Personal Care Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

Join a Team That Changes Lives

For more than 170 years, Elwyn has been leading the way in supporting children, teens, and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health challenges. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we’re here to create real change – helping people lead meaningful, fulfilling lives.

Now, we’re looking for passionate team members to join us. Here, your work will change lives – including your own. You’ll make an impact every day, find purpose in what you do, and grow in a career that truly matters.

At Elwyn, we take care of you while you care for others. We offer:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision Benefit Packages
• Earned Wage Access/On-Demand Pay
• Paid On-the-Job Training
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Career Advancement Opportunities and Growth
• Flexible Schedules
• Retirement Savings Plan

Join us and be a part of something bigger. Apply today.

Responsibilities

Position Summary

The Personal Care Assistant (PCA) is a preschool special education paraprofessional who provides one-to-one support to children ages 3-5 with behavioral, social-emotional, functional communication, developmental, and personal care needs. The PCA implements behavior support, communication, and daily living strategies as created and directed by the Behavior Support Consultant (BSC). Collaborates with teachers, families, related service providers, and multidisciplinary teams to promote independence, inclusion, communication, and social-emotional growth. The PCA implements Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSPs), collects data, supports Functional Communication Training (FCT) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) use as directed by the Speech Language Therapist/IEP team, and assists with activities of daily living. This position reports to a BSC and primarily serves students in school-based settings with some home-based support. A PCA may be assigned to more than one child but does not provide direct support to more than one child at the same time.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one support to assigned children in school-based and occasional home-based settings as specified in the child’s IEP.
• Implement PBSP strategies with fidelity, as trained and directed by the BSC.
• Implement, but do not independently design or modify, behavior plans or instructional supports; communicate needed changes to the BSC.
• Collect, record, and submit behavioral and progress data to the BSC according to established schedules.
• Support FCT and AAC implementation as directed by the BSC and SLP, including setup and routine monitoring of devices.
• Provide physical, mobility, and self-help support (e.g., positioning, transfers, feeding, toileting) as specified in the child’s IEP. 
• Support the child’s participation in classroom routines and PBIS/classroom-wide behavior supports.
• Use de-escalation strategies and agency-trained crisis intervention procedures; document and report incidents to the BSC per agency policy.
• Monitor and report the child’s health status, behavior, and progress to the BSC and classroom teacher.
• Participate in coaching, performance feedback, and fidelity monitoring with the BSC and apply feedback to daily practice.
• Complete a minimum of 20 hours of annual training related to the assignment.
• Communicate with families as directed by the BSC.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation and confidentiality of student records and information.
• Aid with classroom support and do other duties as assigned.
• Knowledge of positive behavior support, data collection, and early childhood development.
• Effective communication, organization, and teamwork skills are important.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between locations.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum requirement: High School Diploma
• Highly preferred: Experience supporting children age three to the age of beginners (kindergarten or first grade year) with adaptive, medical, and/or behavioral needs
• Must obtain and maintain current PA criminal history (Act 34), FBI fingerprint (Act 114), and child abuse (Act 151) clearances.  
• Maintain all training requirements including Mandated Reporter, Praesidium trainings and the required annual path.
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic Applied Behavior Analysis principles, including data collection and record-keeping.
• Demonstrated ability to implement behavior support plans as written and to accept and apply coaching and feedback.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of a classroom and IEP team.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated strong time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, with the ability to follow plans consistently and recognize when to seek direction from the BSC.
• Demonstrated ability to identify problem areas and promptly communicate them to the BSC.
• Demonstrated intermediate experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Must possess a current, valid driver’s license in the state of residence, have a minimum of two (2) years of driving experience within the United States, and have an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage and prioritize multiple, often competing, priorities.
• Must be able to perform CPR and crisis intervention using agency-trained protocols.
• Ability to lift, transfer, and physically assist children, and to remain active throughout the program day.
• Must possess excellent customer interaction, collaboration, and written and verbal communication skills.

2026-7010