Non-Clinical Support Roles

Kaia Ormsby, Orderley

 

Non-Clinical Support Roles

Non-clinical support covers a wide range of health services that do not involve clinical training like nurses and doctors. They may work in public or private hospitals, in rest homes, people’s homes or in communities such as schools, marae, sports clubs or churches.
Examples of non-clinical support workers include:

Hospital Orderly:

Orderlies have a very important role in public and private hospitals, to provide support and care for all sorts of patients to help with their comfort. They can assist with dressing and bathing, moving patients and all sorts of equipment and supplies around the hospital, and making sure meals are delivered to all patients at meal-times. They may do things like collecting and delivering parcels, specimens, blood products and other items and ensure that their work is completed in a safe, effective and acceptable way.

Nursing Support and Care Worker – Kaiāwhina Tapuhi/Kaimahi

Nursing support and care workers provide assistance, support and care to people in a variety of health, welfare and community settings, and in their homes. Nursing support and care workers may do some or all of the following, depending on where they work:

  • help clients at home with tasks such as showering and dressing
  • do housework such as cleaning and ironing
  • prepare and serve meals
  • clean and prepare medical equipment and instruments
  • take patients’ electrocardiogram (ECG) readings, samples and fluid balances
  • help patients with rehabilitation in areas such as social skills and walking
  • transfer patients between wards and departments using wheelchairs, stretchers or moveable beds
  • deliver and collect patient files and x-rays, and linen, rubbish, infectious waste, specimens and equipment
  • assist with patient discharges
 
Qualities and Skills You Need
  • Orderlies must be able to read and write, be physically fit, and able to work under pressure, lift equipment and furniture, and  walk long distances
  • Need an ability to cope with a high and varied workload at various times
  • To maintain confidentiality at all times
  • Knowledge of health and safety and Quality systems.

There are no specific educational requirements however these qualifications may be useful:

  • New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 2)
  • New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing – Health Assistance (Level 3), to work in hospitals and rest homes
  • New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing – Support Work (Level 3), to provide care in private homes.

Personal Carer for the Elderly or Disabled (Healthcare Assistant): Helps older and disabled people with housework in their own homes. Also give emotional support, care and companionship for older and disabled people in their homes.
Find out more about this career here: https://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/health-and-community/health/health-care-assistant/

Therapy Aide: help specially trained therapists such as Diversional Therapist’s, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, to look after patients with non-clinical support. This could include helping patients who are learning to walk or helping people to dress or undress.

Health & Welfare Workers

Health and Welfare workers also cover a wide range of support for patients who are unable to care for themselves. As well as working with individuals who need health care and their whanau, health and welfare workers also work with groups such as youth, whānau, people with disabilities and Māori.

Positions in Health and Welfare

Kaimahi Hauora / Kaiawhina / Community Health Workers:

These workers also cover a wide range of jobs that involve working with patients and whanau in hospital and community settings such as in people’s homes, in schools, kura, kohanga, marae, clubs etc.

A Kaimahi Hauora based in a hospital setting supports Māori patients in the hospital and also make sure they have the support they need when they leave hospital. Because Māori are often quite shy when they come into hospital, Kaimahi Hauora will approach them to find out if they need any help with for example, understanding what’s wrong with them, understanding what doctors and nurses are saying, whether they would like karakia and helping whanau from out of town to get temporary accommodation while the patient is in hospital. Hospital based kaimahi will also ask hospital staff questions on behalf of the patient and interpret patients needs on their behalf.

Kaiawhina and Community Health Workers do a similar job outside of the hospital setting. Their job is to help individuals and whanau get the health services they need, when they need them. This covers a wide range of areas such as working with GP’s (non-hospital doctors) health education services, nursing services, health services for children, support for people who are having problems with drugs or alcohol.

Kaimahi Hauora, Kaiawhina and Community Health Workers are usually but not always Māori, be willing and able to learn about Māori health issues and be able to relate well to people, especially Māori. Ability to korero Māori is an advantage but not essential. The majority of Kaimahi Hauora / Kaiawhina / Community Health Workers work in the primary health sector, i.e. in non-hospital and non-specialist services.

Youth Work, and Social Work

Youth Worker  work with people under 25 years of age and their families. They help young people with a range of supports that usually involve building good positive relationships within their own community.
Find out more about this career here:
https://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/health-and-community/community-services/youth-worker/

Social workers are specially trained people who provide advice, advocacy and support to people with personal and social problems. They also help with community and social issues.
Find out more about this career here:
https://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/health-and-community/community-services/social-worker/

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