OVERVIEW

The caregiver serves as the primary support contact for residents living in the facility; this person provides safe, excellent activities of daily living in accordance with each resident’s negotiated care plan.  The caregiver honors residents’ rights and always treats each resident with dignity and respect, while ensuring residents’ safety and well-being.  You work in their home and are there to provide assistance as needed while maintaining proper workflow.

The caregiver reports to the facility’s Manager and/or the Administrator.

SKILLS

• Must submit to and pass Background Checks and TB Screening.
• Must speak, read, and write English in order to communicate with others both inside and outside the home.
• Interact with residents, family members, DSHS personnel, ombudsmen, and other customers/vendors with professionalism.
• Works well independently and as part of a team and takes responsibility for their own work/job.
• Excellent personal care skills with emphasis on infection control as well as residents’ rights to privacy and dignity.
• Develop an understanding of dementia, mental health, and developmental disabilities.
• Respond appropriately to emergency situations.
• Respond appropriately to resident and/or family grievances, resident changes in condition, and other issues warranting care and follow-up.
• Maintain excellent communication with the facility Manager and/or the Administrator regarding work issues, the facility’s status, resident issues/concerns, and other topics important to the successful operation of the facility.
• Report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, and/or financial exploitation promptly to the DSHS hotline, police (if necessary), and supervisor following the policy and procedure.
• Maintains active knowledge of and follows all policies, procedures, and protocols as written and implemented.
• Practice excellent behavioral intervention strategies with residents who experience behavioral difficulties.
• Assist in planning and preparing residents for medical appointments, social outings, and other appointments, both scheduled and unscheduled.
• Safely prepare meals, following residents’ individual needs and preferences, utilize proper food handling techniques and monitor meals. Provide residents with access to snacks in between mealtimes.
• Performs all housekeeping duties and clean the facility to ensure orderly and neat, home-like appearance while also ensuring safety by keeping the facility free of potential hazards.
• Launder resident clothing and facility laundry (towels, sheets, etc.) promptly and efficiently, ensuring appropriate storage.
• Maintain accurate and clear progress notes and on incident reports, documenting relevant information including description, actions taken, and resident response.
• Assist residents with medications and nurse delegated tasks, following the facility’s policies and procedures.
• Participate in mandatory meetings, trainings and education opportunities.
• Maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Engage/socialize with each resident in a respectful manner while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

NAC or HCA license is required and must be able to pass a background check. We also require specialty certificates such as Mental Health, Dementia, DDD Specialty Training, CPR/First Aid, and Food Card.

Internal programs to attain HCA license and all required certifications for truly outstanding applicants!

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to maintain a steady pace working efficiently throughout the shift. Typical work shift is 8-12 hours,
• Rotation of the head/neck, bending and twisting at the waist, walking, standing, kneeling, reaching, flexion/extension.
• Pushing, pulling, and lifting of up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Must be able to stand for long-periods.

For truly outstanding applicants with a passion for Caregiving, but without appropriate WA state required credentials, we offer a scholarship/training program. Send resume if interested. (highly competitive)

90% of our competitors do not have a tangible procedure way of getting an individual licensed and certified. Again, this is another thing that sets us apart from the “other guys”.

1. Responsible for ensuring all credentials and trainings are kept current, this will require communication with lead nurse and main office for assistance with scheduling and payment options for various renewals.
   • Monthly House Meetings and Trainings are MANDATORY for all ESF staff, these must be attended as scheduled and are viewed as a shift. If for some reason, a staff person cannot attend a mandatory meeting, arrangements must be made in advance to coordinate a time to obtain the information and training. 
2. Mandatory nurses’ meetings will be coordinated by the lead nurse at least quarterly – these meetings are mandatory for all nursing staff. These are considered a scheduled shift and if, for some reason, a nurse cannot attend a mandatory meeting, it is that nurse’s responsibility to coordinate a day/time to come in and receive the training from lead nurse.
3. Clock in and out of the Sessions Care application when on shift.
4. Review the resident schedule at the beginning of shift and throughout the shift to ensure that residents are adequately prepared for any appointments or meetings. Any special instructions will be included on the calendar print out for the day.
5. Read notes daily in a timely manner and respond to / address any needed issues
   • Coordinate with Lead RN and/or MHP team as needed
6. Complete shift change with relieving nurse
   • Complete controlled medication count per protocol
7. Follow Task List outline for daily job duties. Lead nurse or manager may request additional duties.
8. Assist with all medications and medical needs. Documentation for this will occur in QuickMar. Nurses are always expected to follow proper medication administration protocol and documentation.
   • Coordinate with pharmacy as needed to meet medication needs of residents
9. Additional documentation for residents to be completed in Progress Notes in Sessions.
   • Any out of the ordinary or unusual incidents should be documented
   • Any information regarding medical needs or appointments, including conversations with medical professionals or resident representatives should be documented here if not already documented in QuickMar or on Appointment Forms
   • Any additional information regarding medications that does not apply to QuickMar should be documented here.
10. Arrange transportation and coordination of care for any emergency or after-hours medical needs of the residents (including urgent care and/or emergency room).
11. Communicate any resident appointment needs with lead nurse.
12. Responsible for all hands-on nursing tasks, including injections and blood draws if necessary.
13. Coordinate with lead nurse and assist with other duties as assigned.
14. Responsible for immediate supervision of caregiving staff.
15. Review Caregiver task logs throughout each shift to ensure tasks are being completed- provide any assistance and/or training that may be necessary.
16. Review ADLs for each resident throughout each shift to ensure tasks are being completed as assigned. Provide any assistance and/or training that may be necessary.
    • Communicate any refusals of care with lead nurse and MHP staff
17. Check in and out with each caregiver at the beginning and end of their shift to communicate any changes to the typical routine or share any concerns for the day.
18. Handle day – to – day call-ins for support staff. Ensure ratios are always maintained.

Requirements:

RN or LPN in the State of WA

The following is the minimum job description for Mental Health Professional staff at Unified Residential Care. 

1. Responsible for ensuring all credentials and trainings are kept current, this will require communication with main office for assistance with scheduling and payment options for various renewals.
   • Monthly House Meetings and Trainings are MANDATORY for all ESF staff, these must be attended as scheduled and are viewed as a shift. If for some reason, a staff person cannot attend a mandatory meeting, arrangements must be made in advance to coordinate a time to obtain the information and training.
   • Responsible for assisting in the development of mandatory staff trainings per WAC requirements
2. Clock in and out of the “Sessions Care” application
3. Read Notes daily in a timely manner; respond to and address situations as necessary
4. Check the resident schedule at the beginning of their shift and throughout the shift to ensure that residents are adequately prepared for any appointments or meetings. Any special instructions will be included on the calendar print out for the day.
   • Responsible for adding/editing/deleting items on the Resident Calendar
   • Communication with main office for adding/editing/deleting items on Resident Appointment Calendar when needed
   • Coordinate with lead nurse to ensure daily calendars are printed and available to staff each day for the following day
5. Check in with nurses station at the beginning and at the end of every shift to coordinate information for the day
6. Attend daily Professionals Meeting each weekday morning to review on-going issues.
7. Coordinate with ESH for referrals process as per Policy and Procedure and New Resident Transition Tasks. This includes, but is not limited to:
   • Schedule Visits
   • Complete onsite visits and complete interview form
   • Coordinate with nursing staff for completion of Pre-Admission Assessment
   • Coordinate with ESH staff for on-site visits and inviting them to facility for training of staff.
   • Coordinate all moving dates and details.
8. Coordinate all non-medical services for residents, including individual activities and facility group activities.
9. Coordinating transportation needs for residents for any non-medical appointments
10. Responsible for completing Person-Centered Plans in coordination with nursing team.
11. Attend monthly treatment team meetings for each resident.
12. Consistent collaboration with support teams for residents, including outside professionals, groups, organizations, etc.
13. Maintain resident charts. Ensure charts are well organized, contain all necessary documentation, and meet all documentation requirements.
    • Utilize facility tracking processes to ensure all care plans and assessments are updated as needed and specified by relevant WACs.
14. Provide on-call availability based on scheduled or arranged coverage.
15. Assess each resident for any needs based assessments, and complete as necessary.
16. Check in with residents daily, provide mental health services as appropriate and needed based on individual licensing ability.
17. Work with each client daily in the implementation of the resident’s behavior support plan.
18. Complete daily Progress Note charting for each resident, including but not limited to the charting of behaviors.
19. Provide assistance and coordinate mitigations, responses, changes, outcomes and challenges for each resident.
20. Coordinate with the resident’s mental health treatment provider and/or community behavioral support provider.
21. Develop activities to assist the resident in social skills development in the facility and in the community.
22. Maintain current knowledge of relevant WAC and RCW laws as well as company Policy and Procedures

Requirements:

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or equivalent (must meet WA state criteria for Mental Health Professional)

Must be able work well in a team setting (will be interacting with professionals from many fields)