Certified Nursing Assistant/Personal Care Aide-PACE

Job Description

Job Description

Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives. At Neighborhood, this is our vision. A community where everyone is healthy and happy. We’re with you every step of the way, with the care you need for each of life’s chapters. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together.

Neighborhood Healthcare PACE is a managed medical plan built around surrounding participants with a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists and care coordinators to help them maintain good health and a good quality of life. Our goal is to keep our seniors happy and healthy at home surrounded by their family and community.

As a private, non-profit 501(C) (3) community health organization, we serve over 500k medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 100,000 people annually. With two PACE centers located in Riverside County, our PACE program is positioned to serve over 650 senior participants.

The CNA/PCA works contributes to the mission and vision of Neighborhood Healthcare (NHC) PACE by supporting the CNA team in the delivery of personal care, companionship, and escort services for participants attending medical appointments and services. The role is responsible for performing a variety of tasks throughout the PACE center to ensure participants receive support with activities of daily living and provides assistance in the kitchen and during medical and therapy appointments.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

Responsibilities

CNA

• Performs and records routine technical tasks for participants, such as vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate), collection of specimens, intake and output, and measurements
• Assists with admissions, transfers, and discharges of participants by safely escorting, lifting, and positioning participants
• Reinforces selected patient teaching initiated by registered nurses
• Cleans, organizes, and maintains participant, program, and unit areas, including equipment
• Considers special needs and behaviors of specific participant age groups
• Prepares and performs recreational activities with participants, as needed
• Performs and assists with home visits, including activities of daily living (ADLs), transfers, and companionship
• Accompanies and escorts participants to medical appointments and pharmacy drop-offs/pick-ups
• Provides personal care for participants, such as toileting, bathing, eating, transferring, dressing, and grooming
• Assists management in carrying out the activity program, including serving meals/snacks and performing meal counts
• Aids participants and families, as needed
• Escorts participants and assists with the transfer of equipment and supplies, as needed
• Records all participant care and services in accordance with established policies and procedures
• Monitors and reports any variances from normal participant activity to the nurse for further assessment
• Follows infectious disease precautions to prevent the spread of organisms
• Attends and actively participates in the intake and assessment process, as needed
• Shares accountability for overall participant health outcomes by working in coordination with care teams
• Attends center staff meetings and in-service educational training programs

PCA

• Provides direct personal care to participants, including showering, toileting, laundry, feeding assistance, companionship services, and other activities of daily living (ADL)
• Assists other staff in carrying out program assignments
• Assists with admissions, transfers, and discharges of participants by safely escorting, lifting, and positioning participants
• Supports other PACE teams with program assignments for patients, including meal and snack services
• Assists in cleaning and organizing patient areas, including cleaning of equipment and shower areas
• Assists with home delivery of meals and medical supplies
• Accompanies and escorts participants to medical appointments and pharmacy drop-offs/pick-ups
• Escorts participants and assists with the transfer of equipment and supplies, as needed
• Follows infectious disease precautions to prevent the spread of organisms
• Attends and participates in center staff meetings, committees, and in-service educational training programs
• Communicates effectively with participants and co-workers
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, as needed
• Adheres to established PACE, CMS, and ADHC policies and procedures
• Takes an active role in the Safety and Injury in the Workplace Program; maintains all records and documentation, as required

Qualifications

Education/Experience

PCA

• High school diploma or GED required
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required upon hire and must be maintained as a condition of employment. These courses must follow AHA guidelines, but may be completed through approved online providers such as ProMed or other equivalent programs that meet recognized BLS standards
  • In addition, current CPR and First Aid certification are required for all PACE employees in accordance with CMS and DHCS requirements. First Aid training will be provided at onboarding and must be renewed annually.
• Minimum of six months of experience as a Personal Care Aide in a professional or personal care setting required
• Minimum of one year of experience working with frail, elderly, or medically complex populations required

CNA

• High school diploma or GED required
• Active California Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification required
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through an American Heart Association (AHA)-approved source is required upon hire and must be maintained as a condition of employment
  • AHA-approved courses include an in-person, hands-on skills check with a certified instructor using a mannequin to demonstrate CPR and emergency response techniques
  • Online-only BLS courses without a live skills check do not meet this requirement
  • In addition, current CPR and First Aid certification are required for all PACE employees in accordance with CMS and DHCS requirements. First Aid training will be provided at onboarding and must be renewed annually
• Minimum of one year of experience working with the frail elderly population required

Additional Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• Valid CA driver's license and proof of auto insurance required
• Reliable transportation needed - May need to occasionally meet participants at medical appointments outside of regularly scheduled work hours (after regular start times/after)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including superior composition, typing and proofreading skills
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Knowledgeable about and experience with providing care to others
• Ability to complete PACE approved curriculum for personal care aid
• Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent planning and organizational ability
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
• Ability to work with highly confidential information in a professional and ethical manner

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift/carry 50 lbs/weight
• Ability to stand for long periods of time

Pay range: $22.88-$32.04 per hour, depending on experience.

Compensation Disclosure: The posted salary range reflects the designated pay grade for this position. While this range represents the broader classification of the role, actual compensation will be based on several factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s overall knowledge, skills, and experience, market data and industry benchmarks, internal equity within the organization, Budgetary considerations and organizational needs. As a result, placement within the range is not guaranteed, and the full pay grade range may not be utilized.