Aged Care Support Worker Practice

This assignment focuses on the responsibilities of an aged care support worker. It examines scenarios involving client care, including checking shower temperature, obtaining consent, and following daily routines. Students must analyze ethical and legal implications, provide constructive feedback to a colleague, and understand how to contribute to workplace improvement through policy review and knowledge development.

Part 3. Policies, protocols and industry jargon
A: Complete the table below regarding workplace policies and procedures.
1 2
Identify two (2) reasons is it essential
to accurately record and document
any ethical or legal issues.
To protect the employer and
employee if there is a dispute
in care.
To interact with others
for communicating
them about the actual
status of a patient and
measure the progress
in treatment.
Identify two (2) reasons you must
follow workplace policies and
protocols concerning your legal and
ethical responsibilities.
To operate in a standardised
manner.
To avoid any chances of
misconduct at the
workplace.
Identify two (2) ways you can clarify
your workplace policy framework if
you are unsure of it.
By asking for a written
document with clear and
detailed statements involved
in the workplace policy
framework.
By clarifying the same
from my immediate
supervisor.
Identify two (2) reasons workplaces
have compulsory reporting.
To increase the wellbeing and
security of residents.
To assist guarding the
elderly care residents.
Identify two (2) ways you can clarify
your own responsibilities and
limitations within your work role-
boundaries.
By asking for a written
instruction with clear
specification of the job
description in it.
By seeking the advice
of my immediate
supervisor.
Identify two (2) ways workplace
policies, procedures and protocols
may be developed.
By clearly identifying the
needs and people who will
take a leading responsibility
for its implementation.
By consulting suitable
stakeholders such as
the service users, staff
or volunteers,
supporters and
committee members,
etc.
Identify two (2) ways or process by
which workplace policies, procedures
and protocols can be reviewed.
By testing the protocol and
transmitting the instructions
to a selected test group
consisting of 2 or more
individuals to evaluate its
success.
It can also be reviewed
on the basis of the
findings acquired from
the arranged test to
address any issues
related to the
formulated policies,
processes and
protocols.
Identify two (2) reasons you should
participate in continuing professional
development in your workplace.
To maintain an improved
ability for providing a
professional service to the
users.
To ensure a sustained
knowledge by being
updated to the altering
trends in the

profession.

C: In the tables above, identify which actions are an issue of human rights. Refer to the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights if you need help. (20-50 words)
D: What is the difference between human needs and human rights? (20-50 words)
E: If you need more information on the human rights frameworks, approaches and instruments used
in your workplace:
o where can you look for information?
o who can you talk to?
o why is it important for you to know the human rights frameworks and approaches used in
your workplace?
Complete the table:
Question Your answer
(50-100 words)
Where can you look for
information?
Company’s website or governmental websites like
https://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/human-rights/the-charter/
australian-human-rights-framework or
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Who can you talk to? Immediate supervisor or human resource personnel.
Why is it important for you to
know the human rights
frameworks and approaches used
in your workplace?
This is important for staying protected from any sort of exploitation at the
workplace and to properly access my fundamental human rights.
It is on identifying the actions from the above table, reflecting as a concerning matter of human rights where as
per the “right to freedom”, the employees are free to clarify any sort of doubts regarding the accepted work
policies, procedures and protocols of their organisation.
There exists a very thin line difference among these two terms called “human needs” and “human rights”. Human
needs are those that can be universally accessed by the humans such as modern energy services, etc. In contrast
to which, human rights are those in which an individual is entitled to claim for activities and liabilities in his or her
favour.

Part 6. Rights and responsibilities
A: As a care support worker, you must uphold the rights of individuals you provide support for, but
also remember that you too have rights that need to be upheld. Rights are usually governed by laws.
You are also obliged to meet your responsibilities (your duties) to the people you support, but don’t
forget that the individuals you work with, their families and/or carers, also have a responsibility
towards you.
Imagine you are working for CareShore, providing support to an aged person in their home.
Complete the table regarding the rights and responsibilities of both you as the aged care support
worker, the individual as the person receiving support, and CareShore as the employer.
An example of each has been done for you.
Example: Your answer:
An example of your
responsibility as the care
support worker
Maintain the individual’s
confidentiality.
Assisting vulnerable workers in
managing their day to day activities.
An example of your rights
as the care support worker The right to work in a clean
environment.
Getting adequate information for an
effective development and delivery
of a care plan.
An example of the
individual receiving
support, or their
family/carer’s
responsibility
Responsible for treating
the support worker with
respect.
Paying the fees that is outlined in the
written agreement.
An example of the
individual receiving
support, or their
family/carer’s rights
The right to make informed
decisions about the
support and services being
received.
Having a written document that
covers all agreed clauses among the
service provider and the user.
An example of CareShore’s
responsibility
Ensure workers have
adequate instruction,
training and information to
work in a safe and healthy
manner.
To protect the rights of their workers
by strictly adhering to the legislative
norms of workplace relations.
An example of CareShore’s
rights
The right to ask questions
to ascertain whether
someone can adequately
perform the job.
To access all related information of
the service users to provide an
effective medical assistance with an
efficient care plan.

B: Older people and people with a disability who receive support have the right to complain if they
feel their rights have been breached, or they are not receiving the care they want.
Imagine that Ji-yoon’s university has suggested she attend another university, as they don’t feel they
can adequately support her needs in a mainstream environment. Ji-yoon’s parents ask you for your
help to complain about this.
Outline six (6) steps you can take to help Ji-yoon’s family understand their rights, and start a
complaint process. Take into consideration their communication and language needs.
Steps to assist Ji-yoon’s family in understanding their rights, and starting a complaint process.
Step 1) Ensuring that Ji- yoon’s family is aware of their rights.
Step 2) Acknowledging their complaints.
Step 3) Assessing and prioritizing each of their grievances.
Step 4) Responding to the complaints with a clear decision by together clarifying them the
reason behind it.
Step 5) Taking regular follow up to assure that they are satisfied from the resolution.
Step 6) Considering those concerning matters that can repeat again and taking appropriate
steps.

Part 7. Workplace and performance improvements
Read the scenario and answer the questions:
A: Identify and briefly explain at least three (3) ways Dylan can improve his work practices. Say
whether each is related to Dylan’s legal or ethical responsibilities.
Complete the table:
Identify three (3) actions Dylan
has taken that could be
improved upon.
Is this action related to Dylan’s
legal or ethical
responsibilities?
Briefly describe how Dylan could perform
this action better to improve his work and
duty of care. (50-100 words)
1) Checking the temperature of
the shower.
Ethical responsibility Dylan could refer to ensure a normal
temperature of the shower before lifting
Malcom into it.
2) Taking a prior consent of the
client before waking Malcom
and lifting him to the shower.
Legal responsibility It is in accordance to a principal right of the
service users where they must be involved in
the process of decision making.
3) Referring to the daily routine
of Malcom.
Both legal and ethical
responsibility
Herein, Dylan could have referred to the daily
routine of Malcom before taking him to the
shower.
B: Feedback on workplace practices is vital to ensuring you are providing the best care possible,
meeting your legal and ethical requirements, and contributing to improving your workplace.
Complete the table about providing feedback to colleagues and supervisors.
As Dylan’s colleague, how
could you share your feedback
with him regarding how he
may improve his work
practices? (50-100 words)
Why is proactively sharing
feedback, and voicing
improvements with colleagues
and supervisors an important
part of your role as an aged
care support worker?
Would you need to report any of Dylan’s
actions to your supervisor?
Dylan is an aged care support worker and is new to his role. He is currently assisting Malcolm with
his morning routine.
Dylan enters Malcolm’s room and open the curtains. He walks into the bathroom and turns on the
shower. Dylan then goes over to the bed to wake Malcolm up; he does this by taking back the doona
and saying ‘good morning’. Dylan tells Malcolm he is going to help him shower and goes to get the
chair to assist Malcolm to the bathroom.
Dylan sees that the shower is very hot, and lifts Malcolm into the shower. It turns out that the shower
is scalding and Malcolm suffers some burns.

I would like to share a
constructive feedback with
Dylan by suggesting him ways
in which, he could refer to
improve the provisioning of
services to the clients.
A proactively shared feedback
is referred to be one of the
most powerful tool of
management to enhance the
workers. Likewise, voicing
improvements through a
negative feedback is apparent
to bring quick improvement in
individuals like Dylan.
Yes, it is required to bring into the notice of
the supervisor for training Dylan in a requisite
manner.
C: When you work in the aged care support industry, you will need to do a number of things to
ensure you are working to the correct standards and that your knowledge is accurate and up-to-
date.
Look at the information in the table and answer the questions:
Who can you talk to
about doing this?
When might be an
appropriate time to
do this?
Is there any documentation you think
you would be helpful?
If you wanted to
contribute to the
review and
development of your
workplace practices,
policies and protocols.
Human resource
manager
At the time of facing
any issues related to
the undertaken
workplace policies,
practices and
protocols.
A report specifying about undertaken
company policies, practices and
protocols, etc., to be matched up with
papers specifying the industrial norms.
When you want to get
feedback and advice
on what skills and
knowledge you need
to develop.
Immediate supervisor. When I am unsure
about the stated
clauses and needs to
clarify the same.
A feedback form stating the abilities
required to work as an aged care
support with an ease to remark the
existing aptitude.
When you want to
take action, or
develop opportunities,
to develop the skills
and knowledge
identified.
Head of the
department
After reviewing the
proposed changes
that are required for
the welfare of all
related organisational
bodies and confirming
the same from other
concerned officials.
A written set of documents with clear
specification of the proposed changes
that are required to be done.