JOB TITLE: Personal Care Attendant / Direct Care Worker (DCW)

DIVISION: Advanced Senior Care Agency (ASCA)

REPORTS TO: Chief Operations Officer (COO)

POSITION PURPOSE: To provide direct care to clients to help each client reach and maintain his or her highest level of dignity, independence, and sense of well-being by supporting activities of daily living in the client’s own home.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist the client with personal care activities in their own home, including bathing, skin care, hair care, nail care, dressing and undressing, feeding, oral hygiene, shaving, grooming, and bedtime care.
• Assist the client with exercise, ambulating, and transfer activities.  Use transfer belts whenever transferring and/or ambulating clients; use mechanical lifts (Hoyer, Century) whenever appropriate or instructed for transfers.
• Assist the client to the bathroom or in use of a urinal or bedpan; keep incontinent clients clean and dry.
• Assist the client with client's self-administration of medications.
• Assist the client with independent activities of daily living such as grocery shopping, cleaning, changing bed linens, laundry, meal preparation, and other household care as assigned.
• Assist the client with personal communication skills as needed.
• May on occasion escort client to and from scheduled medical appointments utilizing AHCCCS provided transportation services only.
• Ensure maintenance of a clean, safe, comfortable and healthy environment for the client.
• Understand and adhere to information and precautions contained in individual clients' Home Plan of Care; assist in periodic client evaluations and assessments with other members of management.
• Prepare appropriate documentation of client status and the care or service furnished for the Plan of Care record.
• Report any noticeable changes in clients' physical condition, attitude, reaction, appetite, etc., to supervisor on same day of observation.
• Report all client and employee incidents/accidents to supervisor immediately.
• Report any unsafe client behavior such as unauthorized smoking, combative behavior, etc., to supervisor on same day of observation.
• Observe safety precautions, including: wiping up wet floors, spills, and other falling hazards immediately; also, reporting safety hazards, frayed electrical cords, unsecure handrails, malfunctioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors/alarms, defective equipment or environmental hazards to supervisor on the same day of observation.
• Use proper body mechanics.
• Engage in respectful social interaction with client, including friendly conversation and empathic support as well as respecting clients' privacy and property.
• Exhibit positive attitude and behavior and demonstrate respect for employees and clients and maintain absolute confidentiality of all information pertaining to clients, clients' families and employees.
• Demonstrate excellent customer relations with clients, coworkers, referral sources, and others pertinent to the business.
• Understand the importance of seeking assistance as needed from your supervisor and/or others; demonstrate capability and dependability of following instructions.
• Understand that regular, consistent, and punctual attendance is necessary to serve the clients.
• Prepare and submit accurate timesheets, utilizing the approved telephony clock-in and out systems, or by ensuring physical timesheets contain the client's or responsible party's signature.
• Adhere to Advanced Senior Care Agency Inc.’s and/or Devoted Guardians Inc.’s policies and procedures.
• Occasionally, perform other functions as deemed appropriate by the supervisory team.

JOB RELATIONSHIPS:

Supervision Exercised: Minimal

Internal Company Contacts: Infrequent in-person contact; telephone/e-mail contact with all office and support staff personnel as required.

External Contacts: Frequent direct contact with clients and clients’ families and vendors.

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS:

FLSA Definition: Non-Exempt

Working Conditions: Normal conditions; includes some exposure to infectious wastes, toxic chemicals, needles/body fluids, mechanical hazards-driving, and seasonal extreme temperatures.

Hours of Work: Normally, 25-40 hours per week with extra time as needed to support the mission and activities of the organization.

Other:

• The individual must be in good physical condition, have a current chest x-ray or negative TB skin test, and be free of all communicable disease.
• Must provide three (3) references with at least one professional reference from a former employer.
• Must possess a current valid driver’s license (with proof of insurance) to go to clients’ homes, which may not be served by public transportation, or the ability to get to clients’ residence on time by other dependable means.

EDUCATION SPECIFICATIONS:

• Must be at least 18 years of age and complete the DCW training and testing requirements as established by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) or completed a Direct Care Worker competency evaluation.
• Must have current Basic Life Support (BLS) First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certifications from an accredited nationally recognized program that includes one-on-one demonstration of life saving skills.

SPECIFIC JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of what constitutes a clean, safe, comfortable, and healthy environment for the client.
• Knowledge of Universal Precautions and necessary infection control measures.
• Demonstrated knowledge of general health and emergency procedures.
• Demonstrated knowledge of safe techniques in administering personal hygiene and grooming that include (but are not limited to): sponge, tub and shower bath; shampoo in sink or tub; nail and skin care; dressing and undressing; oral hygiene; adequate nutrition and fluid intake; toileting and elimination; safe transfer techniques and ambulation; normal range of motion and positioning.
• Demonstrated knowledge of appropriate body mechanics and necessary mechanical transferring devices.
• Skill to perform the principal responsibilities of this position in a safe, efficient manner.
• Ability to listen and communicate clearly, fluently, and diplomatically both orally and in writing in the English language; also to maintain excellent interpersonal and cooperative relationships with management, staff, clients and clients’ families.
• Ability to use technology such as e-mail, the internet, SMS, etc. to document services delivered and/or communicate effectively with company personnel.
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and accurately follow through on work activities to meet deadlines as well as to work independently with a minimum amount of direction and/or supervision.
• Ability to identify and analyze issues and problems and to use independent judgment to make decisions, and to recommend and/or implement solutions.
• Ability to remain flexible, resilient, calm, maintain a sense of humor, and to regularly present a well-groomed, professional image.
• Ability to provide service excellence through a genuine concern for and a strong commitment to serve ill, infirmed, or disabled clients of all ages.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of all company procedures and information about clients and client families.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF POSITION:

• Ability to make home visits to clients who live in non-handicapped accessible dwellings.
• Ability to lift/carry up to fifty (50) pounds and push or pull objects exceeding one hundred and fifty (150) pounds, using appropriate body mechanics.  Requires manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
• Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range, with or without reasonable accommodation.  Must be able to communicate verbally with clients and company personnel.
• Ability to work for extended periods of time while standing and being involved in physical activity.
• Ability to do extensive bending, lifting, and standing on a regular basis.

COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS OF POSITION:

• Participate in continuing education classes and any required staff and training meetings.
• Maintain professional certifications as required.
• Work under stressful mental and physical conditions.  Working conditions may be: noisy and crowded; fluctuating indoor temperatures; humidity around showers/bathrooms; subject to clients that have the potential for verbal or physical aggression.