PERSONAL CARE PROVIDER

spokanetribe; Wellpinit (WA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The Spokane Tribe is seeking a Personal Care Aide to assist individuals with daily living activities, including personal hygiene, dressing, and meal preparation, on their reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. This role requires excellent communication skills and the ability to work under stressful conditions.

Candidates must possess a high school diploma, complete Advanced Personal Care Aide II Training, and have prior experience working with Native American clientele. Preference is given to Spokane Tribal Citizens.

Qualifications

• Ability to observe changes in consumer's health status.
• Willingness to provide references.
• Knowledge of acceptable standards of performance.

Responsibilities

• Assist consumers with personal hygiene and dressing.
• Provide transportation to medical services.
• Help with household tasks and meal preparation.

Skills

Personal care tasks

Communication skills

Ability to work under stress

Dependability

Flexibility

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Advanced Personal Care Aide II Training

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

This culturally relevant, tribal managed program will coordinate medical services with the Indian Health Service (IHS). The Personal Care Program will provide individuals residing on the Spokane Tribe of Indians Reservation located in Steven’s County with services in daily living activities care and supervision, medical assistance; and provide referral information for other licensed home Health Care facilities in the service area.

MAJOR DUTIES

• PERSONAL HYGIENE – assistance with care of hair, teeth, dentures, shaving filing of nails, other basic personal hygiene, and grooming needs. Personal hygiene includes supervising client when performing grooming tasks for consumer when unable to care for own appearance.
• DRESSING – assistance with dressing and undressing. Dressing includes supervising and guiding consumer when consumer is dressing and undressing, assisting with difficult tasks such as tying shoes and buttoning, and completely dressing or undressing consumer when unable to participate in dressing or undressing self.
• BATHING – assisting consumer to wash self. Bathing includes supervising consumer to bathe self when guided, assisting consumer with difficult tasks such as getting in or out of the tub or washing back, and completely bathing the consumer if totally unable to wash self. Bathing will also include giving the consumer a bed bath when bathing in the tub is not a feasible alternative.
• EATING – assistance eating. Eating includes supervising consumer when able to feed self if guided, assisting with difficult tasks such as cutting food or buttering bread, and feeding the consumer when unable to feed self.
• TOILETING – assistance with bladder or bowel problems. Toileting includes supervising the consumer when able to care for own toileting needs if guided, helping consumer to and from the bathroom, assisting with bedpan routines, diapering and lifting client on and off the toilet. Toileting may include performing routine peri/colostomy/catheter tasks for consumer when consumer is able to supervise the activities.
• AMBULATING – assisting the consumer to move around. Ambulating includes supervising the consumer when walking alone or with the help of a mechanical device such as a walker if guided, assisting with difficult parts of walking such as climbing stairs, supervising the consumer if the consumer is able to propel a wheelchair if guided, pushing the wheelchair, and providing constant physical assistance to the consumer if totally unable to walk alone with mechanical device.
• TRANSFER – assistance with getting in and out of bed or wheelchair or on and off the toilet or in and out of the bathtub. Transfer includes supervising the consumer when able to transfer if guided, providing steadiness, and helping the consumer when consumer assists in own transfer. Lifting the consumer when consumer is unable to assist in their own transfer requires specialized training.
• POSITIONING – assisting the consumer to assume a desired position. Positioning includes assistance in turning and positioning to prevent secondary disabilities, such as contractures and balance deficits.
• SELF‑MEDICATION – assisting the consumer to self‑administer medications prescribed by attending physician. Self‑medication includes reminding the consumer of when it is time to take prescribed medication, handling the medication container to the consumer, and opening the container.
• BODY CARE – assisting the consumer with exercises, skin care including the application of ointments or lotions, changing dry bandages or dressing not requiring professional judgment. Body care excludes foot care for consumers who are diabetic or have poor circulation. Body care excludes changing bandages or dressing when sterile procedures are required. Provision of body care tasks is limited. The consumer must be able to supervise the provision of these tasks.
• TRAVEL TO MEDICAL SERVICES – accompanying or transporting the consumer to a physician’s office or clinic in the local area to obtain medical diagnosis or treatment.
• ESSENTIAL SHOPPING – assistance with shopping to meet the consumer’s health care or nutritional needs. Limited to brief, occasional trips in the local area to shop for food, medical necessities, and household items required specifically for the health and maintenance of the consumer. Essential shopping includes assisting when the consumer can participate in shopping and doing the shopping when the consumer is unable to participate. Subordinate tasks are to be performed only when at least one task in the preceding section is authorized.
  • MEAL PREPARATION – assistance with preparing meals. Meal preparation includes planning meals, including special diet, assisting consumer when able to participate in meal preparation, preparing meals for consumer when unable to participate in meal preparation, and cleaning up after meals. The consumer must need assistance with actual meal preparation.
  • LAUNDRY – washing, drying, ironing, and mending clothes and linens used by the consumer or helping the consumer perform these tasks.
  • HOUSEWORK – performing or helping the consumer perform those periodic tasks required to maintain the consumer in a safe and healthy environment. Activities performed include such things as cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, cleaning the oven, defrosting the freezer and shoveling the snow. Washing inside windows and walls is allowed, but is limited to twice a year. Assistance with housework is limited to those areas of the home which are actually used by the consumer. This task is not a maid service and does not include yard care.
  • WOOD SUPPLY – splitting, stacking, or carrying wood for the consumer and used as the sole source of fuel for heating and/or cooking. This task is limited to splitting, stacking or carrying wood the consumer has at own home. Using chain saw or falling trees is not allowable.
  • SUPERVISION – being available to: (1) Help the consumer with personal care tasks that cannot be scheduled (toileting, ambulating, transfer, positioning, some medication assistance); and/or (2) Provide protective supervision to a consumer who cannot be left alone because of confusion, forgetfulness or lack of judgment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Must complete Advanced Personal Care Aide II Training.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions.
• Willingness and ability to be on‑call for emergencies, including evening and weekends as a substitute.
• Adequate physical health to meet the needs of the consumer (i.e., appropriate for age and any special need of the consumer).
• Knowledge of how and when to use a telephone; and how to seek help from others (e.g., doctor, nurse, case manager, consumer’s representative or appropriate others).
• Willingness to participate in a training program when required.
• Knowledge and ability to perform personal care tasks gained from experience or training; or the capacity to learn how to perform such tasks.
• Knowledge of acceptable standards of performance, dependable, report punctually, maintain flexibility, and to demonstrate kindliness and caring to the consumer.
• Sufficient communication skill to convey and understand information required to implement written plans of care and/or verbal instructions. Must be able to read, speak, write and understand English well enough to communicate effectively.
• Ability to observe the consumer for a change in health status such as weakness, confusion, loss of appetite, etc.
• Ability to respond to emergencies without direct supervision in accordance with agency policies.
• Acceptance of consumers’ individual differences and preferences when performing routine tasks.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective cooperative working relationships with other (peers, clientele/public).
• Willingness to provide references.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Over the age of 18.
• Will be required to obtain first‑aid / CPR and food handler’s card.
• Must successfully clear criminal history / background check at time of interview and maintain such for duration of employment with the program.
• Must possess a valid Washington State driver license and good driving record for Tribal insurance purposes.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Have previous experience working with Native American clientele and understand cultural needs.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and stay calm during emergency or danger.

EEO STATEMENTS

*Tribal Preference Applies* – Tribal Preference grants preference in employment to qualified enrolled Spokane Tribal Citizens, Spouses of Spokane Tribal Citizens, First Line Descendants of Spokane Tribal Citizens, and Citizens of other Tribes and Other Applicants, in that order.

*Safety Sensitive Background* – Requires a higher standard of performance and behavior.

All Applicants are subject to a Pre‑Employment Drug Test.

All Positions with the Spokane tribe of Indians are subject to a 90‑day orientation period.