.SUMMARY

Assists in providing self-care training, therapeutic treatments, and personal guidance to mentally and physically handicapped individuals in a home setting.  This person is responsible for working a minimum of 40 hours per week.  Accepts assigned shifts where voids in coverage occur.  This person will work, when necessary, which includes possible nights, weekends and holidays.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

Assists recipients with activities of daily living including but not limited to bathing, dressing, eating, personal hygiene, appearance, body usage, communication, social skills, basic knowledge, and practical skills.

Converses with recipients to reinforce positive behaviors and promote social interaction.

Cooks and serves meals, documents deviations from menus, as well as eat with clients to act as a role model.

Accompanies recipients on shopping trips and instructs/counsels recipients in the purchase of personal items, groceries, and clothing.

Administers therapeutic activities such as physical exercises, occupational arts and crafts, recreational games, and speech.

Implements behavior management techniques to prevent injury to themselves and others. 

Observes and documents recipient behaviors such as speech production, feeding patterns, and toileting habits to facilitate assessment and development of treatment goals.

Attends to routine health care needs of recipients such as administering medications, accompanying to the physician, documenting medically pertinent information, and having prescriptions filled, all of which is done under supervision of medical personnel.

Transporting recipients to various destinations within the community regularly and outside the community occasionally.  Travels to Terrebonne Parish, Lafourche Parish, or Vacherie in order to provide needed services for a recipient.

General domestic chores such as house cleaning, cooking, yard work, painting, and gardening.

Keeping abreast of daily written communication as well as informing others through documentation, of the status of the recipient.

Attends required ID Team, safety, staff, and training meetings.

Providing emotional support and guidance to recipients.

Accepts assigned shifts to fill voids in coverage where possible.  Being available to cover an open shift at any given moment.  Carries a cell phone and responds to calls in a timely manner.

Follows documentation requirements at each home.

Ensures total compliance with BCSS, Waiver, SCLHSA and State Licensing regulations, which include making sure that he/she does not work more than 16 hours in a 24-hour period for any NOW recipients, employee training, data sheets, current plans, and medical information.

Attends recipient specific training prior to agreeing to fill a need for that recipient.

Reports any concerns to the appropriate Program Supervisor or Community Supports & Services Director.

Perform other duties as required.

On call 24/7

Provided with schedules bi-weekly

Must work a minimum of 40 hours per week. Must provide advanced notice when unable to work and advise on how many hours willing to work over 40 in a timely manner within receiving the bi-weekly schedule.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Demonstrates accountability and responsibility for own work.

Acquires, maintains and demonstrates current knowledge and competency.

Demonstrates a commitment to service excellence and quality improvement.

Ability to provide transportation as needed.

Ability to work a schedule based on operational need. (On-call, weekends and holidays)

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

High School Diploma or general education degree (GED); or 5 years of experience working with individuals who have mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instruction, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of recipients or employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.  Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.  Ability to exercise independent judgment.  Ability to assess, project and plan for recipient needs.  Ability to understand principles of behavior management.  Ability to interpret state/federal/agency regulations.  Ability to document concisely, accurately and timely.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

CPR Certification

Current Louisiana Driver’s License

CMA certification and/or Nurse Delegation (Must be willing to become certified)

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hand to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to sit; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Community driving and visiting recipients in a variety of home settings.  Exposure to infectious diseases, blood and bodily fluids occasionally.  Noise level is moderate.  Exposure to inside and outside environmental conditions.  Potential to be physically handled by uncontrolled recipient.  Frequent use of household bleach and cleaning chemicals.