Direct Care Worker

The direct care worker position provides quality assistance with activities of daily living (ADL’S) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL’S) to participants; implements specific procedures and programs; executes the individual service care plan. Reports pertinent information to Lowenhill Home Care Service (LHCS) Administrative Staff.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Provides quality ADL’S and IDL’S to participants in an environment that promotes their rights, dignity, freedom of choice and individuality as illustrated by the following:
   1. Provides individualized attention, which encourages each participants ability to maintain or attain the highest practical physical, mental and psychosocial well-being.
   2. Is knowledgeable of the individualized care plan for participants, and provides support to the participants according to their care plan. Contributes to the care planning process by providing Lowenhill Home Care Services or other care planning staff with specific information and observations of the participants’ needs and preferences.
   3. Attends to the individual needs of participants, which may include assistance with grooming, bathing, oral hygiene, feeding, incontinent care, toileting, colostomy care, prosthetic appliances, transferring, ambulation, range of motion, communicating or other needs in keeping with the individuals’ care requirements.
   4. Maintains the comfort, privacy, and dignity of participants in the delivery of services to them. Interacts with participants in a manner that displays warmth and promotes a caring environment.
   5. Fully understands all aspects of participants’ rights, including the right to be free of restraints and free of abuse. Is responsible for promptly reporting to the administrative staff incidents or evidence of participant abuse or violation of participants’ rights.
   6. Assists in maintaining a safe, neat and clean environment; report environmental deficiencies to the Lowenhill Home Care Services.
   7. Protects the personal belongings of each resident, including eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, furnishings, jewelry, clothing, and memorabilia. Promptly reports missing items according to established policy and participates in efforts to locate missing items.
   8. Observes participants for changes in condition or behavior and promptly reports these changes to appropriate Lowenhill Home Care Services personnel.
   9. Provides care that maintains each participant’s skin integrity to prevent pressure ulcers, skin tears and other damage by changing incontinent residents, turning, repositioning immobile residents and by applying moisturizers to fragile skin and other areas.
   10. Performs various tasks assigned by the charge nurse, including checking vital signs, weighing residents, applying creams/ointments and collecting specimens.
   11. Lifts move and transport participants, using proper body mechanics or lifting devices for accident prevention.
   12. Communicates and interacts effectively and tactfully with the participants, visitors, families, peers, and supervisors.
   13. Assists and escorts participants for appointments such as at the beauty shop or attending activities or church services. Participates in activities and functions as directed.
   14. Practices careful and efficient use of supplies and linen and follows established charge procedures for participants charge items.
   15. Completes direct care workers records documenting care provided or other information in keeping with Lowenhill Home Care Services policies.
   16. Performs all job responsibilities in accordance with prescribed safety and infection control procedures, including thorough hand washing, use of disposable gloves where indicated and proper disposal of soiled materials.

1. Responds to inquiries relating to his or her particular area or to requests from participants, visitors, and other personnel within given time frames and established policy.

Competencies

1. Customer/Client Focus.
2. Ethical Conduct. 
3. Flexibility. 
4. Initiative. 
5. Personal Effectiveness/Credibility. 
6. Stress Management/Composure. 
7. Teamwork Orientation. 
8. Technical Capacity.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and some mechanical equipment. The employee is occasionally exposed to a variety of patient conditions and elements. The noise level is moderate to quiet.

Physical Demands

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.

This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift or move objects and patients weighing over 50 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This position regularly requires long hours and frequent weekend work.

Travel

some may be expected for this position.

Required Education and Experience

1. High school diploma.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Health care industry experience.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

1. CNA certification but not required.
2. Demonstrated experience with the production of specialized materials and documents.
3. Some proofreading and editing skills.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance (if applicable)

1. Criminal Background Check
2. Federal Background Check (if applicable)
3. Child Abuse Clearance
4. Mantoux TB

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.