A community support worker is a person who, in the interest of community well-being, assists persons in solving personal and social problems or provides for their well-being. Community Support Worker is an umbrella term that includes several different types of support roles. Community support workers provide assistance in three broad areas: client services, system advocacy, community development. Often they are involved in providing multiple service types to individuals or groups who may be at risk of developing mental health problems.
Community support workers work with vulnerable people in many different settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, addiction treatment centers, correctional institutions, and shelters for victims of family violence.
A wide range of educational backgrounds is considered suitable preparation for entry into these positions, which requires skills related to working with disadvantaged communities.
There are many different services offered by Community Support Worker. Some of the community support workers will visit their clients in their homes, while others might work in institutions or facilities; some even travel around with police officers in order to assist people.
Here is a list of services that they offer:
1) Assisting in applying for government benefits like housing, disability income, and financial assistance (also known as welfare). 2) Helping with transportation when needed (for example, driving someone to the hospital). 3) Assist family loss prevention by reporting child neglect, reporting domestic abuse, and reporting individuals who are not fit to care for themselves. 4) Setting up appointments for clients with medical professionals or other community programs. 5) Providing emotional support to individuals. 6) Teaching basic life skills to people who are not able to do them themselves.
Community Support Worker provides many different services, including assisting the client, advocating for the client’s rights, and increasing community awareness of the mental illness. The community support worker is a broad term that includes several types of positions with varying backgrounds required. The specific services offered by community support workers depend on their employers or agencies.
The Federal or Provincial governments provide funding for these community works. They have defined standards, qualifications, and job descriptions depending upon the level of service they plan to offer to the communities in which they operate.
They will assist clients with things like completing applications for government benefits (housing assistance, disability assistance), providing rides when needed (driving someone to a doctor’s appointment), and advocating for client rights. They may also increase community awareness of mental illness by hosting events, becoming involved in the media, or working with other organizations that have an educational focus. Community support workers also provide emotional support to their clients. Many times community support workers will help teach skills like cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, and paying bills to individuals who are not able to do these things themselves.
