Direct Home Care Worker

SUMMARY:

The Direct Home Care Worker, provides supportive services to the participant; including but not limited to in the home or community setting, during transport and on appointments, or and in the day health center.  The PCA’s responsibilities for each participant are specified in the Direct Home Care Worker Care Plan.  The following statements are intended to describe the essential elements, functions, and requirements of the position.  The list should not be taken as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of an individual assigned to this job. 

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS:

• The Direct Home Care Worker’s plan of care is based on the initial and on-going assessments that are performed by a home care RNCM.
• The Direct Home Care Worker assists in providing and/or maintaining optimal physical and emotional comforts to frail elders, in the participant’s home, community setting, day health center, and dementia unit, and during transport and on appointments.
• The Direct Home Care Worker assists participants and their families toward achieving maximum self-reliance and independence within their environment, day health center, and dementia unit. 
• The Direct Home Care Worker performs the care or services that are outlined in the individual participant’s Care Plan; any Care Guidelines that are pertinent to the participant’s diagnosis are specified in the Care Plan. 
• The Direct Home Care Worker performs a variety of tasks and services for the participant, including: 
  • Personal care 
  • Assistance with activities
  • Assistance with meal preparation / feeding 
  • Assistance with toileting / managing incontinence
  • Simple treatments
  • Shopping
  • Medication reminders
  • Laundry services
  • Extended hours care 
  • Homemaking services / chores 
  • Transportation and off site appointment support 
• The Direct Home Care Worker is responsible for accurate timely documentation as required by the service area they are supporting; including but not limited to the care and/or services provided on every visit and or encounter, transport and appointment, on the Direct Home Care Worker; the Direct Home Care Worker keeps the RNCM and or clinic nurse informed of the participant’s progress. 
• Immediately reports all customer service complaints, all deviations from set schedule and appointments to supervisor / manager.
• The Direct Home Care Worker responds to emergency situations in accordance with established policies and procedures. 
• Works only within established scope of practice. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Minimum High School Diploma or G.E.D. required. 
• Must have minimum of (2) years of relevant work experience. 
• Must have completed formal training program (Direct Care, Nurse Assistant, Medical Assistant, etc.) outside of PACE SEMI in lieu of minimum years of experience. 
• The Direct Home Care Worker participates in annual, required in-service training and screening, including but not limited to: infection control, TB testing, safety training, and BLS training. 
• The Direct Home Care Worker must possess the ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and interdepartmental relationships, and respect the physical, spiritual, and well being of participants and co-workers.
• The Direct Home Care Worker must be able to organize and maintain flexible scheduling to coordinate job responsibilities. 
• Ability to work sensitively with individuals of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to relate to those participants with dementia and/or developmental disabilities.
• The Direct Home Care Worker must be able to perform duties in an atmosphere of frequent interruption. 
• Must meet a standardized set of competencies (approval by CMS) before working independently. 
• Must be medically cleared for communicable diseases and have all immunizations up-to-date before engaging in direct participant contact. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Driving is required within PACE SEMI catchment area.
• Must have reliable transportation available on a daily basis.
• Must have current valid driver’s license
• Working conditions are variable. With exposure to communicable diseases, due to participant environment.  There is also potential for exposure to chemicals such as cleaning solutions and medications.