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By Nsim team
If you want to become a developmental care worker, you first need to determine if this career path is a good fit for your skills, interests and personality traits. If the following description sounds like you, then you’re probably well suited for a career as a developmental care worker:
• You have a comprehensive understanding of developmental disabilities
• You are interested in helping those with special needs integrate into the community
• You are able to create effective plans to teach new skills and behaviours
• You are able to work with people of various ages who may be under physical or emotional stress
• You have patience and empathy when assisting those with disabilities
Who is a Developmental Care Worker?
Developmental care workers are responsible for enhancing the physical, mental, and emotional health of individuals with special needs. They accomplish this by supporting and assisting individuals with disabilities in many ways, such as teaching life skills, creating community involvement and participation, and assisting with daily tasks such as medical and financial administration.
Developmental care workers are also responsible for preparing reports, updating the job knowledge of the client and monitoring health care supports.
Education Needed to Become a Developmental Care Worker
Although the educational requirements for becoming a developmental care worker vary, employers generally prefer to hire graduates of related post-secondary diploma programs. Related fields generally include those that relate to nursing, social work, psychology, and other fields.
Students who pursue diploma programs in developmental care and related areas are often required to participate in work placements. These work placement opportunities are highly valuable to careers in developmental care, as they allow the student to gain valuable real-world experience, while also making connections with employers that can hire them after graduation.
Skills Needed to Become a Developmental Care Worker
In order to become effective in a career as a developmental care worker, and perform your job duties with competence, you need to posses a certain set of skills, including:
• Comprehensive understanding of developmental disabilities
• Able to create effective plans to teach new skills and behaviours
• Able to effectively reinforce skills and positive behaviours
• Able to safely administer medication
• Able to perform domestic duties with efficiency
• Able to work with people of various ages who may be under physical or emotional stress
• Proficiency in sign language is often considered an asset
• Able to communicate with clients using a variety of methods, such as using picture symbols
Who Creates Jobs for Developmental Care Workers?
Development care workers may be employed on a part-time, full-time or contractual basis by the following types of public and private organizations:
• Hospitals and other healthcare facilities
• Public and private schools
• Home care programs
• Continuing care centres
• Mental health agencies and institutions
• Vocational rehabilitation programs
• Community organizations
• Correctional facilities
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