Home support workers work with many establishments including private homes and healthcare facilities.
They are required to provide residents – who may have trouble leading normal lives – with assistance in daily living.
Home support workers usually work with chronically ill, physically disabled, or cognitively impaired adults.
They perform duties designed to make these individuals’ lives easier by providing them with both physical and psychological care.
If you are planning to hire a home support worker for a dear one, the following interview questions (and answers you would expect from a candidate) will assist you in performing the interview correctly:
Home Support Worker Interview Questions and Answers
1. Tell me about yourself?
Well, first of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity for the home support worker interview today. I define myself as a compassionate support worker who possesses a diploma in nursing assistance and BCLS certification. I have been working as a home support worker for the past three years, and I’m also pursuing further education in the field of nursing side by side.
2. Why should we hire you?
You require an energetic home support worker who is also skilled in housekeeping. My profile fits the requirements correctly, and additionally, I also offer a background in psychology which renders me an ideal candidate for the position considering that majority of your clients are either elderly or Alzheimer’s’ patients.
3. What do you think are the primary responsibilities of a home support worker?
Home support workers are required to look after clients in terms of dressing, medication, and feeding along with managing their entertainment and psychological needs. They make sure the client takes medication and diet timely and provide the right listening ear when needed ensuring the client’s privacy and dignity are kept intact at all times.
4. How important do you think is the need for communication and interpersonal skills in this job?
Both are extremely important as both are needed to work effectively with people especially when they are unwell and dependent on you.
5. How do you think you can make a significant contribution to a person’s life in this role?
People become dependent on support workers. The need to make a significant contribution to someone who looks up to you for physical and psychological support is hugely eminent. Providing them with an opportunity to flourish with a little assistance is an excellent way of making a significant contribution to anyone’s life.
6. What personal skills do you possess that make you right for this job?
I have an inherent empathetic nature which helps me in managing my clients with dignity and respect at all times.
7. What do you like the most about this profession?
This job is gratifying since it enables you to make a difference in someone’s life and being a compassionate person, I like this job very much.
8. What are your traits that have proven to be valuable in this profession?
My strong communication skills, ability to build rapport quickly with others, genuine compassion for the elderly and disabled along with strong companionship skills have supported me in this role and proved to be very valuable.
9. Can you help a disabled or elderly client to reach the hospital in case of an emergency?
I am a driver’s license holder with a clean driving record. I accompany and sometimes drive my clients to routine hospital visits, in case of a mild emergency when ambulation is not required I am fully capable of driving the client to the hospital.
10. Share a difficult situation you faced on the job and how you handled it?
A client once had a stroke while I was in charge. I immediately performed basic life support aid and called the ambulance and the client’s guardian. I accompanied him to the hospital where he recovered in a few hours.
11. What would you do if you noticed that a senior under your care is eating less than usual or sleeping more than usual?
I maintain a chart of diet intake, medication, and sleep so if there is a change in eating or sleeping habits I immediately find out. In such a case I communicate this to the client’s guardian and physician. I also put in extra effort to resolve the problem by offering different types of meals to the client and providing quality companionship to avoid excessive boredom or sleep.
12. Have you ever worked for a disabled client? How did you manage?
Yes, I have worked with a physically disabled client once. I managed well. Being physically strong myself, I was quickly able to assist in bathing and grooming the client and helping her in and out of her bed to the wheelchair.
13. How do you rate your housekeeping skills?
I would say a ten on ten. I am good at preparing meals, maintaining the house or living space in a neat and clean condition, and even doing the laundry if required.