Home Support Aide Position Description

A young man in blue scrubs cooking on a stove in a modern kitchen while an elderly man reads a newspaper at the table.

Position Scope

The Home Support Aide works under the direct supervision of the Nursing Supervisor.  The incumbent is responsible for carrying out direct home support services to clients in their own homes as authorized by Continuing Care.  The services may include light housekeeping, meal preparation and laundry and not personal care.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Maintaining the focus on client independence is an ongoing Home Support Aide’s responsibility (may perform any one or a combination of the following):

Light Housekeeping:

  • Mops floors

  • Wipes counters, fridge, stove

  • Cleans inside of fridge

  • Disposes of garbage and follows local recycling protocols

  • Cleans bathroom, i.e. tub, sink, toilet, commode

  • Vacuums or sweeps living area

  • Dust

  • Laundry (Personal)

  • Changes bed linen as required

  • Washes and dries clients laundry

  • Folds clothes and/or hangs and puts away in appropriate place

Meal Preparation:

  • Cooks and/or serves meals

  • Stores labelled and dated food

  • Cleans kitchen and eating area

  • Washes dishes following meal preparation

  • Plans meals and prepares shopping list if appropriate

Health and Safety:

  • Provides client-centred supports in line with position scope

  • Provides safe, competent, and ethical supports

  • Supports, protects, and safeguards the clients’ rights and interests

  • Demonstrates a client-focused philosophy of support

  • Recognizes and reports any change in client circumstance that pose a potential or actual threat to the client’s health, safety, security and well-being

  • Maintains knowledge of and works in accordance with the Society’s current policies and procedures relating to Disaster and Fire, Infection Control, Occupational Health and Safety, WHMIS, Collective Agreement, etc

  • Maintains knowledge of and demonstrates the safe use and care of equipment and supplies in the provision of client supports

 OCCASIONAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

  • Assists client with accessing community resources.

  • Participates, upon request, in client conferences.

  • Participates in individual and/or group supervision, staff meetings and training programs, as requested.

  • Informs the Supervisor of noticeable changes in the status of a client.

  • Completes reports (time, travel/mileage, direct service hours, daily activity reports, progress notes, etc.) and ensures submitted in a timely manner.

  • Implements in-home client file.

 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

  • Current certification in Standard First Aid and CPR (Level C).

  • Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships.

  • Ability to function as a team player, respecting other care providers involved in the total care plan.

  • Ability to organize and carry out tasks efficiently.

  • Ability to work independently and to respond appropriately to emergency situations.

  • Good telephone and written communication skills.

  • Flexibility to work days, evenings, and weekends.

 REQUIRED:

  •  Must possess a valid driver's license.

  • Must have access to a reliable vehicle with valid inspection and $1,000,000.00 liability insurance.

  • Valid Certifications for the following courses: 

    • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) 

    • Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) 

    • Food Safety Training 

    • Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) 

    • Standard First Aid CPR-C & AED 

JUDGMENT AND INITIATIVE REQUIREMENTS:

  • Home Support Aides must possess the ability to observe and recognize changes in the client’s condition requiring follow up with their Supervisor.

  • A high degree of tact and judgment is required, especially in dealing with clients, and their families. 

  • The incumbent should be highly motivated and self-directed.

NATURE AND EXTENT OF CONTACTS:

  • Regular Contact: With Supervisors, Schedulers, Administrator,                                                                      clients and their families. 

  • Occasional Contact:  With the Executive Director and Financial Manager.

 TYPE AND LEVEL OF SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

  • Functions with limited supervision of routine work, seeking directions as required.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND VISUAL DEMANDS:

  • Regular hours of work include working days, evening, and weekends.

  • This position requires the physical ability to perform all tasks within the employer’s scope of practice.

  • Mental demands may be high at times due to interruption during tasks.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

  • Working in clients’ homes requires diligent attention to both your own and the client’s health and safety.

  • This position involves considerable travel and a potential for driving in adverse weather conditions.

  • Exposure to fluctuations in environmental temperatures due to working in client homes.

  • The Agency requires clients and staff to comply with a smoke-free, scent-free environment policy.

  • The Agency is governed by the OHS Act.

NOTES:

 It is the responsibility of the incumbent to request instruction in any aspect of their work with which the individual is not suitably familiar.

 This job description is not intended to be all inclusive.  Its purpose is to describe the scope of duties.  It may be changed from time to time as required.