Special offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a $100 CAD credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored jobs are 4.5X more likely to result in a hire.**
  • Invite matched candidates to apply
  • Increase your visibility in job search results
  • Appear to more candidates longer

Personal Support Worker Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

A Personal Support Worker, also known as a Personal Care Attendant, is someone who looks after the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of a patient who is not able to do so themselves, typically in the elderly population. The main responsibilities of a Personal Support Worker include ensuring the patient has healthy and nutritious meals, helping the patient with daily tasks, and working with an interdisciplinary team to ensure the best quality of care.

Build a Job Description

Personal Support Worker duties and responsibilities

When writing a job description for a Personal Support Worker, it is important to specify the main functions of the role. Some of these important duties and responsibilities may include: 

  • Working with elderly patients and providing one-on-one care such as assisting with personal care, meal preparation, and light housekeeping
  • Ensuring the fulfillment of individual goals and needs as instructed in the client’s support plans
  • Helping clients with leisure activities
  • Ensuring the health, safety, welfare, and independence of clients
  • Assisting and satisfying the social and emotional needs of a client
  • Documenting and recording daily care reports which may include resident incident reports, restraint monitoring, and medication administration.
  • Adhering to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations set by the province or territory
Build a Job Description

Personal Support Worker (PSW) Job Description Examples:

What does a Personal Support Worker do?

A Personal Support Worker assists individuals that are elderly, have a disability, or recovering from an illness or operation. Personal Support Workers help with all aspects of daily life including housekeeping and making meals. In some cases, a Personal Support Worker may also help their patient eat their food. An important responsibility of Personal Support Workers is helping their client maintain their hygiene. Personal Support Workers may also help to administer a daily medication schedule.

Personal Support Worker skills and qualifications

A successful Personal Support Worker candidate possesses various prerequisite skills and qualifications for the duties of this job. Some of these may include: 

  • Strong organizational skills while being able to maintain high standards under pressure
  • Ability to adapt to change and remain flexible
  • Accustomed to working with and understanding the needs of various types of patients
  • Excellent communication skills both oral and written
  • Ability to work well as an independent collaborator and as a team
  • Ability to comply with standard policies and procedures to ensure a safe work environment
  • Ability to use computer programs to keep accurate records and documentation
  • Excellent listening and interpersonal skills

Personal Support Worker experience requirements

When reviewing resumes for a Personal Support Worker, it is not always necessary to look for someone with prior experience. However, if the applicant is working with a patient with a particular illness or need, then prior experience with caring for patients with that particular illness may be required.

Personal Support Worker education and training requirements

When reviewing resumes for a Personal Support Worker, employers often look for someone who has at least a high school diploma. A Personal Support Worker who has obtained a Personal Support Worker certificate from an accredited college should be preferred, although this is not always required. Some applicants will also have a certificate that specializes in the care of the elderly, people with disabilities, or someone recovering from surgery.

Personal Support Worker salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, average pay for a Personal Support Worker in Canada is $20.04 per hour. Wages can vary depending on many factors including experience, location, or the company that is hiring.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Personal Support Worker role isn’t quite what you are looking for, other job descriptions include: 

Ready to Hire?Build a Job Description

Personal Support Worker job description FAQs

What qualities make a good Personal Support Worker?

When looking for a Personal Support Worker, look for someone who has empathy and a love for helping people. A good Personal Support Worker will also have lots of patience, especially in high-stress or uncomfortable situations.

What makes a good Personal Support Worker job description?

A good Personal Support Worker job description will go into detail about the patient they will be overseeing and the tasks that will be expected to complete on a daily basis. The job description should also specify if the Personal Support Worker will be working in someone’s home, a hospital, or care facility.

Do Personal Support Workers have different responsibilities in different industries?

The daily duties of a Personal Support Worker may change based on the institution they work in. Personal Support Workers in someone’s home may perform tasks such as laundry, sweeping, and other light housekeeping duties. A Personal Support Worker in a nursing home will more likely be performing tasks like administering medicine, keeping the daily schedules of multiple patients, and changing bed sheets.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

No search results found