Home Care Assistant

Job Summary:

The Messiah Lifeways At Home Home Care Assistant provides personal care and related services to clients according to the Care Plan developed with the client and/or family, under the supervision of the Director of Community Support Services. The ML At Home Home Care Assistant has access to clients' care plans, monthly schedules and a listing of clients in need of service via the Kantime software system. Work is assigned according to clients' needs and caregivers' abilities and schedule availability.

Job Standards:

• Follow/adhere to the Code of Conduct

• Follow/adhere to organization, Federal/State regulations and guidelines, including Resident Rights

• Assume accountability for compliance with Federal, State and Local regulations within the assigned duties and within his or her span of control

• Must successfully complete the Messiah Lifeways and Messiah Lifeways At Home Department orientations

• Access to reliable transportation and must be able to provide own transportation to the clients' homes

• Must be able to complete on-line trainings and education and be compliant with the completion of those trainings

• Must be able to use the scheduling system (Kantime) and check this system a minimum of once a week

• Maintain neat, clean and well-groomed appearance with good personal hygiene, and adhere to the dress code of the department

• Perform job duties without posing a threat to the health and safety of themselves or others

• Will assume responsibility to ensure secure handling of information, and will adhere to HIPAA Privacy and Security standards

• Maintain sound mental and physical health and strength

• Must be free of communicable diseases

• Exhibit the core values of the Messiah Lifeways organization

• Willing to work under the direction and supervision of the ML At Home administrative staff

• Recognize your role as part of the QAPI efforts of your organization and attend training to build understanding and capacity to undertake QAPI work

• Carry out QAPI roles and responsibilities as assigned

• Look for and share with leadership ideas for improvement in the organization

• Work from home ability: never

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

• Perform personal care tasks related to personal hygiene and physical needs according to the client's Care Plan. These tasks could include assisting an individual with bathing, toileting, grooming and dressing.

• Prepare client meals, and if necessary, assist with feeding a client

• Assist clients with transferring and ambulation. This could include transferring clients, including the aid of a mechanical lift when properly trained.

• Remind clients to take medications

• Assist clients with instrumental activities of daily living (i.e., socialization, transportation needs, housekeeping and/or errands)

• After completing specific training and demonstrating competence, may provide assistance with technology/computer training, non-skilled home maintenance services and/or home exercise programs

• Negotiate the client's home to ensure safety and comfort of the client and the caregiver

• Follow proper procedures and promote safe work practices in order to maintain a safe working environment

• Adhere to established telephony timekeeping system/app (Kantime) by using the app to clock in/out of your shifts or calling in at the start and calling out at the end of shift(s) for accuracy and accountability for client billing and payroll. Follow proper procedure for accounting and submission of time reporting forms in the absence of a call(s)

• Complete client notes at the end of every shift

• Record mileage that is billable to the client in Kantime and complete mileage between clients reimbursement via the payroll system (Paycom)

• Report emergency situations and client concerns promptly to ML At Home Lead Caregiver and/or ML At Home on-call staff

• Follow emergency procedures and respond rapidly and appropriately to emergencies ensuring the safety of the clients and staff

• Participate in team conferences relating to assigned clients as required

• Work within the organizational channel of authority and know the area of responsibility of all other team members

• Attend all assigned staff meeting

• Maintain confidentiality regarding client information, as well as other information pertaining to the business of Messiah Lifeways

• Work cooperatively and productively with others, including clients, families, and other employees

• Must be willing to work under direction and supervision

• Additional duties as assigned by the Messiah Lifeways At Home Administrative Staff

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Must have a strong desire to work with the elderly

• Must have strong customer service skills 

• Exhibit the basic qualities of warmth, compassion, maturity and concern for the senior population

• Must be non-judgmental and accepting of differences in individual lifestyles and choices

• Must have a sense of responsibility, moral integrity, good judgment, alertness and skill in recognizing and identifying symptoms and dealing with behavioral problems

Education/Experience:

• Must be 18 years of age and have basic math, reading and writing skills

• Previous experience in home care, nursing home, or hospital setting is desired

• Maintenance of certifications if applicable

• Must have a valid driver's license and proof of current auto insurance (if transporting clients)

Physical/Mental Requirements:

• Constantly walk, stand, and bend

• Constant overall vision

• Frequently require color and depth perception, reading and writing/close-up work

• Frequent handling, reaching, grasping, fingering, and feeling

• Constantly hear normal speech and talk in person

• Occasionally hear and talk on the telephone and hear faint sounds

• Frequently push wheelchairs, help clients in walking and transferring, provide baths and showers, and aid in toileting

• Lift up to 25 pounds and move or transfer up to 250 pounds with personnel or mechanical lift assistance

• Constant public contact, frequent stressful situations, concentration, occasional trauma, grief, death situations and decision making, referring appropriate questions and problems to the Home Care office staff

• May be exposed to blood borne pathogens.

• Work an average of 8 hours each week (but can work more as desired)

• Provide the office with 20 hours of availability Monday – Friday 

• Work 8 hours weekend time every month (can be customized each month)

• Work 4 hours every other holiday as assigned

• Travel from client to client via automobile and must adhere to safe driving practices