Personal Care Attendant

Description

¨ Personal Care Attendants provide service to individuals in their own homes and communities, who need assistance caring for themselves as a result of old age, sickness, disability and/or other inflictions. Personal Care may include assistance with the activities of daily living, housecleaning, laundry, meal preparation, transportation, companionship and respite,

¨ Personal Care Attendants are responsible for ensuring that service is delivered in a caring and respectful manner, in accordance with relevant Agency policies and industry standards.

Reporting Relationship

¨ Reports to Supervisor.

Responsibilities/Activities:

¨ Assist with the activities of daily living and Personal Care including:

- bathing - shaving - ambulation

- mouth care - dressing - exercise

- hair care - feeding - toileting

- nail care - positioning - medication reminding

- skin care - transferring - vital signs and Blood Pressure

¨ Ensure client’s safety and security by supervising the home environment.

¨ Teach/perform meal planning and preparation, routine housekeeping activities such as making/changing beds, dusting, vacuuming, washing floors, cleaning kitchen and bathroom, and laundry.

¨ Provide companionship including social interactions, conversations, emotional reassurance and encouragement of activities that stimulate the mind.

¨ Provides respite care for families in accordance with care plans.

¨ Perform/assist with essential shopping/errands, which may include handling the client’s money in accordance with the care plan and under the observation of the Supervisor.

¨ Assist clients with following a written, special diet plan and reinforcement of diet maintenance, which is provided under the direction of a Physician and as identified on the care plan.

¨ Escort clients to medical facilities, errands, shopping and outings as specified in the care plan.

¨ Assist clients with communication by writing or typing correspondence for them or researching information for them.

¨ Participate on the Care Team by providing input and making suggestions.

¨ Ensure service is delivered in accordance with all relevant policies, procedures and practices.

¨ Monitor supplies and resources.

¨ Evaluate the program and make recommendations to it, as indicated.

¨ Follow the written care plan.

¨ Carry out duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

¨ Observe clients and their environments and reports unsafe conditions to Supervisor.

¨ Observe clients and their environments and reports behavior, physical and/or cognitive changes and/or changes in living arrangements to Supervisor.

¨ Complete and maintain records of daily activities, observations, and direct hours of service.

¨ Attend orientation, in-service training sessions and staff meetings.

¨ Develop and maintain constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.

¨ Make decisions and solve problems.

¨ Communicate with Supervisor and co-workers.

¨ Observe, receive and obtain information from relevant sources.

¨ Performs other duties as required.

Required Knowledge

¨ Knowledge of Personal Care and home management skills.

¨ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing client and Personal Care services, including needs determinants, meeting quality standards and evaluation of client satisfaction.

¨ Knowledge of the English language.

¨ Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat injuries including emergency first aid and CPR.

¨ Knowledge of clerical procedures such as maintaining records and completing forms.

Required Skills/Abilities

¨ The ability to competently assist clients with their activities of daily living.

¨ The ability to be aware of other people’s reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

¨ The ability to establish and maintain relationships.

¨ The ability to teach others.

¨ The ability to listen actively.

¨ The ability to identify problems and determine effective solutions.

¨ The ability to apply reason and logic to identify strengths and weaknesses of possible solutions.

¨ The ability to monitor and assess themselves, clients and effectiveness of service.

¨ The ability to understand written and oral instructions.

¨ The ability to communicate information orally so others understand.

¨ The ability to communicate in writing so others understand.

¨ The ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.

¨ The ability to determine or recognize when something is likely to go wrong.

¨ The ability to suggest a number of ideas on a subject.

¨ The ability to perform activities that use the whole body.

¨ The ability to handle and move objects and people.

¨ The ability to provide advice and consultation to others.

¨ The ability to observe and recognize changes in clients.

¨ The ability to establish and maintain harmonious relations with clients/families/co-workers.

Physical and Mental Demands:

¨ Good physical and mental health.

¨ Physical ability to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk, hear and see.

¨ Mental fortitude and stability to handle stress.