Personal Care Assistant (PCA)

Position: Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Report to: Middle School Building Principal Description: The Personal Care Assistant (PCA) provides individualized assistance to a student with disabilities who requires support with personal care, mobility, safety, health-related routines, and/or activities of daily living in order to access and participate in the school environment. Working under the direction of special education staff and other appropriate school personnel, the PCA supports the student throughout the school day and promotes the student's safety, dignity, independence, and participation in educational and school-based activities. The PCA provides assistance in accordance with the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), health or safety plans, and other individualized plans, as applicable. The PCA is expected to encourage independence whenever possible while providing the level of assistance necessary for the student to safely access the educational environment. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides individualized personal care and assistance to an assigned student throughout the school day in accordance with the student's identified needs and applicable plans.
• Assists with activities of daily living, which may include toileting, diapering, hygiene, dressing, feeding, and other personal care needs.
• Supports the student with mobility, positioning, transfers, and safe movement throughout the school environment, as appropriate and following established procedures and training.
• Assists the student with accessing classrooms, school activities, transportation, arrival and dismissal, transitions, and other school environments.
• Supports the student's participation in classroom instruction and school activities while encouraging independence and avoiding unnecessary dependence on adult assistance.
• Provides supervision and assistance to maintain the student's safety and well-being throughout the school day.
• Follows individualized health, safety, emergency, behavior, and/or educational plans as directed by appropriately qualified school personnel.
• Assists with health-related routines that are within the scope of the PCA role and for which appropriate training and delegation have been provided.
• Recognizes and promptly reports changes or concerns regarding the student's physical condition, behavior, safety, or well-being to the appropriate school personnel.
• Implements strategies and accommodations identified by the student's educational team to support access, participation, communication, and independence.
• Collects and records relevant data or documentation as directed by special education staff or other appropriate personnel.
• Collaborates with teachers, special educators, nurses, therapists, related service providers, administrators, and other school personnel to provide consistent support to the student.
• Participates in consultation, professional development, and student-specific training necessary to safely and effectively perform assigned responsibilities.
• Maintains the student's privacy and dignity when providing personal care and other individualized assistance.
• Maintains confidentiality and follows all school and district policies related to student information, records, health information, and privacy.
• Follows all district health, safety, and emergency procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned. Full time benefited employees at the Danvers Public Schools are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package offered through the Town of Danvers. Click HERE for a highlight of these benefits. The Danvers Public School District is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment. We do not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, national or ethnic origin, or homelessness in the administration of its educational policies, employment policies, and other school-administered programs and activities.