Personal Care Aide

William Penn Care Center; Jeannette (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

William Penn Care Center is seeking a PCA to assist residents with daily living activities and care tasks in a dignified manner. The role requires completing PA state care training, teamwork, and flexible scheduling.

The position emphasizes safety, privacy, respectful communication, and collaboration with nursing staff, with a focus on maintaining comfort and a supportive care environment for residents.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED or related experience and/or training.
• At least one year's experience with the elderly preferred.
• Must successfully complete the PA State Personal Care Training Program.
• Must complete all specified training programs.
• Able to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Able to write simple correspondence.
• Able to effectively present information one-on-one and in small groups.
• Able to work with others to build an effective team approach to care duties.
• Able to work various schedules and shifts as needed.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis.
• Attend all Staff Meetings per the Employee Handbook.
• Report safety hazards to Maintenance and Supervisor.
• Report complaints and grievances to Supervisor and Administration.
• Work as a team member with all coworkers.
• Participate in shift handoffs and reporting.
• Follow policies on infection prevention and control.
• Assist residents with daily oral hygiene and denture care.

Skills

Empathy

Teamwork

Communication

Reading

Written communication

Flexibility

Patient care

Education

High school diploma or GED

Experience with the elderly preferred

Job description

PCA

PURPOSE:
Provide resident assistance with the activities of daily living and other service tasks as assigned in a dignified and respectful manner.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or general education (GED); or related experience and/or training.

• At least one year's experience with the elderly preferred.

• Must successfully complete the PA State Personal Care Training Program.

• Must successfully complete all specified training programs.

• Able to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.

• Able to write simple correspondence.

• Able to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees.

• Able to work with others to build an effective team approach to care duties.

• Able to work various schedules and shifts as needed.

RESIDENT RIGHTS:

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information including protected health information. Report known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of such information.

• Ensure that you treat all residents fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.

• Ensure that all nursing is provided in privacy.

• Knock before entering the resident's room.

• Report all grievances and complaints made by the resident to the Nurse Supervisor or Administrator.

• Report all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident's property immediately to the Nurse Supervisor and Administrator.

• Honor the resident's refusal of treatments request. Report such requests to your supervisor.

• Communicate respectfully and appropriately, respect culture differences among residents and staff.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.

• Required to attend all Staff Meetings per the Employee Handbook.

• Report any potential or actual safety hazards to Maintenance and Supervisor.

• Report all complaints and grievances made by resident to Supervisor and Administration.

• Must work as a team member and well with all coworkers.

• Participate and receiving report/giving report to oncoming shift.

• Follow established policies concerning exposure of blood/body fluids, infection prevention and infection control.

• Assist residents with daily dental and mouth care (i.e. brushing teeth/dentures, oral hygiene, special mouth care, etc.).

• Assist residents with bath functions (i.e. bed bath, tub or shower bath, etc.) as directed.

• Assist with dressing/undressing as necessary.

• Assist with hair care functions (i.e. combing, brushing, shampooing, etc.).

• Assist residents with nail care on shower days and PRN (i.e. clipping, trimming, and cleaning finger/toenails).

• Shave residents daily or shower days. (As requested.)

• Assist with maintaining resident's skin integrity by performing incontinence care as necessary, assist resident with bowel and bladder functions (i.e. take to bathroom, offer bedpan/urinal, bedside commode, etc.).

• Must make sure bed is properly made avoid having wrinkles in resident's bed.

• Must ensure residents call bells are within reach and are answered in appropriate amount of time.

• Check on residents frequently to ensure needs are met according to plan of care.

• Assist with care of dying resident by providing compassionate and supportive care to resident and family as appropriate.

• Observe and report the presence of pressure areas and skin breakdowns to prevent decubitus ulcers (bedsores).

• Report all skin tears, bruises and blisters to immediate charge nurse.

• Provide daily indwelling catheter care.

• Provide daily perineal care.

• Assist with application of slings, braces, and assistive devices.

• Turn all medications found in the resident’s room/possession over to the Medication Tech/Nurse Supervisor.

• Basic communication skills how to speak and communicate respectfully.

• Basic knowledge of normal and abnormal aging sensory changes and relationship to resident safety.

• Basic knowledge of providing care to residents with dementia aggressive assaultive behavior to ensure resident and staff safety including wandering behavior.

• Serve food trays. Assist feeding as indicated (i.e. ensure correct food tray, consistency for correct resident, cutting foods, feeding, assist in dining room supervision, etc.).

• Assist residents with identifying food arrangements (i.e. informing resident with sight problem of foods that are on his/her tray, where it is located, if it is hot/cold, etc.).

• Provides activities of daily living assistance to the residents as directed from each residents' service plan (RASP)

• Provides verbal encouragement and support to the residents

• Develop a positive, caring relationship with each resident recognizing and celebrating their unique life history and accomplishments.

• Communicates with Wellness Director and other departments when a residents' needs have changed

• Assist in engaging the resident in meaningful activities including leading a program as able.

SAFETY AND SANITATION:

• Monitor your assigned personnel to ensure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.

• Ensure that established departmental policies and procedures, including dress codes, are followed by your assigned nursing personnel.

• Ensure that the adequate supply of personal protective equipment is on hand and are readily available to personnel who performs procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.

• Ensure that your unit's resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.

• Ensure that your assigned personnel follow established handwashing and hand hygiene technique in the administering of nursing care procedures.

• Ensure that all personnel wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (i.e. back brace, mechanical lifts, proper lifting technique, etc.) when lifting or moving residents.

• Have the knowledge of what is in the MSDS binders, report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

• Must be a supportive team member, contribute to and be an example of teamwork and the team concept.

• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.

• Must be able to follow written and oral instructions.

• Must not pose a threat to the health or safety of their individuals in the workplace.

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.

• Must be able to function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with others.

• Must be willing to perform tasks that may involve exposure to the blood and/or body fluids.

• Must be willing to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 50 feet.

• Must perform all additional tasks assigned to you by supervisor.