Personal Care Assistant

Personal Care Assistant (PCA)

The Hoboken Public School District is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and student-centered Personal Care Assistant (PCA) to provide specialized personal care support to students whose individual health, physical, developmental, or functional needs require a level of assistance beyond routine personal care support provided within the educational setting. The PCA works primarily in coordination with the school health office and under the direction of the School Nurse and Building Administrator. The position is intended to supplement, rather than replace, the routine personal care responsibilities of paraprofessionals and other appropriately assigned school staff. Routine toileting and diapering remain within the responsibilities of paraprofessionals when applicable to their assigned students and duties. The PCA provides additional assistance for students whose personal care needs may be more complex, require individualized procedures or additional monitoring, or are associated with significant health, physical, developmental, mobility, or functional needs. Personal care services will be provided in a manner that promotes each student's dignity, privacy, comfort, safety, and maximum appropriate level of independence.

High school diploma or equivalent required. Proven experience as a Personal Care Assistant (PCA), Home Health Aide (HHA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), or in a comparable caregiving position strongly preferred. Successful completion of a training program in personal care, home health services, nursing assistance, or a related area preferred. Experience working with children and/or individuals with complex personal care needs preferred. Knowledge of appropriate personal hygiene and personal care practices. Knowledge of child development and age-appropriate care practices. Familiarity with basic first aid, safety practices, infection-control procedures, and emergency response protocols. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to interact appropriately with students and staff. Ability to follow written and verbal directions, established schedules, individualized care procedures, and safety protocols. Ability to maintain accurate documentation and protect confidential student information. Successful criminal history clearance, physical examination, and other requirements established by the State of New Jersey and the Hoboken Public School District.

Provide specialized personal care assistance to students identified by the district as requiring additional support due to individual health, physical, developmental, mobility, or functional needs. Assist with toileting, diapering, hygiene, dressing, positioning, mobility, and other activities of daily living when such assistance is part of the student's identified personal care needs. Provide assistance with more complex personal care needs that require additional time, individualized procedures, monitoring, or support beyond routine personal care assistance. Work collaboratively with paraprofessionals and other school staff while recognizing that the PCA position supplements and does not replace routine personal care responsibilities assigned to those positions. Follow an established schedule throughout the school day to provide personal care services to identified students. Follow the direction and instructions of the School Nurse and Building Administrator regarding student care, health and safety procedures, and assigned responsibilities. Maintain daily documentation of personal care assistance and student support provided. Observe students while providing personal care and promptly report concerns or changes in a student's condition to the School Nurse. Maintain student dignity and privacy during all personal care activities and encourage independence to the greatest extent appropriate. Follow applicable health, hygiene, infection-control, universal precaution, and personal safety procedures. Maintain confidentiality regarding student educational, health, disability, and personal information. Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and interactions with students. Collaborate professionally with school nurses, administrators, paraprofessionals, teachers, related service providers, and other members of the student's educational or care team. Participate in required training related to student personal care, health and safety procedures, and assigned responsibilities. Perform other duties related to specialized student personal care and support as assigned by the School Nurse or Building Administrator.

The position requires the ability to perform the physical functions necessary to assist students with personal care and activities of daily living. Responsibilities may include prolonged standing and walking; bending, reaching, kneeling, or squatting; and providing physical assistance with student mobility, positioning, transferring, or personal care, as appropriate to the assignment.