of:
LPN/RPN (licensed practical nurse/registered
practical nurse)
Support worker
Other allied health care providers
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Support Worker Supervisor
Support workers may be supervised by an
RN or an LPN/RPN, or may be hired directly
by clients.
Support workers in the community may be
supervised by another registered professional
(e.g., recreational therapist, social worker,
physiotherapist).
You must be aware of the tasks and
procedures you can perform as a support
worker.
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Being a Professional
Demonstrate respect for others, commitment,
competence, and appropriate behaviour, and
have a professional appearance.
Be cheerful and friendly, work when scheduled,
perform tasks competently, and help others.
Show enthusiasm, consideration, and honesty
See textbook Box 1.1: Statements That Show
Negative Attitude Versus Positive Attitude
See textbook Box 1.2: Practices for a Professional
Appearance
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Professional Behaviours
A positive attitude
A sense of responsibility
A professional appearance
Discretion about client information
Commitment to lifelong learning
Advocating for the client
Discretion about personal matters
Using acceptable speech and language
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Confidentiality
Respect and guard personal and private
information about another person.
Share information only with health care team
members who are involved in the client’s care.
Never talk with a client about another client.
Avoid talking about co-workers.
Do not discuss work issues/client care outside
the work area.
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The Goal of Support Work
The goal of support work is to demonstrate
true client-centred care by treating clients
with kindness, honesty, sensitivity, comfort,
discretion, respect, and understanding.
Client-centred care is also known as
compassionate or person-centred care.
Caring means having concern for dignity,
independence, individualized care,
preferences, privacy, and safety of clients and
their families at all times (DIPPS)
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DIPPS (1 of 2)
Dignity—The state of feeling worthy, valued,
and respected. People need to feel dignified.
Independence—Clients need to do what they
can for themselves.
Individualized Care—No person is identical to
another person, so care should be
personalized to each client.
Preferences—Clients need to make choices
and explain how they want to have things
done.
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DIPPS (2 of 2)
Privacy—Clients need to know that their
bodies and their affairs are treated
respectfully and are protected from public
view.
Safety—Clients need to live in an
environment that is as hazard free as
possible. They also need to feel secure about
the care provided.
See textbook Box 1.4: DIPPS—Principles of
Client-Centred Care, the Goal of Support Work
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Critical Thinking
Decision Making:
Support workers make many decisions during
their day:
Consider goal of support work—DIPPS
Consider the client’s viewpoint
Consider your scope of practice—your limits
Consider your supervisor’s viewpoint and
guidance
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