Direct Care Worker Job Description

Description

Personal Care Attendants provide service to individuals in their own homes and communities, who need assistance caring for themselves as a result of old age, sickness, disability, and/or other inflictions. Personal Care may include assistance with the activities of daily living, housecleaning, laundry, meal preparation, transportation, companionship, and respite.

Personal Care Attendants are responsible for ensuring that service is delivered in a caring and respectful manner, in accordance with relevant Agency policies and industry standards.

Reporting Relationship: Reports to Supervisor.

Responsibilities/Activities

Assist with the activities of daily living and personal care including:

bathing

shaving

ambulation

mouth care

dressing

exercise

hair care

feeding

toileting

nail care

positioning

medication reminding

skin care

transferring

hygiene

Ensure client's safety and security by supervising the home environment.
Teach/perform meal planning and preparation, routine housekeeping activities such as making/changing beds, dusting, vacuuming, washing floors, cleaning kitchen and bathroom, and laundry.
Provide companionship including social interactions, conversations, emotional reassurance, and encouragement of activities that stimulate the mind.
Provides respite care for families in accordance with care plans.
Perform/assist with essential shopping/errands, which may include handling the client's money in accordance with the care plan and under the observation of the Supervisor.
Assist clients with following a written, special diet plan and reinforcement of diet maintenance, which is provided under the direction of a Physician and as identified on the care plan.
Escort clients to medical facilities, errands, shopping, and outings as specified in the care plan.
Assist clients with communication by writing or typing correspondence for them or researching information for them.
Participate in the Care Team by providing input and making suggestions.
Ensure service is delivered in accordance with all relevant policies, procedures, and practices.
Monitor supplies and resources.
Evaluate the program and make recommendations to it, as indicated.
Follow the written care plan.
Carry out duties as assigned by the Supervisor.
Observe clients and their environments and report unsafe conditions to the Supervisor.
Observe clients and their environments and report behavior, physical and/or cognitive changes, and/or changes in living arrangements to the Supervisor.
Complete and maintain records of daily activities, observations, and direct hours of service.
Attend orientation, in-service training sessions, and staff meetings.
Develop and maintain constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.
Make decisions and solve problems.
Communicate with Supervisor and co-workers.
Observe, receive, and obtain information from relevant sources.
Performs other duties as required.

Required Knowledge

Knowledge of personal care and home management skills.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing client and personal care services, including needs determinants, meeting quality standards, and evaluation of client satisfaction.
Knowledge of the English language.
Knowledge of clerical procedures such as maintaining records and completing forms.

Required Skills/Abilities

The ability to competently assist clients with their activities of daily living.
The ability to be aware of other people's reactions and understand why they react as they do.
The ability to establish and maintain relationships.
The ability to teach others.
The ability to listen actively.
The ability to identify problems and determine effective solutions.
The ability to apply reason and logic to identify strengths and weaknesses of possible solutions.
The ability to monitor and assess themselves, clients, and the effectiveness of service.
The ability to understand written and oral instructions.
The ability to communicate information orally so others understand.
The ability to communicate in writing so others understand.
The ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.
The ability to determine or recognize when something is likely to go wrong.
The ability to suggest a number of ideas on a subject.
The ability to perform activities that use the whole body.
The ability to handle and move objects and people.
The ability to observe and recognize changes in clients.
The ability to establish and maintain harmonious relations with clients/families/co-workers.

Physical and Mental Demands

Good physical and mental health.
Physical ability to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk, hear, and see.
Mental fortitude and stability to handle stress.
Physical and mental ability to drive a vehicle.

Qualifications/Education

Passing score on the PCA competency test
Current driver's license.
Proper Vehicle Insurance Coverage.

Training/Experience

Successful Completion of the Agency's Initial Competency Exam, Orientation, and Training.
Continued and ongoing training as determined by Silver Home Care.

Note: Silver Home Care complies with the ADA and considers reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants/employees to perform essential functions. It is possible that a hire may be tested on skill/agility and may be subject to a medical examination conducted by a medical professional.

Job Description