Personal Care Assistant

The Stepping Stones Group; Coatesville (Chester County); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellness benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Safety-Care training

Continuing education

Employee referral bonus

Job summary

The Stepping Stones Group is hiring School-Based Personal Care Assistants (PCA) for K-12 special education. This full-time role offers 35 hours per week onsite, with a 7-hour day and a 30-minute unpaid break, in a 7:00 AM–4:15 PM window.

You will support students with personal care, ADLs, and behavioral needs in general and special education settings. Start date is immediate through the end of the 2026-27 school year, with W-2 employment and multiple openings.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least 6 months of experience working with children with special needs in a school setting.
• In-person CPR certification.
• First Aid certification.
• Ability to complete Safety-Care training prior to start or within first month.
• Comfort with personal care including toileting and diapering.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 or 2:1 student support throughout the school day and support the classroom as needed.
• Assist with personal care and ADLs, including feeding, toileting, diapering, and mobility assistance.
• Provide behavioral support and intervention using positive reinforcement and safety procedures.
• Provide emotional support and general academic support, including help with assignments.
• Collect and document data as directed by the teacher and school team.
• Support student participation in classroom instruction and school activities.
• Follow IEP accommodations, care plans, and behavior plans as directed.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

CPR certification

First Aid certification

Safety-Care training

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

CPR certification

First Aid certification

Job description

The Stepping Stones Group Make a Difference Every Day

Empowering Students, Enriching Futures!

School-Based Personal Care Assistant (PCA) | Full-Time | K-12 Special Education | Multiple Openings

About the Opportunity

Are you passionate about supporting students and helping them take part fully in the school day? The Stepping Stones Group is seeking dedicated Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) to join our team during the 2026-2027 school year. This is more than a job. It's a chance to provide the individualized support students need to stay safe, build confidence, and join in school activities. We have multiple full-time openings.

You'll work closely with teachers, special education staff, and school teams to support students who need personal care, behavioral, academic, or emotional support. Assignments may be 1:1, 2:1, or classroom support, and flexibility is key.

• Pay: $20-$24 per hour
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, full-time, 35 hours per week (7 hours per day plus a 30-minute unpaid break), within a 7:00 AM-4:15 PM window, no evenings or overnights
• Setting: Onsite, K-12, 1:1, 2:1, and classroom support in general education and special education settings
• Start date: Immediate, through the end of the 2026-27 school year (mid-June)
• Employment type: W-2
• Location: Shared with candidates during the application process

What You'll Do

• Provide 1:1 or 2:1 student support throughout the school day, and support the classroom as needed
• Assist with personal care and activities of daily living (ADLs), including feeding, toileting, diapering, and mobility assistance
• Provide behavioral support and intervention using positive reinforcement and safety procedures
• Provide emotional support and general academic support, including help with assignments
• Collect and document data as directed by the teacher and school team
• Support student participation in classroom instruction and school activities
• Assist students during arrival, dismissal, transitions, lunch, and recess as assigned
• Follow IEP accommodations, care plans, and behavior plans as directed
• Monitor student safety and well-being throughout the school day
• Assist the teacher(s) and classroom aides as needed
• Collaborate with teachers, therapists, and special education staff
• Maintain accurate documentation, and protect student confidentiality and dignity

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• At least 6 months of experience working with children with special needs in a traditional school-based setting
• In-person CPR certification
• First Aid certification
• Ability to complete Safety-Care training, hosted by The Stepping Stones Group, before starting or within your first month
• Comfort with and ability to provide personal care, including toileting and diapering
• Flexibility with schedule, age group, and caseload
• Ability to follow health, safety, and student support procedures
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Authorization to work in the United States; English proficiency

You'll Thrive in This Role If You Are Open To:

• Working with students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emotional disturbance (ED), other health impairments (OHI), and significant behavioral needs
• Working with medically fragile students
• Providing personal care with patience, respect, and professionalism
• Working with students of all ages and all caseloads
• Working in both general education and special education settings
• Adjusting your caseload or school site based on district needs
• Working fully onsite and in person

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as aparaprofessional,instructional aide,behavior technician,CNA,home health aide,ordirect support professional (DSP)
• Experience withpersonal care,ADL support, lifting,and transfers
• Experiencesupporting studentswithautism,developmentaldisabilities,intellectualdisabilities, orcomplex medical needs
• CPI or othercrisis prevention andde-escalation training
• Associate's degreeor coursework ineducation,healthcare,psychology, humanservices, childdevelopment, or arelated field

Related Experience We Value

Experience as a Personal Care Assistant (PCA), Personal Care Aide, Paraprofessional, Instructional Aide, Educational Assistant, School Aide, Student Support Assistant, Special Education Assistant, Behavior Technician, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Home Health Aide, Caregiver, or Direct Support Professional (DSP) is highly valued.

Why Candidates Choose This Role

• Make a direct, daily difference in students' comfort, safety, and participation
• Gain hands-on experience in education and student support
• Build experience for careers in education, psychology, healthcare, nursing, social work, ABA, speech therapy, and occupational therapy
• Follow a predictable school schedule, with weekends, evenings, and holidays typically off
• Receive Safety-Care training hosted by our team
• Work alongside teachers, therapists, and school professionals

Why You'll Love Working With Us

• Competitive pay of$20-$24 per hour
• Health and wellnessbenefits
• Medical,dental, and visioninsurance foreligible employees
• 401(k) retirementplan for eligibleemployees
• Professionaldevelopment andtrainingopportunities,including Safety-Care
• Continuing education resources
• Employee referralbonus program
• Responsive andsupportive leadership
• Opportunities forcareer growth andadvancement
• Meaningful workthat directly impactsstudents andcommunities

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain active throughout the school day, including frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, and repositioning
• Ability to lift, transfer, reposition, or physically assist students safely
• Ability to assist with feeding, toileting, and diapering
• Ability to respond quickly to health, safety, and behavioral situations
• Additional requirements may vary by assignment

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?

SuccessfulPersonal Care Assistants arecompassionate,dependable, patient,and flexible. Theybuild trustingrelationships withstudents and schoolteams, providerespectful andconsistent personalcare, keep studentssafe, promoteindependence andinclusion, and helpstudents take part inacademic, social, andschool activitiesthroughout the day.

About The Stepping Stones Group

We believe every child deserves exceptional support for their academic, behavioral, physical, and social-emotional growth. We partner with schools across the country to provide high-quality services that help students access educational opportunities and achieve meaningful success, and we give our team members the support, training, and resources to thrive.