SYLTEM HEALTH CAREPosition Description: Aged Care and Disability Support Worker – In-Home Care1. Position Details

Position Title: Aged Care and Disability Support Worker
Organisation: Syltem Health Care
Employment Type: Casual
Location: Client homes and community settings
Reports To: Service Manager / Registered Manager / Team Leader
Award Coverage: To be determined in accordance with the applicable industrial award and the duties performed.

2. Position Purpose

The Aged Care and Disability Support Worker provides person-centred care and practical support to older people and people with disability in their own homes and community settings.

The purpose of the role is to assist clients to maintain their independence, dignity, safety, wellbeing and quality of life. Support is tailored to each client's individual needs, preferences, goals, cultural background and care plan.

The successful candidate will support clients to participate in daily activities, maintain personal hygiene, access the community, complete household tasks and remain as independent as possible in a safe and supportive environment.

All support must be delivered respectfully, in accordance with the client's support plan, Syltem Health Care's policies and procedures, applicable legislation and relevant aged care or disability service requirements.

3. Key ResponsibilitiesA. Personal Care and Daily Living Support

- Assist clients with personal hygiene, including showering, bathing, dressing, grooming and oral care, as required.
- Support clients with toileting, continence care and personal hygiene while maintaining privacy, dignity and respect.
- Assist with mobility, positioning, transfers and the use of prescribed mobility aids in accordance with the client's care plan and the worker's training.
- Support clients with eating and drinking, including meal preparation and assistance with meals where required and within the worker's competencies.
- Encourage independence and enable clients to complete tasks themselves wherever possible.
- Recognise and respect each client's preferences, routines, choices and right to make decisions about their daily lives.

B. Domestic Assistance and Home Support

- Assist with household tasks, including cleaning, laundry, changing bed linen and maintaining a tidy living environment.
- Prepare nutritious meals in accordance with the client's preferences, dietary requirements and care plan.
- Assist with grocery shopping and other essential household errands.
- Support clients to maintain a clean, comfortable and safe home environment.
- Identify potential hazards within the home and report any safety concerns to the appropriate manager.
- Follow infection prevention and control procedures when providing personal care and domestic assistance.

C. Disability Support and Positive Behaviour Support

- Provide individualised support to people with disability in accordance with their support plans and personal goals.
- Promote choice, control, independence, dignity and social inclusion.
- Follow applicable behaviour support plans and use positive, respectful and least-restrictive approaches to support clients.
- Recognise potential triggers for distress and respond calmly, consistently and respectfully.
- Use appropriate communication strategies to support clients with communication difficulties, sensory needs or cognitive impairments.
- Report changes in behaviour, emotional wellbeing or support needs to the relevant manager or practitioner.
- Follow the organisation's procedures for responding to distress, incidents, safeguarding concerns and emergency situations.
- Never implement a restrictive practice unless it is lawfully authorised, applicable requirements have been met, and the worker has received the necessary training and direction.

D. Aged Care and Dementia Support

- Support older people to maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life.
- Provide compassionate care to clients experiencing frailty, reduced mobility, cognitive impairment or dementia.
- Encourage meaningful activities, social engagement and participation in preferred daily routines.
- Recognise and report changes in a client's physical health, cognition, mood, mobility or functional abilities.
- Respond appropriately to signs of pain, discomfort, confusion, dehydration, malnutrition or other health concerns.
- Respect the client's personal history, cultural background, beliefs, relationships and individual preferences.
- Support clients to remain safely in their own homes for as long as appropriate to their needs and care arrangements.

E. Community Participation and Social Support

- Accompany clients to appointments, shopping, recreational activities and community events, where included in their support plans.




- Encourage participation in hobbies, social activities and meaningful daily experiences.
- Support clients to maintain relationships with family, friends and their community.
- Assist with transport arrangements in accordance with organisational policies, the client's plan and applicable requirements.
- Promote inclusion, independence and confidence when accessing community facilities and services.

F. Medication Assistance

- Provide medication assistance only where this is included in the worker's duties, permitted under applicable requirements and supported by appropriate training and competency assessment.
- Follow the client's medication instructions and Syltem Health Care's medication management procedures.
- Never administer or assist with medication outside the worker's authorised role, training or competence.
- Record medication assistance accurately where required.
- Promptly report medication errors, missed doses, refusals, adverse reactions or other medication-related concerns in accordance with organisational procedures.

G. Health Monitoring and Escalation

- Observe and report changes in the client's health, physical condition, mood, behaviour or functional abilities.
- Report concerns such as falls, injuries, skin changes, continence difficulties, reduced food or fluid intake, unusual confusion or signs of deterioration.
- Seek assistance promptly when a client's condition changes or when support needs exceed the worker's competence.
- Follow emergency procedures and contact emergency services when necessary.
- Provide factual and timely information to the appropriate manager or healthcare professional.
- Undertake clinical tasks only when appropriately qualified, authorised and competent.

H. Documentation and Reporting

- Maintain accurate, factual, timely and confidential client records.
- Complete progress notes, care records, checklists and other required documentation.
- Record services delivered, relevant observations and any changes in the client's needs.
- Report incidents, near misses, injuries, hazards, suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation or other safeguarding concerns promptly.
- Follow the organisation's incident management, complaints handling and escalation procedures.
- Maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable privacy and information-handling requirements.

I. Safeguarding and Client Rights

- Treat every client with dignity, compassion, respect and fairness.
- Uphold clients' rights to privacy, independence, informed choice and freedom from abuse, neglect, discrimination and exploitation.
- Respect cultural, religious, linguistic and individual differences.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients and their families.
- Never engage in abusive, intimidating, discriminatory, exploitative or neglectful conduct.
- Report suspected abuse, neglect, misconduct or other safeguarding concerns in accordance with organisational procedures and applicable reporting obligations.
- Support clients to raise concerns or make complaints without fear of retaliation.

J. Professional Conduct and Teamwork

- Follow Syltem Health Care's policies, procedures, code of conduct and relevant service requirements.
- Work collaboratively with clients, families, carers, managers and other professionals, within appropriate consent and information-sharing arrangements.
- Attend mandatory training, supervision, team meetings and competency assessments as required.
- Maintain skilled boundaries and communicate respectfully with clients and colleagues.
- Notify management promptly of incidents, changes in availability or circumstances that may affect safe service delivery.
- Maintain a professional, reliable and flexible approach to rostered shifts and client needs.

4. Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate should have qualifications and experience appropriate to the duties of the position.

Desirable qualifications include:

- Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Disability or an equivalent relevant qualification).
- Certificate IV in Ageing Support or Disability Support, where relevant to the role.
- Current First Aid and CPR certification, as required by the position and applicable service arrangements.
- Relevant training in manual handling, infection prevention and control, dementia care, safeguarding and medication assistance, where applicable.

Experience:

- Experience supporting older people,



people with disability or people requiring assistance with daily living.
- Experience providing personal care and domestic assistance in home or community settings.
- Experience supporting people with dementia, cognitive impairment, complex support needs or behaviours of concern is desirable.
- Experience following individualised care plans, support plans and behaviour support plans is desirable.

Candidates who do not hold a formal qualification may be considered where permitted and where they can demonstrate appropriate skills, experience and competencies for the role.

5. Mandatory and Other Employment Requirements

Before commencing work, the successful candidate must meet the screening, employment and competency requirements applicable to their position and the services provided.

These may include:

- Evidence of identity and eligibility to work in Australia.
- An appropriate police certificate or accepted worker screening clearance, as applicable to the role and service.
- Relevant qualification and professional registration verification, where applicable.
- Satisfactory reference checks.
- Completion of Syltem Health Care's induction program.
- Completion of required aged care or disability-related training.
- Demonstrated competency in the tasks the worker is expected to perform.
- Agreement to comply with the applicable Code of Conduct, privacy requirements and organisational policies.
- Completion of any additional checks or training required for the particular client, service or work environment.

The organisation will verify applicable screening requirements before the worker commences duties and maintain relevant records.

6. Essential Skills and Personal Attributes

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

- Compassion, patience, empathy and a genuine commitment to supporting others.
- Respect for client dignity, privacy, independence and individual choice.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Reliability, punctuality and professional conduct.
- Ability to follow care plans, instructions and organisational procedures.
- Ability to recognise risks and report concerns promptly.
- Good observation, documentation and recordkeeping skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Ability to work independently in clients' homes while seeking assistance when required.
- Willingness to work collaboratively with families, carers and multidisciplinary teams.
- Cultural awareness and respect for diversity.
- A commitment to ongoing learning, supervision and professional development.

7. Work Health and Safety

The employee is responsible for following workplace health and safety requirements and Syltem Health Care's safety procedures.

This includes:

- Identifying and reporting hazards in clients' homes.
- Following safe manual handling and infection prevention procedures.
- Using personal protective equipment appropriately.
- Following lone-worker safety procedures and check-in arrangements where applicable.
- Reporting accidents, injuries, near misses and unsafe working conditions.
- Following emergency, fire safety and incident response procedures.
- Not undertaking tasks that present an unmanaged risk or fall outside their training and competence.

8. Performance Expectations

The employee will be expected to:

- Deliver safe, respectful and person-centred support.
- Follow each client's current care or support plan.
- Promote independence and meaningful participation.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation.
- Comply with safeguarding and incident reporting requirements.
- Demonstrate reliability and professional accountability.
- Participate in supervision, training and performance reviews.
- Contribute to continuous improvement in the quality and safety of services.

Performance will be reviewed through supervision, feedback, competency assessments, client feedback and other relevant quality assurance processes.

9. Scope of Practice

The employee must work within the limits of their qualifications, training, experience and demonstrated competence.

The employee must not undertake clinical procedures, make clinical decisions, provide qualified assessments or perform other restricted tasks unless appropriately qualified, authorised and competent to do so.

Any concerns about a client's needs, the safety of a task or the suitability of a support arrangement must be escalated to the relevant manager or healthcare professional.

10. Acknowledgement

I acknowledge that I have read and understood this position description. I understand the responsibilities, professional standards and scope of practice associated with my role.

__________________________

Pay: $40.00 – $45.00 per hour

Expected hours: 8.0 – 40.0 per week

Work Location: In person

📌 Care Support Worker (Alice Springs)
🏢 Syltem health care
📍 Alice Springs