Support Workers - Role Description
Support Workers play a vital role in the care of patients.
Residential support workers look after the physical and mental wellbeing of children or vulnerable adults in care.
If you enjoy helping people and want to make a difference to their lives, this job could be perfect for you.
In this job, it will be important to get on with people of all ages and backgrounds and gain their trust.
You'll need to have understanding and a non-judging attitude.

Work Activities
As a residential support worker your clients could include children in care, or adults with physical or learning disabilities, mental health problems, addiction issues or other emotional or social needs.

Your day-to-day tasks would vary according to the client group you work with, but might include:

• Checking each resident's needs and progress

• Providing physical care, which could include bathing, toileting, dressing and feeding

• Creating a safe and positive living environment

• Setting rules for young people's behaviour ? Teaching daily living skills such as budgeting, shopping and claiming benefits providing leisure and creative activities in a safe and supportive setting.

• Helping residents to deal with problems and become independent liaising with residents' families and arranging family and home visits

• Working with other health and care professionals

• Skills, interests and qualities To become a residential support worker, you would need to have some or all of the following:

• Excellent communication, time management and organisation skills

• The ability to get on with people of all ages and backgrounds and gain their trust

• A practical and flexible approach to work

• Knowledge of the needs of different client groups

• A non-judging attitude

• The ability to work in a team and also use your initiative

• Computer literacy and administration skills

• The ability to assess situations and take action

• Mental strength, to cope with challenging situations and clients

• Knowledge of child development

• An understanding of the effects of bereavement, change and loss

• A supportive attitude towards health and wellbeing, and educational achievement

• An understanding of safeguarding issues around vulnerable groups.