Personal Care Assistant

Location: In Consumer’s Home | Region 9 Area
Hours: Varies
Compensation:  $15.25/hr
NATURE OF WORK
Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) provide services to people who need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). PCA services are services and supports provided to an individual, as needed, to assist in accomplishing activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living; through hands-on assistance, supervision, and cuing; and redirection and intervention for behavior including observation and monitoring.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
A.  Complete all necessary paperwork

  1. Timely and accurate completion of PCA Time and Activity Documentation.
  2. Adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy policies and procedures. Maintain confidentiality of all information pertaining to consumers, families and employees.
  3. Complete all training requirements in a timely fashion.
  4. Ensure the employee’s file contains accurate and current information including clearance of a background study compliant with DHS requirements, copy of ID/Driver’s license, vehicle insurance cards and reliable phone number.

B.  Services and Procedures
The duties of this job include, but are not limited to:

  1. Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL): Routine self-care functions such as eating, toileting, grooming, dressing, bathing, transferring, mobility, and positioning.
  2. Assistance with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL): Meal planning and preparation, managing finances, shopping for food, communication by telephone and other media, getting around and participating in the community.
  3. If appropriate, Re-direction and intervention for behavior including observation and monitoring.
  4. Provide covered PCA services according to the recipient’s care plan.
  5. Understand safety issues, including how to access emergency assistance.
  6. Report to the SMILES PCA Program Manager any changes in the recipient’s condition including hospitalizations within 24 hours.

Qualifications
A. Education and Experience

  1. Must be at least 16 years of age. If under 18, individual must have contact with the PCA Program Manager/Qualified Professional every 60 days as required by DHS. This is the responsibility of the PCA to contact the QP and request a visit while working a shift with the recipient every 60 days.
  2. Must successfully obtain a Minnesota Personal Care Assistant Certification.
  3. Must successfully obtain a Vulnerable Adult Training certificate annually.
  4. Must successfully complete a review of the Medicaid Fraud, Waste and Abuse training annually.

B.  Requirements:

  1. Ability to report to scheduled shift on time and only work the authorized amount of hours each day.
  2. Valid driver’s license and unexpired proof of auto insurance, if applicable.
  3. United States Citizenship or evidence of a valid Alien Work Permit.
  4. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to make appropriate professional judgments.
  6. Ability to handle multiple tasks.
  7. Able and willing to provide covered and authorized PCA services according to the consumer’s care plan, respond appropriately to consumer’s needs and report changes in the consumer’s condition including hospitalizations within 24 hours to the QP.
  8. Strong organizational and problem solving skills.

C.  Physical and Environmental Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential job functions of this position. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations will be considered.

  1. Occasional use of hands, wrists and fingers and lifting or moving up to 100 lbs may be required.
  2. Movements such as stooping, crouching, bending, kneeling, climbing and reaching are occasionally required.
  3. This position requires spending a majority of the workday standing and walking, with occasional sitting.
  4. Noise and/or level of distractions in the work environment is moderate.
  5. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision and peripheral vision.
  6. Ability to operate a motorized vehicle or have alternative reliable transportation for reporting to work in the community.

THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN ALTERNATE FORMATS UPON REQUEST.
Note: This job description is subject to change at the discretion of SMILES.

Ready to Apply?

To apply please click the ‘Download Application’ button below (pdf).  Print, complete and submit the application along with your resume to:

Attention: Katie Hanson
By Mail: 709 S Front Street Mankato MN 56001
By e-Mail: khanson@smilescil.org

Download Application