Job Description

Role Description - Personal Support Worker (PSW)

Regular Weekly Hours: 11 hours/week
Vacation Relief: 25-47 Hours/Week (Please note: 10-12hrs may be added to the week, where other staff take vacation per year)
Pay: $23.00-$30.00/Hour

Purpose of the Role

The Personal Support Worker (PSW) plays a vital role in fulfilling our mission to provide caring, person-centered home care, to enhance, the quality of life for the female client.
This position is dedicated to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment, supporting dignity, independence, and emotional well-being.
The PSW will work collaboratively with the clients, healthcare professionals, and other staff to ensure that the clients are valued, respected, supported, and empowered in their home.

Key Responsibilities of the PSW

1. Personal Care & Safety

Provide support to the client, with daily personal care routines, while promoting independence and dignity.

Monitor and respond promptly to potential safety risks, including fall prevention and safe mobility assistance.

Provide discreet and compassionate personal support in sensitive areas.

Willing to perform peri care multiple times per shift as needed.

2. Household Support

Collaborate with the rest of the Care Team to maintain a clean, organized, and safe living environment by following established daily and weekly household task lists.

When possible, (in periods when the client does not need immediate personal care), perform light housekeeping tasks, such as sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, dusting, laundry, and light meal preparation.

Ensure that the home is free from hazards, with attention to room safety and accessibility, notifying the Homeowner when there are unsafe areas.

3. Health & Wellness Monitoring

Administer medications and assist with meals according to the prescribed schedule. Observe and report changes in health, behavior, or mood to client's spouse promptly and accurately.

Keep clear and consistent records of medications and meals using the provided documentation system.

4. Emotional Support & Companionship

In interactions with the client, provide warm, gentle, compassionate companionship, fostering emotional well-being and a positive atmosphere.

Encourage social interaction, conversation, and engagement in meaningful activities, while respecting her need for privacy as an introverted personality.

Support the client's independence while respecting her choices and preferences.

5. Collaboration & Communication

Maintain open, respectful communication with the clients, recognizing that the client is cognitively intact at this time.

Participate in check-ins to review care, address concerns, and strengthen collaboration.

Work as part of a team, coordinating with healthcare professionals and family members as needed.

Willingness to use de-escalation strategies, that is, being prepared to apply techniques like active listening, maintaining a calm demeanor, and validating feelings to reduce tension and prevent a situation with the client from becoming more intense, as well as strategies such as showing empathy, using calm and non-threatening body language, addressing underlying issues, setting clear boundaries, and focusing on solutions rather than escalating the conflict further.

6. Core Competencies & Qualities

Show compassionate, patient, and respectful care for the client, with her diverse physical and emotional needs.

Pay strong attention to detail and reliability in carrying out care routines and household tasks.

Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Be trained in GPA (Gentle Persuasive Approach); implement GPA diligently; take in supplementary GPA training 1X per year.

Commitment to maintaining privacy and confidentiality.

Adaptability and willingness to follow established PSW procedures, while using sound judgment in unique situations.

7. Reporting Structure

Reports directly to client's spouse.

Collaborates closely with the client and other healthcare professionals involved in her care.

Working Conditions

The role involves a mix of direct personal care, light housekeeping, medication management, and emotional support.

Will perform care when required or scheduled, including night shifts.

Work hours will follow the schedule agreed upon in the Offer of Employment, with an emphasis on availability on weekends and 1-2 nights per week, especially again on weekends.

Regular check-ins and performance reviews will ensure alignment with the mission and care goals.

Core Elements of a Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA)

1. Active Listening
o Understand their perspective first; people are more receptive when they feel heard.
2. Empathy & Respect
o Acknowledge their feelings, concerns, or opinions before offering yours.
3. Soft Language
o Use phrases like:
o "Have you considered...?"
o "What if we tried...?
o "I completely understand, though I wonder if..."
4. Shared Goals
o Frame your suggestion in terms of mutual benefit or a shared outcome.
5. Stories or Analogies
o These engage emotion and make ideas more relatable, without sounding argumentative.
6. Leave Room for Choice
o End by empowering the other person with choice, rather than insisting.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $23.00-$30.00 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 11 per week

Application question(s):

Are you trained/certified in GPA? How many years of experience do you have as a PSW/nurse?
Work Location: In person