As a care team member (e.g. nurses, managers, supervisors, educators, directors of care, resident care coordinators, rehabilitation staff, and recreation therapists), learn more about role of the health care support worker and how you work together as a team.
How will the health care support worker function as part of the long term care and assisted living care team?
The health care support worker is an employee and a new member of the care team. It is important that you welcome them, learn about their role and integrate them into your team-based care. They are a member of the inter-professional team and you may be asked to be a mentor or supervise them in their roles and responsibilities.
The role of the health care support worker
The health care support worker role is non-clinical and non-direct. The role is intended to support the care team and the residents. Their role adds to the quality of life for the residents by spending one-to-one time with residents and helping care team members by freeing them up to provide more time providing clinical support to the residents.
Care team orientation resources:
These documents are provided for printing and distribution.
- The health care support worker can/cannot do list.
- Activities Not a Function of Health Care Support Workers in Long-term Care and Assisted Living
- Resource providing supervision/direction, daily assignment and oversight to health care support workers
- Decision support document: Assigning the health care support worker activities and tasks: a decision-making algorithm.
- Sample daily schedule
Examples of non-clinical, non-direct activities health care support workers can perform
Supporting the care team and the residents can include performing a variety of tasks for various care team members:
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Health care assistants
Communication:
- Attend shift change meetings/huddles
- Learns from health care assistant and follows the established team communication related to resident observation and reporting
During activities of daily living:
- Assist during activities of daily living by gathering supplies for bathing, showering, oral hygiene and grooming
- Assist with cleaning of supplies after bathing, or hygiene care
- Assist with restocking of supplies
At meal time:
- Transport residents to dining area
- Welcome residents to dining area
- Assist with setting residents up for meals
- Distribute and collect meal trays
- Assist heating prepared food
- Assist with making tea, coffee
- Assist with housekeeping duties
Restock and clean supplies:
- Check and restock supplies for personal care
- Check and restock supplies for housekeeping
- Check and restock linen supplies
- Assist with cleaning of supplies as directed by health care assistants
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Nurses (Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses)
Documentation:
- At the direction of the nurse update communication boards
- Set up patient charts
- Completes inter-shift communication books and daily log sheets
Communication:
- Reports observations related to resident pain, safety risk, family questions and concerns to nurse
At meal time:
- At the direction of the nurse restocks fluids/supplies for medication administration
Restock and clean supplies:
- At the direction of the nurse, assist with cleaning and restocking of supplies
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Rehabilitation staff
Mobilization:
- Provide mobilization aids
- Transport residents by wheelchair to and from rehabilitative treatment
- Walk alongside a resident to and from rehabilitative treatment
- Encourage and set up resident to do exercises that do not require hands on assistance
Restock and clean supplies:
- Assist with restocking of supplies
- Assist with cleaning of supplies and mobility aids
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Recreational therapists
Recreational activities:
- Provide assistance in carrying out social/recreational activities
- Set up supplies and equipment as directed
- Assist with transporting resident by wheelchair or walk with resident to designated areas
- Encourage resident participation in activities (e.g. games, arts and crafts, community outings)
Restock and clean supplies:
- Assist with restocking of supplies
- Assist with cleaning of recreational supplies