Job Title: Personal Care Worker (PCW)/Continuing Care Assistant (CCA)

Multiple positions: (Full-Time, Part-Time and Casual)

Responsible to: Site Manager/RN/LPN

Job Scope: The PCW/CCA functions as a member of the Nursing team under the direction of the Team Lead/Nurse Manager/RN/LPN to provide direct personal care to residents.

DELIVERY OF NURSING CARE SERVICES

The PCW/CCA:

• Participates in the implementation of organizational goals.
• Gains an understanding of and supports the philosophy, mission statement, goals and objectives of the organization and the Nursing Services department.
• Maintains a working knowledge of policies and procedures of the Nursing Services department as they pertain to the position, seeking clarification from the Team Lead/Nurse Manager/RN/LPN as required.

Provides for quality resident care by assisting residents with their activities of daily living including, but not limited to:

• Provides necessary assistance and/or carries out bathing (including whirlpools and medicated baths), perinial care, skin care (shaving), mouth/denture care, hair care, eye care, nail/foot care, dressing and undressing of residents on each shift according to the established care plans and program area routines.
• Uses effective communication skills to establish a caring, positive relationship with residents, family and staff.
• Provides for quality resident care by assisting residents with their food and fluid intake.
• Supervises assists and/or feeds residents as required following established diet regimes/orders.
• Observes the eating habits and intake of residents and reports any changes/concerns and/or problems to the RN/LPN.
• Carries out assigned dining room duties such as serving beverages, distributing condiments.
• Ensures as many residents that are able are up for their meals.
• Monitors resident's weight on admission, every two months or as required.
• Provides for quality resident care by assisting residents with positioning, transferring and ambulation.
• Positions residents while in bed or in a chair as necessary, to provide for comfort and to prevent complications.
• Assists residents to transfer and/or ambulate from bed, chair or wheelchair according to established care plan.
• Lifts and transfers immobilized residents from bed or chair using proper body mechanics and techniques, or by mechanical lift according to directive from physiotherapy and care team (transfer sticker located on the head of bed).
• Assists resident to/or from activities and appointments as required. May be required to accompany resident on recreational therapy/or medical appointment outings.
• Carries out Lifting and Transferring Techniques as per established policies.
• Provides for quality resident care by monitoring resident's elimination patterns and assisting them as needed.
• Monitors resident's urinary output and bowel movements on each shift as per established routine.
• Reports to the RN/LPN any changes, concerns and problems observed such as changes in the odour, consistency, colour or amount of a resident's urine or stool.
• Assists or transfers residents to and from the toilet, commode, or bedpan as required.
• Applies the appropriate incontinent system product according to care plan.
• Monitors residents intake and output as required.
• Collects urine and stool samples as required.
• Provides ostomy and urinary catheter care within their scope of practice.
• Carries out clinical procedures such as temperature, pulse, and respiration, application of creams and lotions etc. according to established policy and procedure as delegated.

Housekeeping Duties:

• Maintains a clean, comfortable and safe environment for residents.
• Makes beds daily and prn, changes bed linen weekly and prn, sorts and delivers residents personal laundry, tidies resident rooms, bathrooms, whirlpool room, utility rooms and nursing station according to program area schedule when necessary.
• Cleans the whirlpool, and cleans and carbonizes equipment as per established procedures/routines.
• Responds immediately to emergency situations involving residents or work area and reports and documents incident as required.
• Reports potential hazards, malfunctioning equipment or unsafe areas immediately to the RN/LPN.
• Maintains resident confidentiality.

Other Duties/Responsibilities:
Functions as part of a team to provide for quality resident care.

• Monitors the status of residents and reports and documents all appropriate observations and information on the resident's chart, care plan and/or necessary forms.
• Documents and observes concerns and/or changes in the residents status or condition on the appropriate forms and/or in the appropriate area of the resident's chart.
• Charts the personal care given on the daily Flow Sheets. Charts incident reports on the Incident Form and in the chart and charts monthly
• progress notes, all according to established guidelines and procedures.
• Carries out duties and responsibilities according to Fire/EMO Plan ie: Fire Captain Duties, Evacuation.
• Follows Universal Precaution Guidelines and the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems.
• Answering facility phones in a pleasant and courteous manner and checking voicemail.
• Identifies and reports any resident concerns, problems and or needs such as physical and/or behavioural changes to the RN/LPN.
• Reports to work as scheduled, and on time, on a regular and consistent basis according to departmental policies and procedures and standards.
• Shift work is required including weekends.
• Cooperates with co-workers and other The Birches staff to ensure the smooth functioning of the program area.
• Participates in the resident care conferences and committees as necessary.
• Acts as a resource for co-workers and assists in the orientation of new staff.
• Participates in the development, updating and writing of resident care plans.
• Participates in staff education programs and in-services for self- development.
• Maintains staff confidentiality and demonstrates respect for team members.
• Participates in the process of ongoing self-evaluation and identifies goals/areas for development on performance appraisals.
• Complies with departmental dress code.
• Participates in the development and implementation of unit goals.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Resident Care Manager/RN/LPN.

Risk & Safety:

• In working together, we will practice and promote a culture of safety; while providing comfort, care and compassion for residents and families of The Birches.
• Ensures to "take every reasonable precaution in the circumstances to protect the employee's own health and safety and that of other persons at or near the workplace" ~ NS OHS Act 17.1(a)
• Maintains and promotes health and safety standards and procedures according to The Birches guidelines and resident care standards to a level consistent with recognized provincial standards including ethical guidelines.
• Ensures compliance of all applicable regulatory laws, by-laws, codes, standards, guidelines and acts.
• Promotes a safe and healthy workplace for staff and volunteers
• Promotes a safe and healthy environment for residents and their families
• Participates, when required in initiatives that minimize risk and promote safety
• Ensures that risks are minimized and proactively addressed for the interest of the Birches.

Ethics & Values:

• Maintains ethical standards in the scope of job responsibility.
• Champions the values of the organization in day to day operations.
• Champions the mission, vision and strategic directions established by the Birches.

Quality Initiatives:

• Demonstrate commitment to quality and promote a quality culture.
• Day-to-day implementation of the quality care & services.
• Continually look for ways to improve quality of care or service.
• Work as part of teams/committees to manage quality

Management reserves the right to make changes to this job description as required in operating The Birches. When major changes are required, management will endeavor to provide two (2) weeks' notice of the changes.