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[Infographic] Key Skills Personal Support Workers Need for Success

A career as a personal support worker involves providing personal care and companionship to those living with disability, disease, or old age. After personal support worker training, you’ll be able to assist individuals with general hygiene and housekeeping work. Clients will rely on you to offer essential assistance with daily tasks while maintaining a patient and sensitive attitude. As a personal support worker, the physical and psycho-social well-being of your clients is a top priority. 

What qualities can help you succeed in this role? A personal support worker course will equip you with the hands-on experience to offer attentive and rewarding services to clients. For those looking to advance their career in healthcare, here’s a look at some of the top skills of a personal support worker today.

[Infographic] Key Skills Personal Support Workers Need for Success

Knowledge of Personal Hygiene and Care

A skilled personal support work should know how to:

  • Assist clients with maintaining a daily hygiene routine in an efficient and respectful manner 
  • Administer bedside care to clients by assisting them with walking, bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing 
  • Plan and prepare daily meals for clients according to their nutritional needs
  • Feed or assist in feeding clients 
  • Perform routine housekeeping duties such as laundry, washing dishes, and making beds

Teamwork 

Personal support workers are expected to:

  • Work alongside other personal support workers 
  • Lend a helping hand to other co-workers when needed
  • Effectively distribute tasks among a team to deliver a thorough and efficient service to clients
  • Learn from the insights of other personal support workers
  • Communicate any changes to client needs with the relevant personnel

Positive Attitude 

A good personal support worker should:

  • Demonstrate empathy when working with clients 
  • Show clients that you understand the unique physical, emotional, and mental challenges that they face
  • Communicate with clients from a place of understanding 
  • Maintain a calm approach to working with difficult clients
  • Encourage enthusiasm and positivity in clients through your own attitude

Organization and Attention to Detail 

Personal support workers are responsible for:

  • Noting the details of their client’s behaviour and habits to offer tailored support
  • Detecting any changes in their client’s physical, social, or mental well-being 
  • Developing a routine and a sense of order to benefit the client’s health and well-being
  • Organizing daily tasks around a set schedule  
  • Developing proper time management to perform work efficiently 

Sources: 

  • https://www.oxfordedu.ca/programs/personal-support-worker/
  • https://www.oxfordedu.ca/3-ways-that-personal-support-workers-are-helping-those-affected-by-covid-19/
  • https://www.cestarcollege.com/blog/psw-skills-list/
  • https://personalsupportworkerhq.com/qualities-of-a-psw/
  • https://personalsupportworkerhq.com/psw-hard-and-soft-skills/
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