DIRECT CARE STAFF

Direct Care Staff Position

The Direct Care Staff shall work under the supervision of the RN or LVN and is responsible for providing direct care to the children in the PPEC / PDHC setting. All care is provided within the scope of practice for DCS. For staffing purposes, Direct Care Staff include Certified Nursing Assistants, Nursing Assistants, EMT's, Patient Care Technicians and individuals with experience in caring for children with medical needs.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Responsible for a variety of ADL tasks including but not limited to hygiene, bathing, diapering, toileting, dressing, grooming, feeding, transferring, repositioning and ambulation.
• Adheres to the posted classroom schedule.
• Assists the nursing care team in the delivery of routine childcare activities in a medical model childcare setting.
• Reports to Registered Nurse any change in child's condition, social/family concerns, complaints, accidents, or incident.
• Provide positive reinforcement to children and recommend measures to control behavior in accordance with the center's policies and procedures.
• Assist in preparing food for children, serve meals and snacks to children and assists with feedings as directed by RN.
• Hold, rock, and comfort children as needed.
• Hold and bottle feed infants as ordered by Plan of Care.
• Assists with transferring and lifting of children.
• Read to children/individuals, and teach them simple painting, drawing, crafts, and songs.
• Help children/individuals to other areas of the facility, secure in equipment, such as chairs, prone standers, AFO's, etc.; uses therapy equipment as directed by physical, occupational or speech therapists.
• Incorporates developmental therapy goals into daily child-based activities.
• Monitor children/individuals and call for assistance as needed.
• Accompany children/individuals on any field trips or outings.
• Observe and monitor children/individual's play activities.
• Clean room, linens, cribs, cots, equipment, or other materials as needed and required.
• Organize and store toys and materials to ensure order in activity areas.
• Disinfect toys and equipment according to Infection Control policy.
• Support children/individual's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.
• Identify any signs of emotional or developmental problems in children/individuals and bring them to the attention of the nurse or Administrator in charge.
• Never leave a child/individual unattended
• Maintains confidentiality of the children and families.
• Participates in the loading and unloading of children from the bus.
• Serves as a transport escort when assigned to the Transportation Vehicle.
• Participates in monthly Fire/Evacuation/Disaster Drills.
• Attends staff/communication meetings.
• Adheres to established dress code policy.
• Adheres to time and attendance policy.
• Completes all Mandatory Educational Requirements upon hire, monthly and annually.
• Reports to Registered Nurse any safety concerns noted throughout the Center or the transportation vehicle.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Registered Nurse within scope of practice.
• Must maintain required and assigned continuing education.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education, Skills, and Experience Requirements:

• 18 years of age or older.
• High school diploma or a general equivalency degree.
• One of the following:
  • One year of experience employed in a healthcare setting providing direct care to minors who are medically or technologically dependent.
  • Two years of experience employed in a health care, childcare, or school setting providing direct care to minors who are medically or technologically dependent.
  • Two years of experience employed in a health care setting providing direct care to adults; or
  • Sufficient skills to meet competency and training requirements.
• Must be certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) CPR/BLS with AED and First Aid