Personal Assistant/Direct Support Professional/Caregiver (M-F 7am-3pm)

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

Summary: The Personal Assistant (PA) ensures the safety, well-being, and basic needs of the person served are met on a one-on-one basis during the time services are provided. The PA will provide the needed support to foster independence and enhance the person's supported skills and abilities. They will advocate for a meaningful day and life for the person supported.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Include but are not limited to the following:

1. Ensures a safe and supportive environment specific to the person served personality, strengths, and limitations.
2. Assists the participant in taking doctor-prescribed medications according to the agency medication administration policy.
3. Assists/trains the participant in all personal and self-care skills areas, as indicated by the Individual Support Plan (ISP).
4. Reviews Individual Support Plan (ISP) for outcomes and implementation plans. Personal Assistants (PA) must ensure the participant’s outcomes are being met.
5. Assists the participant in obtaining money to shop for needed items, personal or otherwise. Submits all money requests to the Personal Assistant (PA) Coordinator in a timely manner.
6. Reports all medical, behavioral, and other concerns to the Personal Assistant (PA) Coordinator and other house staff.
7. Transferring and/or assisting with mobility as needed.

Community Involvement:

1. Reviews the Individual Service Plan (ISP) outcomes and implementation plans and coordinates related activities.
2. Ensures necessary support is instituted for the participant during community outings. The participant should be in immediate visual range** during service hours.

Specific to the needs of the person supported:

1. Ensures each participant’s daily needs are met while away from home by preparing the needed items to take with the participant.
2. Assists the participant in making meaningful choices regarding how to spend his/her day. Coordinates activities based on the participant’s desires and interests.
3. Request the necessary funds, clothing, and/or other essential items in advance to be adequately prepared for all outings.
4. Ensures the participant served is thoroughly informed and has ample opportunity to attend community events.
5. Coordinates trips and visits with relatives or other important people in the participant’s life upon request.

Documentation:

1. Enter Communication between staff in the communication log daily.
2. Daily notes should be entered in the participant’s file daily, and the file is to remain in the home.
3. Document on Behavior Data Sheets (as needed, as behaviors occur)
4. Medication Administration Record (MAR)
5. All activities and outings reflect Individual Service Plan (ISP) outcomes in the Meaningful Day Time Log.

Professional Responsibilities:

1. Assume responsibility for the participant’s safety while providing services.
2. Deal effectively with stress and stressful situations.
3. Work effectively and cooperatively with the participants served, parents, co-workers, and the public.
4. Maintain a familiarity with agency policies and procedures.
5. Attend all staff meetings as required by the Personal Assistant (PA) Services Director.
6. Maintain a clear line of communication with the program management staff on the needs and desires of the participants.
7. Attend and participate in all Circle of Support (COS) meetings for the participant.
8. Assist the Personal Assistant (PA) Services Director and/or Individual Support Coordinator (ISC) in designing an Individual Support Plan that will best serve the participant.

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A high school diploma or GED is preferred but not required.
• Valid Tennessee, Kentucky, or Alabama driver’s license (military exemption available)
• Ability to read and follow directions.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• TB test within the last 12 months. Will send you for one if hired and have not had one in the last 12 months.
• Satisfactory criminal background check and clear driving record
• Ability/availability to attend and pass all training courses offered and required Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) and PDI training.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, persons supported, customers, and the public. Ability to read and write in English.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, plane and solid geometry, and trigonometry fundamentals. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a wide variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those which 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 use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee would encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Universal precautions and all OSHA standards must be followed while working with individual served.