Home Support Worker

Job Role Home Support Worker (Driver) Home Support Worker (Non-Driver)

It is sometimes difficult to generalize about what the role of a Support Worker is. The best way of summing it up is that we might perform the tasks carried out by a close friend or relative but in a trained, professional and knowledgeable way. In order to do this successfully, the Support Worker must be aware of the needs and requirements of the client and must communicate successfully not only with the client but also with other stakeholders such as family, friends and other health‑care professionals.

The Support Worker also has a responsibility to alert the supervisor (or their representative) of any changes or causes for concern in the client’s condition. Specific tasks such as cooking, preparing meals, assisting with feeding, housekeeping, laundry and personal care may also be part of the role. The Support Worker will be briefed before undertaking any assignment and must carry out all work in a safe, professional manner, adhering to the company’s policies and procedures.

Support Workers are often the only people a client sees on a daily basis and must report relevant information back to the supervisor. The role requires compassion, emotional resilience and a strong sense of responsibility.

• Assist clients to get up, dress and prepare for their day
• Provide washing, bathing, showering, oral care and grooming assistance
• Assist with toileting, use of commode and emptying commode
• Manage continence and use manual handling equipment as specified
• Collaborate with other care professionals such as district nurses and GPs
• Assist with prescribed medication administration
• Help clients go to bed, including undressing and washing
• Prepare meals and assist with feeding
• Perform general household duties, bed making and laundry
• Shop for supplies and manage inventory
• Keep accurate records of care visits

• Own transport and a full driving licence (for Driver role)
• Experience in care provision and ability to follow instructions
• High standards of care provision, including emergency and difficult situation coping skills
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to maintain client confidentiality
• Genuine care and compassion for others
• Understanding of person‑centred care and respect for individual choices
• Commitment to quality of care and continuous learning
• Ability to promote independence, encourage appropriate risk taking and support empowerment
• Respect for diversity, ensuring no discrimination or exclusion
• Commitment to safeguarding and maintaining accurate reporting of incidents
• Willingness to comply with continuous training and membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG)

• Involve service users, families, external agencies and colleagues
• Speak up when things go wrong

• Understand person‑centred care and demonstrate treating people as individuals and respecting choices
• Promote independence and encourage appropriate risk taking

• Ensure no one is discriminated against or excluded
• Understand human rights and their impact on care delivery
• Facilitate people to speak up about concerns and act upon them

• Strive for quality in everything we do, recognising what quality means for people using the services
• Accept criticism and focus on improvement
• Remain open to new opportunities for learning and identify limits of skills and knowledge

• Treat people with kindness
• Understand the importance of empathy in all areas of employment
• Provide a caring service that respects the values of others

• Focus on doing things better and share ideas
• Understand wellbeing and what is important to people using the service
• Improve outcomes for people
• Ensure appropriate services are provided for people using the services

Caring Hearts Scotland aims to promote equality of opportunity and is committed to treating all applicants fairly regardless of ethnicity, disability, age, gender or gender re‑assignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity and marriage or civil partnership. We undertake not to discriminate unfairly against applicants on the basis of a criminal conviction or other information declared.