Best Ways to Become an Amazing Health care Support Worker

Health care support workers are essential to the health care industry, and they make a big impact on patient well-being. They are the ones who make the health care system run smoothly. So, they are like the backbone of health care teams, providing emotional support and practical help to those in need. 

By further reading this blog, you will know what qualities make a great, responsible health care support worker. Also, you will be able to know what sort of challenges they are facing and how to solve them initially. 

So, let’s explore the specialities of health care support workers together. It will be informative, whether you are an experienced practitioner or just beginning your career in the health care field.

What are support workers?

Support workers provide practical, emotional, and social support to people who need it. Also, they work with people of all ages and abilities. Generally, support workers may work in various settings, including homes, schools, hospitals, and community centres.

Some support workers have formal qualifications in social work, health care, or education. Others may have gained their skills through on-the-job training or personal experience. So, Health care support workers are an integral part of the health care and social care workforce.

The Types of Health Care Support Workers

There are numerous types of health care assistants. Usually, their roles and specialisations make for a different position. Also, each has unique duties and areas of competence. Here are a few typical types of health care support personnel:

Healthcare Assistant (HCA): 

Health care assistants provide a range of basic care tasks to patients, such as helping them to wash and dress, eat and drink, and move around. They may also take observations, such as temperature and blood pressure, and report them to nurses and doctors.

Nursing Assistant: 

In hospitals and other health care settings, nursing assistants offer patient care while working under the supervision of nurses. Additionally, they have duties like checking vital signs, giving prescriptions, and assisting patients with daily activities.

Maternity Support Worker: 

They provide support to nurses in maternity units. Also, maternity support workers care for new babies and their parents. Plus, they help with breastfeeding and provide emotional support to women during pregnancy and childbirth.

Occupational Therapy Support Worker: 

Occupational therapy support workers assist people who have suffered injuries or disabilities in regaining their freedom and engaging in everyday activities. Hence, they can aid patients in acquiring new skills and using technological devices.

Dietetic Assistant: 

Dietetic assistants work with registered dietitians to provide nutrition counselling and patient education. They may also help patients develop and implement meal plans.

Phlebotomist: 

Phlebotomists collect blood samples from patients for testing. Therefore, health care support worker jobs are available in blood donation centres. 

Radiographer: 

Radiographers take X-rays and other medical images of patients. So, they have to work at clinics, hospitals, and other medical facilities.

Medical Laboratory Technician: 

They have to work with blood, urine, and other body fluids in this role. Thus, medical laboratories and other health care facilities may hire medical laboratory technologists.

Community Health Worker: 

Generally, community health workers provide health education and support to people in their communities. Hence, they need to work with people of all ages and backgrounds, and they can address many health issues.

Education and Training of Health Care Support Workers

The education and training requirements depend on the specific role and the healthcare setting. Also, some general requirements apply to most health care support workers.

Entry requirements

Most health care support worker roles require at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some roles may also need a college degree or certificate in a related field, such as health care or social work. Also, some employers may prefer candidates with some experience working in a healthcare setting.

Training

On-the-job training is provided to health care support personnel. This training may be provided by the employer or by a professional body. On-the-job training typically covers topics such as

• Basic nursing skills
• Infection prevention and control
• Safeguarding
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Equality and diversity

Some health care support workers also have the opportunity to complete a formal qualification. These include a Diploma in Health Care Support (DHCS) or an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN). Hence, they can help health support workers advance their careers and take on more responsibility. 

Skills and Qualities of Health Care Support Workers

There are several skills and qualities of a healthcare assistant. They are determined to provide essential care to patients and help to make a real difference in people’s lives. So, if someone wants to be successful in this role, they should have the following skills and qualities:

Compassion and empathy:

Health support workers need to understand and empathise with their patients. Moreover, they have to build rapport with patients and their families. Plus, they need to be able to provide care sensitively and respectfully.

Good communication and interpersonal skills of a support worker: 

Effective communication will help them give better treatment to their patients. Also, it is essential to have good communication with other members of the healthcare team. Furthermore, they need to be able to listen attentively. Hence, they can constructively provide clear and concise instructions.

Working in stressful and challenging situations: 

Health support workers often work in stressful environments. Therefore, they need to stay calm and focused under pressure. They also need to be able to deal with difficult situations, such as patients who are agitated or aggressive.

Flexibility and adaptability: 

Naturally, health support workers need to be flexible and adaptable. They may be asked to perform a variety of tasks at any given time. They also need to be able to adjust their work to meet the needs of individual patients. 

Willingness to learn and develop new skills: 

Now, the healthcare field is constantly evolving, and health support workers need to be able to keep up with the latest developments. So, it is required that they achieve their potential health care assistant skills to provide the best possible care to their patients.

Roles and Responsibilities of Health Care Support Workers

The duties and responsibilities of health care assistants vary depending on the setting and the needs of the patients they serve. There are some common tasks, including

providing essential nursing care

It involves recording vital signs, giving prescriptions, and assisting patients with daily living activities (ADLs). These include bathing, dressing, consuming food, and looking after wounds.

Monitoring patients’ condition and reporting any changes to nurses or doctors

They need to observe patients for signs and symptoms of complications. These include vital signs, pain, or difficulty breathing.

Giving patients and their families emotional support

This is a critical component of comprehensive care. Healthcare support staff can assist patients and their families in managing the anxiety related to being ill.

Providing information to patients’ relatives regarding their medical condition 

They provide information about medications, diet, and exercise. As well as teaching patients and their families how to perform specific tasks, such as wound care or insulin injections.

Maintaining a clean and safe environment for patients and staff

Health support workers have to be concerned about infection prevention and control guidelines. Hence, they need to maintain a safe and orderly work environment.

The Challenges of Health Care Support Workers

NHS health care support workers frequently face a variety of difficulties. In addition, overcoming the majority of these obstacles calls for perseverance and resilience. Now, let’s look at these difficulties and their solutions:

Workload:

Typically, they have a lot of mental pressure on their mind because they may have to take care of several patients at once. This may be emotionally and physically stressful. Thus, training in priorities and structure can be helpful here.

Stress:

Health care support workers are often exposed to stressful situations, such as dealing with patients who are in pain or who are dying. Also, they may have to deal with difficult or aggressive patients or their families. So, they need to learn how to manage any situation they can face with a cool head.

Shift work:

Usually, they have to work irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Thus, it is difficult to maintain a work-life balance. As a result, flexibility and time management abilities are needed.

Occupational Risks:

Workers in health care support are more vulnerable to infections and diseases. This is because of their intimate work with sick patients. Thus, wearing protective gear and following infection control procedures are crucial to lowering this risk.

Career Path

The NHS health care support worker offers a structured framework for career progression within the healthcare sector. For example, a healthcare assistant team leader, a clinical support worker, or a ward manager. These health care assistant jobs are prestigious and demandable. Also, they can progress to more specialised roles. These include wound care specialists, diabetes specialists, or infection prevention and control specialists. 

They can also work as a healthcare assistant in a hospital and may move into a role as a practice manager in a GP practice. A clinical support worker in a nursing home may move into a role as a clinical educator in a hospital. 

Conclusion

Healthcare support workers provide comfort and care to patients when needed. They are the ones who go above and beyond to make sure that patients are well cared for.

They are the ones who hold patients’ hands when they are scared, who wipe away their tears, and who make them laugh when they need it most.

Healthcare support workers are the ones who make the healthcare system run smoothly. They are the ones who keep the wards clean and organised, who deliver meals to patients, and who transport them to their appointments. They are the ones who are there to answer patients’ questions and support them.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the healthcare support workers in our lives.