Personal Care Aide

Job Title:  Personal Care Aide

Qualifications:  Must be at least 18 year of age (21 years old with 1 year experience and good communication skills is preferred); A minimum of  a High School Diploma or GED.  Submit to and pass a criminal record check and a drug screen test; Possess a valid social security card or valid work permit for non US citizens; Possess a valid driver’s license with no moving violations - must be 25 years of age to drive an agency vehicle.

Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am until 4:30 pm   Evening and weekend hours may be required.

This position reports directly to the Team Leader or Program Director.

Summary of Job Duties:  The Personal Care Aide is a part time position paid at an hourly rate.  The Personal Care Aide will facilitate independence and promote integration into the community for an individual with mental illness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:   

• Provide therapeutic training to promote independence according to Individual Plan of Care goals and objectives.
• Facilitate the individual to be as independent as possible.
• Assist, observe, and support the individual’s personal care needs.
• Assist/educate in sanitation/household chores; laundry; meal preparation and planning.
• Interaction/involvement with the individuals/help them to assume routine household care and maintenance.
• Provide safety awareness of home and environment and report things that need to be fixed.
• Provide financial assistance/money skills training.
• Provide opportunities for fun activities, leisure choices.
• Assist with shopping needs/wants.
• Connect the individual to family and friends-relationship building.
• Provide behavioral support and be familiar with the behavior intervention plan, record data.
• Monitor individual’s health and provide opportunity for exercise/good health practices
• Advocate for the individual’s rights and needed services.
• Limit/discourage visitation of staff family/friends.
• Respect the individuals and initiate the bonding process
• Be honest, patient and understanding with the individuals.
• Know the people you’re working with.
• Use positive, non-stigmatizing language and be cautious with comments.
• Know where the individual is at all times.
• Respect that it’s the individual’s home, phone, etc
• Recognize an incident and document correctly and properly.
• Prevent/report abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation.  *Staff has a legal responsibility to report any form of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), neglect, and/or exploitation.
• Report legitimate complaints to supervisor(s).
• Accurately administer medication and know the side effects of medications.
• Provide medication information during administration (purpose, side effects).
• Proper reporting/documenting of medication errors.
  Schedule/transport/arrange transportation (doctor’s appointments, leisure activities, family connections -to be coordinated with residential manager and/or case manager).  This may require transportation of the individual in personal vehicle.
• Complete all paperwork/documentation accurately and timely.
• Write a staff note for each date of the individual’s service and complete/submit service register or pink ticket for billing.
• Write relevant, factual notes using the appropriate format.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills.
• Demonstrate initiative for all tasks.
• Ensure CONFIDENTIALITY.
• Be dependable and punctual.
• Staff and individuals should have a positive appearance at all times.
• Practice good communication with all staff involved with the individual (Case Management Supervisor, Therapist, etc.)
• Use phone in a professional manner.
• Respect all co-workers and individuals.
• Understand and carry out instructions.
• Be a team player/form a team with co-workers.  Be able to compromise.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Job Skills:

• Oral and Written Communication Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Knowledgeable of computers
• Ability to exercise good judgment, tact, diplomacy and compassion when problem solving, handling conflict or in a crisis situation.
• Ability to complete record keeping in a timely fashion
• Ability to get along with diverse personalities and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work well with people of all races, backgrounds and needs.
• Ability to work as part of a comprehensive community mental health team and to positively represent the agency in the community.

Additional Responsibilities:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable the individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physically able to reach, push, pull, stoop, stand, walk and lift up to 20 pounds.
• Possess a valid Driver’s License, maintain a safe driving record, and maintain the required minimum vehicle insurance amount for the State of Kentucky, if required for job performance.
• TB skin test assessment within 7 days of hire.
• Comply with agency policies and procedures.
• Complete training requirements within time frames.

Work Environment:

-The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations must be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

-While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions, may be off-site from normal office location or placed at a Residential Program.

-The noise level in the work environment is mild to moderate.

Environmental Data and Job Hazards:

• Hours of work are structured 7.5 or 8.0 hour blocks of time but may be subject to irregular and/or flexible hours based on needs or demands.
• Position may require duties to include routine or reasonable anticipated tasks or procedures where there is a degree of actual or potential exposure to blood or other infectious materials.
• All staff are required to participate in yearly trainings regarding infection control and safety in the environment including hazardous waste and blood borne pathogens.
• All new staff must attend training regarding handling physical, verbal threats, acts of violence or other escalating and potential dangerous situations including when police need to be summoned.

Salary : $25,900 - $32,800