QUALIFICATION STANDARDS
EDUCATION
It is required that the Care Specialist (formerly CAN, RA) has a minimum educational background of completing the 10th grade. It is preferred that the Care Specialist has a High School diploma or equivalency. It is required that the Care Specialist holds a current CPR certification as required by Federal and/or State regulations.
EXPERIENCE
It is preferred that the Care Specialist has six months experience working in an assisted living Community, nursing homes, memory care Community, hospitals, home health agency, or other healthcare facility.
SKILLS REQUIRED
Observe and monitor changes of the resident’s physical, psychosocial, and safety needs.
Communicate a sense of care, compassion, concern, and dignity for residents.
Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathering and analyzing information skillfully to develop alternative solutions both alone and with groups while using reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
Customer Service: Manages difficult or emotional resident, family member, and employee situations, responding promptly to their request for service and assistance while soliciting feedback to improved service insuring that commitments are met.
Interpersonal: Focuses on solving conflict and not blaming. Maintains confidentiality. Listens to others without interrupting and keeps emotions under control. Remains open to the ideas of others and tries new things.
Oral Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations. Listens carefully and gets clarification. Responds well to questions.
Team Work: Balances team and individual responsibilities, exhibiting objectivity and openness to the views of others. Contributes to building a positive team spirit.
Planning and Time Utilization: Consistently plans/coordinates work to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency without sacrificing quality, accuracy, and customer service. Meets deadlines in completing job assignments and special projects.
Written Skills: Writes clearly and informatively, edits work for spelling and grammar, varies writing style to meet needs, presents numerical data effectively, and is able to read and interpret written information.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Care Specialists provide routine care in a manner conducive to the comfort and safety of residents in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations, and within the established policies and procedures of the Community; and are delegated the responsibility for carrying out the assigned duties by the Health and Wellness Director, Executive Director or other assigned supervisory personnel to assure that the highest degree of quality resident care can be maintained at all times.
FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB
ESSENTIAL
The following job functions have been determined to be essential to the position. Management reserves the right to modify this list and other functions as deemed necessary.
- Verify individualized service plan (ISP) of resident and ensure appropriate care is being provided to the correct resident.
- Recognize and respond to the needs of residents.
- Report changes in the resident’s condition to the Supervisor as soon as possible.
- Promote independence of resident decisions.
- Report and record resident’s intake on per meal percentage sheet and report to Supervisor.
- Report and document accidents and incidents when they occur.
- Assist with resident move-ins, transferring, and move-outs.
- Routinely review work assignments and schedules to update or change task objectives.
- Perform assigned tasks in accordance with Community policies and procedures as instructed by supervisor.
- Notify supervisor of pending absence or tardiness within the timeframe described in the Associate Handbook.
- Report to supervisor all complaints and grievances made by residents, families, visiting individuals, agencies, etc.
- Report resident leaving the Community.
- Communicate with co-workers at all levels to adequately meet the needs of residents.
- As appropriate, help create an atmosphere of optimism, warmth, interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the Community.
- Meet with Supervisor as scheduled to assist in identifying and correcting problems and/or the improvement of services.
- As instructed, assist residents with the following personal care functions and explain each procedure to the resident as care is given:
- Dental and mouth care
- Bathing
- Dressing and grooming
- Hair care
- Nail care
- Shaving
- Bowel and bladder care
- Other personal and hygiene care
- Observe and report the presence of pressure areas to prevent decubiti and provide skincare according to policy.
- Assure that Staff Call System is within easy reach at all times and answered promptly.
- Measure and record vital signs, such as temperature, pulse, respiration, weight, and height.
- Report any resident abuse immediately.
- Observe, monitor, and report symptoms of potential skin breakdown and/or decubitus ulcers, and intervene with appropriate skin care as instructed.
- Assist with the application of slings, elastic bandages, binders, etc.
- Observe, monitor and report condition of disoriented and comatose residents.
- Attend and participate in orientation programs, on-going training and educational classes.
- Follow established safety precautions and observe, monitor and intervene or report unsafe conditions in the facility.
- Follow established smoking regulations and report violations.
- Wash hands before and after performing services for residents.
- Review Resident Assessment and Plans of Care to residents’ conditions, etc.
- Maintain confidentiality and privacy of resident care, procedures and documentation, and communicate with the resident on an adult and mature basis with dignity and respect for the resident’s rights and wishes.
- Immediately report any communicable or infectious disease that you contract.
- Follow established universal precautions and isolation procedures
- Perform emergency procedures such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and first aid.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
OTHER DUTIES
In addition to the essential job functions described above, the following job functions are important to the proper fulfillment of the duties of the Care Specialist:
- Document observed data on flow sheets, notes, charts, etc. in an informative and descriptive manner.
- Introduce new residents to their roommate(s), if any, as well as to other residents and to co-workers as appropriate.
- Watch for and report changes in room temperature, ventilation, lighting, etc.
- Check light bulbs and report those needing to be changed.
- Keep the residents personal articles off the floor and properly stored.
- Inventory, identify, and help store resident’s personal possessions on an on-going basis.
- Keep supply room, work areas, and equipment clean.
- Assist residents in preparing for activity and social programs.
- Assist with caring for resident eyeglasses, hearing aids, prostheses, etc.
- Serve nutritional snacks between meal, bedtime and other.
- Perform routine housekeeping duties related to resident care.
- Clean used equipment such as utensils as assigned.
- Assist and direct visitors as appropriate.
EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, MACHINES AND/OR TOOLS USED
The following is a list of the principal equipment, materials, machines, tools, etc., used:
Bedside commodes, bedpans, urinals Back Support Belt Bed and bath lines
Catheters Geri chairs Gait belts
Lift chairs Safety restraints Scales
Shavers/ razors Shower chairs Special eating utensils
Soap and hygiene supplies Stethoscopes Thermometers
Other miscellaneous devises/ nursing supplies Wheelchairs Whirlpool
Blood pressure cuffs/sphygmomanometers Walkers Wrist watches
PHYSICAL STRENGTH REQUIRED
Frequent body movements include lifting, moving, transferring, bending (static forward bending), stooping/squatting, and reaching. Able to do heavy lifting, pushing, pulling and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Ability to lift 50 pounds unassisted with twisting and turning of trunk. Ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Because the essential functions of the Care Specialist position may require general involvement in a healthcare facility, including but not limited to exposure to AIDS, HIV and Hepatitis B viruses involving Risk Classification Categories 2 and 3, environmental and safety conditions will fluctuate. To be qualified for the position of Care Specialist, a person will have the ability to work in this type of environment without posing a direct threat to self or others.
