I. Job Summary:
The purpose of this position is to provide direct, person-centered care for resident adults living with HIV/AIDS and other disabilities. This will include day hours, overnight awake hours, overnight asleep hours, and on-call shifts.
This position also provides operational support at the facility during an emergency. This position requires extensive physical activity, as one caregiver provides direct care to four separate individuals in a home setting.
II. Core Job Functions:
Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide person-centered care and services to residents.
• Correctly and safely dispense oral medications, and administer subcutaneous medications, topical, sublingual, ear and eye medications.
• Correctly and safely operate all medical devices and equipment - motorized wheelchairs, mechanical bed lifts, oxygen canisters, and nebulizer machines.
• Perform ADLs (activities of daily living) including bathing, grooming, toileting transferring, turning bed bound residents and other personal cares for residents.
• Perform blood glucose monitoring.
• Respond to medical emergencies.
• Provide wound care per MD orders.
• Provide emotional support to residents and their families with respect and compassion, using Positive Support Strategies as needed.
• Coordinate of resident care with other agencies, including clinics, pharmacies, social workers, home care agencies, etc.
• Provide palliative care related services under order of Client’s MD and in conjunction with hospice services.
• Communicate professionally and in a timely manner all pertinent information regarding resident’s physical and emotional condition both externally and internally while maintaining the HIPAA privacy rule.
• Document appropriately in residents log and medication chart on each assigned task.
• Assist residents with laundry, cooking, lifting/transferring residents and other physical tasks according to their individual goals and outcomes.
• Maintain a clean, safe, home-like environment by completing household cleaning and organizational tasks.
• Respond to appropriate requests from resident families and friends.
• Complete all necessary documentation required.
• Keep up-to-date on medical and psycho-social information of HIV/AIDS disease – including knowledge of ever-changing populations and rapidly evolving treatment options.
• Attend regular quarterly and annual trainings of Clare Housing.
• Understand and utilize Positive Supports Strategies when working with clients.
• Practice appropriate infection control and universal precaution techniques.
• Understand and practice procedures to ensure client confidentiality.
• Understand and uphold the Vulnerable Adults Act and HIPPA regulations.
• Make telephone calls to clinics, social workers or emergency personnel if necessary.
• Overnight Asleep – Provide direct care to resident as needed and monitoring during the overnight shift.
• Ability to be part of the on-call rotation when requested.

III. Position Requirements:
Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED.
• One year in the health or social service fields preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to read, write and speak English sufficiently in order to communicate pertinent medical and social services to residents and to communicate with management and staff.
• Have a sensitivity and aptitude for working with individuals who were formally homeless and persons living with HIV/AIDS, mental illness, trauma, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries and chemical health problems.
• Ability to deliver services in a manner that is person-centered that honors individual choices of the persons who live in the Care Home.
• Ability to work respectfully and communicate effectively with multi-cultural, diverse populations in what can be at times stressful and emotional situations.
• Ability to work independently, exercise good judgment and pay close attention to detail.
• Ability to perform physical jobs such as doing laundry, cooking, and cleaning in a home setting.
• Sufficient physical strength to safely lift/transfer residents without causing injury to self or resident.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills; verbal and written.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and practice self-care in a position that is confronted often with physical illness, mental illness, trauma and chemical abuse issues.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of client information.
• Ability to take and pass the Medications Administration Training.
• Strong knowledge of emergency procedures and be able to stay calm in stressful situations.
• Knowledge of and the manual dexterity to operate medical equipment safely.
• Cognitive ability to correctly and safely dispense medications and controlled substances to residents.
• Must be able to relate professionally with residents, staff and volunteers.
• Must have the emotional stability needed to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Ability to work within an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to use household appliances such as the washer, dryer, and stove.
• Ability to use medical equipment such as glucometers, subcutaneous and intravenous injections devices, lancets, epi-pens, blood pressure cuffs, wheelchairs, and hospital beds.

Licenses and/or Certifications:

• CPR/First Aid Certification required; training provided to obtain certification.
• Driver’s License, State ID or Passport

IV. Working Conditions and Environment:
This position is located in a supportive housing building for adults living with HIV/AIDS and other disabilities. Many of the residents are formerly homeless individuals. The building is accessible and smoke free. This position works during normal business hours which may include evening and weekend hours. The homes are staffed 24 hours 365 days a year.
This position requires extensive physical activity, as one staff person provides direct, physical care for four individuals in the home. The position includes doing laundry, housekeeping, cooking, lifting/transferring residents and other physical tasks. This position requires the employee to be committed to delivering person-centered services and to understand Positive Support Strategies. This position requires the manual dexterity to use various types of medical equipment, as well as the cognitive ability to perform more detailed tasks such as medication administration, charting, filing and copying. The person in this position will be exposed to body fluids, infections, odors.
All employees are expected to work effectively in a person-centered organization whose residents and staff exhibit significant diversity with respect to age, race/color, disability, marital status, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, genetic information or veteran’s status.
Note: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.