Personal Care Attendant (PCA)

Full Job Description and Requirements

The PCA provides non-medical services to clients consistent with each client’s comprehensive client assessment and plan of care. All client care is provided in a manner that meets the client’s physical, mental and psychosocial needs and enables the individual to attain or maintain the highest practical level of functioning. The PCA maintains a “home-like” environment for the clients, protects and promotes client rights and assists to maintain independence and control to the greatest extent possible.

HIPAA is a law that must be followed by all healthcare personnel at every level. This position is a Mandated Reporter. 

Reporting

This position is responsible to the Care Coordinator/Licensee/Owner.

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

Qualifications and Requirements

Education

Sufficient education to demonstrate functional literacy Certification/Background: TB clearance, current, valid 1st Aid certification, background check including criminal history check as well as other requirements as noted by State licensing.

Work Experience

Prior experience giving personal care to impaired individuals in a healthcare or home setting preferred.

Language Skills

Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret information, and to be easily understood through proficient verbal communication in the English language.

Mathematical Skills

  • Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide into all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

  • Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement, and volume.

Communication Skills

  • Must have exceptional communication and customer service skills, and be empathetic.

  • Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, responsible parties, staff and outside resources
    and agencies.

Essential Job Functions

  • Provide direct care to clients to improve or maintain the client’s abilities according to the client’s plan of care.

  • Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) – Assist with bathing, grooming, oral care, dressing, mobility, transferring, and feeding of assigned clients by providing set-up assistance, verbal prompts, physical support or more extensive assistance, or who are totally dependent as more fully described below:

    • Bathing- Assist with transport of client to tub or shower; Adjust water temperature; Wash and rinse client.

    • Dry body thoroughly with clean towels. Maintain privacy for the client at all times Dressing- Locate, select and obtain clothing for the client. Assist clients with snaps, zippers, buttons after donning clothes or removing them. Recognize clothing in need of repair and communicate clothing needs to resident, family and/or CARE COORDINATOR as appropriate/needed.

    • Restorative Care- Assist the client to maintain functioning at his/her highest independent level to prevent the decrease in functioning unless clinically unavoidable through ambulation, the range of motion exercises, use of assistive devices and maintaining proper body alignment to prevent contractures and deformities.

    • Elimination/Toileting- Promptly assist clients with bathroom according to toileting schedule or, promptly bring clean bedpan or urinal. Open, remove clothing in preparation, clean clients if the client is unable to clean self, adjust clothing, clean clients, and own hands. Measure and record output as directed by CARE COORDINATOR/Licensee/Owner and plan of care.

    • Mobility- Assist clients or provide a range of motion exercises to all joints. Provide weight-bearing
      assistance or physical support for ambulating. Push wheelchair or geri-chair if needed. Maintain a safe environment for mobile client by removing obstacles, inspecting equipment and reporting defects to CARE COORDINATOR/Licensee/Owner. Monitor client progress toward treatment goals and report responses to CARE COORDINATOR/Licensee/Owner.

    • Transfer- Position clients for transfer. Use correct transfer technique and equipment according to the plan of care, client ability, and self-ability. Obtain assistance of another staff member if needed before starting to transfer a client.

    • Eating- Provide set-up assistance for meals. Open, pour, unwrap, and cut food if clients unable to help self. Feed individuals that require total assistance according to their plans of care. Actively encourage clients to chew, eat, and swallow if indicated. Assist or clean clients after meals. Serve nourishments and snacks as ordered. Document and report food and fluid intake accordingly.

  • Provide care in a manner that protects and promotes client rights, dignity, self-determination and active participation. Offer and respect client choices in matters of daily routine. Refer to clients by proper names unless client requests otherwise. Avoid use of all pet names. Handle all clients’ property with respect

  • Observe and report patterns of decreased social interaction, angry or sad behaviors and refusals of treatment to CARE COORDINATOR/Licensee/Owner

  • Assist with the planning, implementation and evaluation of plans of care for assigned clients and report information about conditions, responses to interventions and suggestions for alternative approaches to the CARE

Work with Coordinator/Licensee/Owner

  • Assist with preparation for state inspections as directed. Attend survey training and interact with state surveyors as directed by immediate supervisor

  • Follow all facility policies and procedures including those related to infection control. Use personal protective equipment properly whenever indicated

  • Record accurate, legible information about client care and condition in appropriate sections of client’s records

  • Communicate with CARE COORDINATOR/Licensee/Owner about assigned clients as needed throughout shift

  • Demonstrate competence in use of proper body mechanics for both upper and lower body. Safely and correctly use equipment such as back belts, gait belts and mechanical lifting equipment for lifting, pulling and turning clients who may range in weight from less than 80 pounds to over 300 pounds

  • Monitor physical environment for safety or fire hazards and correct or report potential problems immediately to CARECOORDINATOR/Licensee/Owner.

  • Report injury to client or self to CARE COORDINATOR/Licensee/Owner immediately

  • Attend 20 hours of in-service education provided by the ARC@Home annually. Apply information to job tasks

  • Participate in fire and disaster drills. In the event of an emergency, carry out assigned duties to assure client safety

Job Functions

·  Demonstrate knowledge of, and respect for, the rights, dignity and individuality of each client in all interactions

·  Appreciate the importance of maintaining confidentiality of client and facility information

·  Demonstrate honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of client and facility property

·  Able to understand and follow written and verbal directions. Able effectively to communicate with staff members and clients through verbal and/or written means

·  Able to interact effectively with individuals who are cognitively and/or physically impaired

·  Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of facility. Able to locate nearest exit, to understand and respond to written or oral instruction in case of emergency

·  Sufficient mobility, and strength to move freely through the building, to assure client safety at all times and to assist, transfer or otherwise move clients of facility out of danger in case of emergency

·  Demonstrate respect for co-workers and responds to needs of clients by complying with facility policies on attendance and punctuality and dress code. Able to arrive and to begin work on time

·  Working knowledge and ability to comply with facility policies and procedures for workplace safety including infection control procedures, application of standard precautions for blood borne pathogens, use of personal protective equipment and handling of hazardous materials

·  Demonstrate ability to prioritize tasks/responsibilities and complete duties/projects within allotted time

·  Able to respond to change productively and to handle additional tasks/projects as assigned

·  Able to carry out the essential functions of this job (with or without reasonable accommodation) without posing specific, current risk of substantial harm to health and safety of self and others

·  Demonstrate competence in performing all services required of a nursing assistant including providing nursing and nursing-related services to individuals with cognitive impairments

·  Able to recognize changes in client’s conditions as evidenced by physical symptoms, verbal expression or observation of change in mental or psychosocial status

·  Other duties as assigned

Physical Capacities

(With or without Mechanical devices)

·  Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.

·  Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which includes an annual TB screening and physical examination.

·  Must be able to lift up and over 100 pounds with or without assistance according to client’s abilities.

·  Must be able to move intermittently during working hours.

·  Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time.

·  Must be able to bend, squat, push, stoop and pull as needed especially in fulfilling client care activities.

·  Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.

Environmental Conditions

Inside work, normal temperatures, some noise, occasional fumes/odors, chemical exposure and potential exposure to blood- borne pathogens.

This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24 hour skilled care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired clients in an aging population. Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to:

  • Emergency health or safety response.

  • Weekend and holiday duty.

  • Unusual or impaired behavior by clients.

  • Family reactions to having a loved one in fragile and/or declining physical and/or mental health.

  • Death and dying.

  • Oversight of state surveyors.

  • Ombudsmen and federal officials.

  • Presence of consultants and attorneys.

  • Variable involvement of medical staff.

HIPAA is a law that must be followed by all healthcare personnel at every level. This position is a Mandated Reporter.