Caregiver -PCA (Personal Care Attendent )

Qualifications

• Completion of the ninth (9th) grade; prefer high school graduate
• Able to read and write consistent with job requirements
• Possession of the emotional and cognitive maturity necessary for establishing and maintaining a good working relationship with the client, client’s family, and Agency personnel
• Neat, clean personal appearance
• Free from health problems that may be injurious to client, self and coworkers and presents the required documents to indicate such
• Must have annual TB skin tests and submit proof to Human Resources
• Possess reliable transportation
• Ability to demonstrate the appropriate PCP knowledge and skills related to the following (passing score on skills validation test required):
  • Appropriate work experience and/or experience with caregiving
  • Methodology for assisting clients to achieve maximum self-reliance
  • Principles of nutrition and meal preparation
  • Principles of the aging process and emotional issues related to illness and long-term home care
  • Procedures for maintaining a clean, healthful and pleasant environment
  • Maintenance of ethics and confidentiality of client care
  • Roles of healthcare team members and inter-relationships in care
  • Providing information for supervisors and maintaining appropriate and required records in relation to plan of care, report and timesheet, reporting concerns/changes in client condition/home environment, supervisory visits and recertification
  • Basic non-skilled personal care and housekeeping tasks
  • Interest and concern for people
  • Good judgment and tact in dealing with people
  • Proper hygiene and knowledge of basic safety and sanitation
  • Standard Precautions and basic infection prevention and control practices
  • Awareness that counseling is available if needed for difficult cases and potentially dangerous situations

Essential Functions/Areas of Accountability

• Follow the plan of care prepared by the supervisor with the client to provide the following:
• Help client maintain personal hygiene
• Assist in maintaining a healthful, safe environment
• Plan and prepare nutritious meals
• Shop for groceries and supplies when instructed to do so by the client and as indicated in the plan of care
• Assist client with non-skilled personal care as directed in the written scope of practice including bathing, skin care, hair care, nail care, mouth care, shaving, dressing, feeding, ambulation, exercise, transfers, positioning, bladder and bowel care, medication reminding, respiratory care, accompanying, homemaking, protective oversight, and respite care.
• See scope of practice for guidelines
• Encourage the client to become as independent as possible within activities allowed in the plan of care
• Provide positive emotional support while performing tasks in the client’s home
• Perform routine housekeeping tasks as related to a safe and comfortable environment for the client as instructed in the plan of care; may include routine, light housekeeping, meal preparation, dishwashing, bed making, laundry, shopping, and teaching the client these tasks as appropriate
• Follow standard precautions whenever giving any aspect of client care
• Establish a relationship with the client and the client’s family which conveys trust and confidentiality
• Complete visit reports with time in and time out each day of client visit, document services provided, obtain client’s signature each visit, and submit to the Agency per established guidelines
• Report any client concerns or condition changes to the Agency Supervisor or Agency Manager or designee (do not perform client assessment)
• Carry out assignments as instructed by the plan of care and report to the supervisor and/or designee if unable to do so
• Works in conjunction with personnel of other agencies involved in the client’s care as directed by the Agency Supervisor or Agency Manager
• Maintain confidentiality at all times
• Perform only those functions specified in the plan of care for each individual client; never provide skilled care for the client
• Follow emergency procedures in the event of any incident- accident, injury or significant change in the client’s condition- and report the incident to the Agency Supervisor, Agency Manager or Agency as soon as safely possible