Direct Care Worker

Job TitleThis is a casual position with limited expectation of a regular work schedule working on an intermittent or sporadic basis, with no guarantee of any work hours.Under direct supervision of the Supportive Home Care Supervisor, provide personal care and support to clients in their daily activities. Assisting with personal hygiene, medication observation, mobility assistance, incontinence care, light housekeeping, feeding and meal preparation and attentive companionship while ensuring a comfortable and dignified living environment in the client's place of residence.Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Assists clients with daily living tasks including dressing and personal hygiene care such as brushing teeth, grooming, shaving, bathing and hair washing. Provides medication reminders to clients for self-administration of medication. Assists with exercise as prescribed and which have been taught by the appropriate health personnel. Build trusted relationships with clients and their families; interact positively with the client's family, advocates, guardians, case managers, employers, friends, and others. Provides meaningful and attentive companionship and emotional support to client and other members of the household. Maintains the living quarters, keeping the residence in a clean and orderly condition. Performs housekeeping services; dusting, vacuuming, sweeping floors, washing dishes, cleaning kitchen and bathroom areas, laundering clothing and linens, and removing trash. Assists with nutritional guidance, including purchasing food, meal planning, food preparation, knowledge of special nutritional needs, and encourages healthy nutrition. Provides transportation to doctor's appointments, beauty shops/barbers, etc. Provides clients with communication assistance, scheduling appointments, writing correspondence, etc. Maintains records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to supervisor. Attends scheduled in-services, conferences, and department meetings. It is unlikely an employee will perform all the duties listed on a regular basis, nor is the list exhaustive, in the sense it covers all the duties an employee may be required to perform. The examples are merely indicative, not restrictive. Supervisory Responsibilities This job has no supervisory responsibilities.Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Education and/or Experience High School diploma or general education degree (GED). Prior experience providing supportive care, Alzheimer's and dementia care, and/or disability support is a plus. Language Skills Ability to read and interpret documents such as aide care plans, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, professional journals, and procedure manuals. Ability to document care and record changes in patient's condition to the supervising RN and/or HHC/Hospice Supervisors. Ability to communicate and present information effectively, cooperate and respond to common inquiries or complaints from patients, patient's family, co-workers, or the general public. Mathematical Skills Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to apply concepts of percentages, ratios, and proportions in practical situations. Reasoning Ability Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to be flexible in responding to the needs of patients/families, staff members, and other health care providers. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Computer Skills To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of word processing, e-mail, and documentation systems. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Valid Driver's License, with access to a dependable automobile and carrying at least the minimum automobile insurance coverage. Certified Direct Care Professional designation preferred Other Skills and Abilities Thorough knowledge of the developmental stages of the life cycle, especially the aging process. Thorough knowledge of universal precautions. Thorough knowledge of basic nutrition, meal preparation, and housekeeping duties. Thorough knowledge of the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the client and family. Thorough knowledge of agency functions and community resources. Thorough knowledge of what, when, and how to report patient observations to R.N./agency. Ability and temperament to effectively work with clients that have physical and mental limitations or disabilities. Ability to carry out care plans independently. Ability to prepare accurate records. Ability to seek and utilize supervision/consultation effectively. Ability to establish and maintain effective patient, family, public and agency working relationships. Ability to be compassionate, reliable, and dependable. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear; reach with hands and arms; stand and walk. The employee is frequently required to sit, bend, and push and pull; and occasionally stoop, kneel, and crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally exert force in excess of 100 pounds and transfer patients with weights greater than 100 pounds. Frequently performs tasks which require hand-eye coordination. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus. Ability to wear gloves, masks, and other protective equipment. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to weather conditions; hazards of driving; unclean inside environmental conditions; and difficult interpersonal interaction with exposure to potentially violent patients. May be exposed to odors, infections, contagious diseases, toxic agents, temperature variations/or dust, and the risk of bloodborne pathogens. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.