Direct Care Worker Employment Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Direct Care Worker, hereafter referred to as DCW, delivers treatment, care, assistance, direction and provides supervision to clients who are under Pathways To Self-Determination, LLC care. The DCW shall ensure that all clients are safe, their living needs are satisfied, health needs are met and their Individual Plan of Service is followed, as written. Services shall be implemented within a very strict, regulatory environment and each DCW is required to adhere to all applicable federal, state and local regulations, as well as licensing, certification and contractual requirements.

The DCW duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following areas:

1. Provide supervision, physical and verbal assistance needed to implement the following items in a safe, positive manner:
   • Client Individual Plan of Service programs.
   • Client hygiene, toileting, dressing and eating.
   • Client assistance needed for first aid, urgent or emergency situations.

• Client recreation events.
• Client medication.
• Client medical, nursing, dietary, or other health orders and appointments.
• All other action needed to treat, care and maintain the clients, in a safe fashion and within licensing, certification and contractual obligations for direct service to clients.

2. Uphold the dignity and rights of each client, and to report any abuse or neglect.

3. Maintain client confidentiality as prescribed by all regulatory agencies.

4. Follow the proper chain of command, as set forth by the Executive Director, when reporting all company-related matters, including emergency situations, directly to their Home Manager, who will in turn, report to the Central Office. In the event a Home Manager cannot be reached during an emergency, the DCW is to contact the Central Office directly.

5. Implement all documentation necessary for tracking client progress, licensing, certification and corporate responsibilities for operations. This includes understanding the policy and procedures and the ability to write in a legible manner, for documentation purposes.

6. Implement all necessary maintenance, cleaning and upkeep as deemed necessary to

      maintain licensing, certification, contractual obligations and as directed by    

housekeeping schedules, chore list, daily schedules and normal household maintenance. 

7. Mathematical Skills – Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide units of American currency, weight, measurement, volume, and distance, using whole numbers, simple common fractions and decimals. Able to implement Individual Plan of Service data collection, write summaries and measure food items. 

8. Reasoning Ability – Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to solve problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.  Ability to maintain patience, calmness, and peaceful responses to situations when confronted with clients who are noncompliant, angry, physically aggressive, verbally aggressive, or self-abusive.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To perform the job successfully, a candidate for employment must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactory.  The requirements list below is representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• HS diploma / GED
• 1 year experience working with individuals with mental disabilities is preferred
• Valid Driver's license with a good driving record history.
• Certification in the following: CPR/First Aid, Recipient Rights.

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 for people with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger; handle; feel or utilize objects; tools or controls, reach with hands and arms; communicate with signs, boards, body language, eye contact as well as talking and hearing.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to taste or smell; stoop; kneel; crouch; bend; stretch; balance; and ambulate clients.