HEART Homes Caregiver

Job Description

Job Description

JOB TITLE: HEART Homes Caregiver

DEPARTMENT: Medical

POSITION SUMMARY:

The H.E.A.R.T. Homes Caregiver provides compassionate, respectful, non-medical assistance to elders living in the H.E.A.R.T. Homes program. 
The Caregiver’s primary responsibility is to support resident independence, dignity, safety, comfort, and quality of life while respecting each elder’s preferences, culture, traditions, and right to make decisions about their life

JOB DUTIES:

ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING (ADL)
•    Provide respectful assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), including.
•    Bathing and Personal Hygiene.
•    Dressing and grooming
•    Toileting and continence care
•    Oral and personal hygiene
•    Eating and hydration
•    Mobility and positioning
•    Transfers, within the employee’s training, competency, and authorized scope
•    Encourage residents to perform as much of their own care as safely possible.
•    Use appropriate body mechanics and resident-specific transfer techniques.
•    Follow individual care plans and instructions regarding mobility, positioning, fall prevention, and personal care.
•    Maintain resident privacy and dignity during all personal-care activities.
•    Assist with meal preparation, serving, and cleanup in accordance with resident preferences, dietary requirements, and applicable food-safety practices.
•    Perform laundry and light housekeeping necessary to maintain a clean, comfortable, and homelike environment.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS SUPPORT
•    Observe residents for changes in physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, or functional condition.
•    Promptly communicate significant changes or concerns to the RN Clinical Coordinator or designated supervisor.
•    Complete wellness and safety checks as assigned.
•    Support residents in maintaining hydration, nutrition, mobility, social engagement, and daily routines.
•    Follow resident-specific care plans and instructions.
•    Provide medication reminders or other medication-related assistance only when permitted by law, the resident’s care plan, organizational policy, and the employee’s training and authorization.
•    Support residents with attending appointments and participating in activities as assigned.
•    Follow nurse-directed or delegated tasks only when properly trained, authorized, and supervised in accordance with applicable requirements.
RESIDENT SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
•    Maintain a safe, clean, organized, and accessible residential environment.
•    Identify and promptly report environmental hazards, unsafe conditions, or potential risks to residents.
•    Follow established emergency, evacuation, fire, disaster, missing-person, fall-response, and incident-reporting procedures.
•    Respond appropriately to falls, injuries, changes in condition, and other emergencies within the employee’s training and scope.
•    Maintain required CPR and First Aid credentials.
•    Report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other required incidents immediately and in accordance with applicable law and organizational policy.
•    Protect residents from preventable harm while supporting their right to make informed choices and maintain appropriate independence.
CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
•    Provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed care.
•    Respect Swinomish culture, traditions, values, family structures, community relationships, and practices.
•    Encourage and support participation in cultural, spiritual, recreational, and community activities.
•    Promote family and community connections.
•    Encourage appropriate intergenerational engagement.
•    Build respectful, trusting relationships with residents while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
•    Support resident choice, autonomy, self-determination, and dignity.
•    Recognize and respect individual preferences regarding food, routines, activities, communication, privacy, and personal care.
DOCUMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION
•    Accurately document services provided and required resident observations.
•    Document and promptly report changes in resident condition.
•    Complete incident and event reports in accordance with organizational procedures.
•    Communicate relevant information during shift reports and care-team communications.
•    Maintain accurate, timely, objective, and confidential records.
•    Protect resident privacy and confidential information in accordance with applicable laws and organizational policies.
•    Communicate effectively with residents, families, supervisors, nurses, providers, and other members of the care team.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
•    Follow H.E.A.R.T. Homes policies, procedures, resident rights, care plans, and supervisory direction.
•    Maintain professional boundaries with residents and families.
•    Demonstrate reliability, punctuality, accountability, and professional conduct.
•    Attend required staff meetings, training, competency evaluations, and continuing education.
•    Maintain required credentials and training.
•    Participate in quality-improvement, safety, and emergency-preparedness activities as assigned.
•    Perform other related duties consistent with the position, employee’s training, and applicable requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

•    Must be at least 18 years of age.
•    High school diploma or equivalent preferred/required according to H.E.A.R.T. Homes policy.
•    Previous experience providing care or support to elders, individuals with disabilities, or other vulnerable adults preferred.
•    Home Care Aide (HCA), Nursing Assistant-Certified (NAC), or other qualifying credential/experience preferred
•    Current CPR and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain and maintain certification within the timeframe permitted by applicable requirements.
•    Ability to successfully complete required Washington State long-term-care-worker training and
•    H.E.A.R.T. Homes orientation and competency requirements.
•    Ability to pass required background screening and meet applicable character, competence, and suitability requirements.
•    Ability to safely perform the physical functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
•    Ability to work scheduled shifts, including weekends, holidays, evenings, nights, or other shifts as assigned.
•    Reliable attendance and punctuality are essential.
•    Demonstrated compassion, patience, respect, and professionalism.
•    Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
•    Ability to work independently and effectively as part of a team

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE
•    Basic principles of person-centered care and aging.
•    Activities of daily living and appropriate caregiving practices.
•    Basic infection prevention and control practices.
•    Resident rights, dignity, privacy, and confidentiality.
•    Basic fall prevention and environmental safety.
•    Basic emergency-response procedures.
•    Appropriate professional boundaries when working with elders and vulnerable adults.
•    H.E.A.R.T. Homes policies, procedures, resident care plans, and reporting requirements.
SKILLS
•    Effective verbal and written communication.
•    Active listening and respectful interpersonal communication.
•    Safe assistance with personal care, mobility, positioning, and transfers within training and competency.
•    Accurate observation and reporting.
•    Timely and objective documentation.
•    Basic problem-solving and sound judgment.
•    Ability to de-escalate stressful situations and respond calmly during emergencies.
•    Ability to establish respectful and trusting relationships with residents.
•    Ability to use electronic or written documentation systems, as required.
•    Ability to work cooperatively with nurses, caregivers, residents, families, and other care-team members.
ABILITIES
•    Ability to demonstrate compassion, patience, empathy, and respect.
•    Ability to recognize changes in a resident’s condition and report them promptly.
•    Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and resident-specific care plans.
•    Ability to prioritize resident safety while promoting independence and choice.
•    Ability to maintain confidentiality.
•    Ability to exercise sound judgment within the limits of training and assigned responsibilities.
•    Ability to remain calm and effective in emergency or stressful situations.
•    Ability to work independently with appropriate supervision.
•    Ability to accept feedback and participate in ongoing training and competency development.
•    Ability to interact respectfully with people from diverse cultural, social, and personal backgrounds.
•    Ability to maintain professional boundaries while developing supportive relationships with residents.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

Required
•    CPR and First Aid: Maintain a current CPR and First Aid card/certificate from an acceptable training organization. 
•    Washington Long-Term Care Worker Training: Complete applicable orientation, safety, basic training, and other required training within the timelines established by Washington State requirements. 
•    Home Care Aide Certification: Obtain and maintain Washington State Home Care Aide certification when required by applicable law. Washington rules require long-term-care workers to obtain HCA certification unless an applicable exemption applies. 
•    Continuing Education: Complete required continuing education and maintain documentation of required training and credentials.
•    Background Check: Successfully complete required background screening and any additional screening required for employees providing care to vulnerable adults.
•    Facility Orientation: Successfully complete H.E.A.R.T. Homes orientation and all required job-specific training before performing duties independently.
•    Additional Training as Applicable
•    Depending on the residents served, the Caregiver may be required to complete additional training, competency demonstrations, or specialty training related to:
•    Dementia
•    Mental health
•    Developmental disabilities
•    Nurse delegation
•    Diabetes/insulin-related care
•    Infection prevention and control
•    Food safety
•    Behavioral support
•    Other resident-specific conditions or care needs
•    H.E.A.R.T. Homes may establish additional training or certification requirements when reasonably related to resident safety, quality of care, program operations, or job responsibilities.

BENEFITS:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS

The Tribe complies with the Tribal Preference policy outlined in the Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO), STC Title 14, Chapter 1, Subsection 14.01.120(A)(2) of the Swinomish Tribal Code.

1. The Tribe strives for a drug-free workplace environment. Drug and alcohol screening at time of hire is mandatory in sensitive and hazardous positions and where required by the job announcement/description or positions working with Tribal youth.
2. Read the job announcement and position description carefully.
3. Complete all requested information on the application. Do not write "see resume."
4. Read the information in the signature area carefully, then sign and date the application.