Home Health Aide - School Year Only

Job Summary:
Provides personal care services and light housekeeping tasks for clients in their homes. Provides health care, medication aid and basic first-aid services in clients’ homes and at Fargo Public elementary schools.

Scope of Responsibility:
Incumbents are required to follow a prescribed plan of care established by the physician and/or nurse. New assignments are given with specific instructions and are not significantly different in nature or procedure from current and/or past assignments. While the work may be performed independently and not in the presence of a supervisor, it is performed in a situation of close control in that duties are routine and deviations from established procedures require the approval of a supervisor.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.
   1. Frequently interacts with others in the work unit, the public, vendors or across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information;
   2. Interaction with the public, vendors/ community partners or across departments occasionally includes negotiations involving convincing the other party to do something to achieve a basic work-related objective. 
       
2. Responds to Public Health Emergencies.
   1. Has a working knowledge of the National Incident Management System for emergency preparedness and has completed the courses required for their job;
   2. Fulfills roles within the Department’s Emergency Operations Plan as determined by Emergency Preparedness and Management staff;
   3. During an actual emergency, is accessible 24/7 with an established family contingency plan in place.
       
3. Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.
   1. Knows and follows department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss;
   2. Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work;
   3. When potentially unsafe conditions are observed makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner. 
       
4. Provides activities of daily living to clients in their home.
    
5. Provides health care services to clients according to physician and nurses' plan under their span of control.
   1. Takes clients’ vital signs when ordered.
   2. Directly observes medication therapy at patients’ homes;
   3. Assists client with performing basic range-of-motion exercises as prescribed by physician;
   4. Performs minor first-aid procedures when necessary;
   5. Reports abnormalities and concerns to public health nurse.
       
6. Performs light housekeeping tasks in clients’ homes as specified on client contract.
    
7. Maintains required records of activities and clients’ progress according to established procedures.
   1. Documents activities, changes in client’s physical or mental status in accurate and timely manner;
   2. Notifies public health nurse of any major changes and concerns. 
       
8. Provides services at Fargo public elementary schools as assigned.
   1. Distributes physician-ordered and RN-delegated medications to students;
   2. Attends to/monitors children who are not feeling well;
   3. Performs minor first-aid procedures when necessary;
   4. Performs special needs procedures such as blood sugar checks and ADL’s;
   5. Performs lice checks as delegated by Public Health Nurse. 
       
9. Performs other duties and activities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
The job requires a high school diploma or its equivalent (G.E.D.) and successful completion of a home health aide/homemaker certification program and a medication aide certification program; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. A valid North Dakota driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility is also required.

Knowledge, skills and abilities include:

• Knowledge of principles, practices and procedures of providing Home Health care services including safety techniques, range in motion exercises, personal hygiene and grooming, etc.;
• Knowledge of medication purposes, side effects;
• Knowledge of basic housekeeping standards and techniques;
• Skill in performing basic practices and procedures of Home Health care services including safety techniques, range in motion exercises, personal hygiene and grooming, etc.;
• Skill in observation and reporting of patient conditions;
• Skill in operating/using equipment such as lifts, blood pressure cuff, transfer board, etc.;
• Skill in reading and recording vital signs;
• Skill in written English sufficient to read instructions and prepare required documentation;
• Skill in communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, patients, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction;
• Skill in communicating across cultures and with non-English speakers.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
Most work is performed in clients’ homes and in public elementary schools. Work is generally very heavy and requires moving clients in doing transfers and exercises, performing household tasks including cleaning. Daily driving is required to travel to multiple clients’ homes and to schools. The job may require dealing with individuals who are emotionally charged. There is regular exposure to potential hazards such as body fluids, contagious diseases and environmental hazards. There is moderate attention to detail.

Activities include balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, digital dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, repetitive motions.

Very Heavy Work: Physical demands are normally those associated with very heavy work: Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.
 
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship. The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.