Care at home worker
Also known as: homecare assistant, home care worker, living at home support worker, independent living support worker, domiciliary care worker, domiciliary home care worker
About this occupation
Care at home workers provide domiciliary services to vulnerable adults including frail elderly or disabled people who are living with physical impairment or convalescing. They aim to improve their lives in the community and assure patients can live safely and independently in their own home.
A specialisation of social care worker.
Essential skills and knowledge
- listen actively
- older adults' needs
- meet standards of practice in social services
- assist social service users with physical disabilities
- apply holistic approach within social services
- assess social service users' situation
- apply organisational techniques
- maintain privacy of service users
- deliver social services in diverse cultural communities
- maintain records of work with service users
- company policies
- build helping relationship with social service users
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Home Health Aides (O*NET 31-1121.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
- Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
- Bathe patients.
- Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
- Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
- Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Realistic, Conventional
Top skills: Service Orientation, Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Reading Comprehension, Monitoring, Time Management
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyVery important (4.2)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.5)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyImportant (3.2)
- Foreign LanguageO*NET: Foreign LanguageImportant (3.1)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Nursing Assistants
- Personal Care Aides
- Paramedics
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Occupational Therapy Aides
- Psychiatric Aides
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Physical Therapist Aides
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Physical Therapist Assistants
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.