Program Aide, Margaret M. Shea Adult Day Health Center, 30 hrs (Days)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Program Aide works with the Activities Coordinator, Social Worker and Program Nurses to assist the staff as required, and to provide necessary supervision and assistance for each participant in accordance with participant plans of care, written policies and procedures, and 105 CMR 158.000, in order to meet the needs of individual participants.

Position: Program Aide   

Department: The Margaret M. Shea Adult Day Health Center     

Schedule: Part Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Demonstrates clear communication and displays interpersonal skills while interacting with the participants.
• Observes, reports and documents participant status and the care or services furnished.
• Performs basic infection control procedures and follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
• Performs basic delegated nursing and nursing related skills when directed.
• Maintains a clean, sale, and healthy environment.
• Welcomes participants to program each day in a positive and caring manner.
• Assists participants with coats upon arrival and departure.
• Assists participants to bathroom.  Maintains current toileting schedules.  Assists with incontinent care as needed.
• Assists participants in ambulation as needed or as assigned.
• Assists with other duties as assigned by Program Nurses, Program Director and Activities Coordinator.
• Takes direction from the Activities Coordinator but must also be able to assess the activities area and initiate activities independently.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary conference and in-service education as required.
• Conducts AM exercise program when assigned and encourages and assists participants in participating in AM group.
• Assists in the remotivation of participants and contributes to the overall positive environment.
• Performs light clerical duties such as filing, answering telephone, as directed.
• Assists in serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack.  Ensures that trays are prepared for those participants who are unable to cut meat, open milk, feed themselves, etc.
• Monitors lunch room – observes participants- see if anyone needs help.
• Clears trays from tables and monitors participants.
• Keeps food area well supplied and clean. Empties trash and makes sure plastic bags are quickly replaced in the trash baskets.
• Tables must be wiped and foods or fluids on floors must be cleared immediately.
• Prevents, reports, participant abuse, neglect, mistreatment and misappropriation.
• Caring for participant’s with Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders.
• When required performs basic nursing skills including; basic elements of body function, and changes in the body function that must be reported to a Nurse; obtaining and recording vital signs; personal care skills such as personal hygiene and grooming techniques.
• Assist participants at various levels of needs with ADLS.
• Recognizes and responds to emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedures, including Heimlich maneuver.
• Utilizes hospital’s RESPECT attributes as a basis for decision making and to facilitate the department and the hospital’s mission.
• Conforms to hospital standards of performance and conduct, including those pertaining to participant rights, so that the best possible customer service and participant care may be provided.
• Assists as necessary in the delivery of other services.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job.  The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB DESCRIPTION CHARACTERISTICS

EDUCATION:

A minimum of a High School diploma or GED is required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

On and after May 1, 2015, a Program may not employ any individual for more than four months as an aide at a Program unless the individual has been determined competent, pursuant to one of the following criteria:

(a) Has demonstrated competence through satisfactory participation in a relevant health care training or competency evaluation program.  Said training or competency evaluation program must teach students nursing and nursing related skills including, at minimum, the skills identified at 105 CMR 158.033(F)(1)(b); or

(b) A registered nurse employed by the Program or under contract with the Program has determined the individual is competent to provide direct care to participants based on the individual’s demonstration of competency in basic nursing and nursing related skills and techniques.  The Program shall provide at least 40 hours of a combination of classroom and experiential training regarding the skills identified at 105 CMR 158.033(F)(1)(b) prior to determining the individual is competent to be a program aide. 

EXPERIENCE:

At least one or more years’ experience working with adults in the health-care or social service setting is required.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Excellent verbal/written English communication skills, including excellent grammatical, editing and proofreading skills.
• Basic computer proficiency inclusive of ability to enter and access data/information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to be socially perceptive in accepting and relaying confidential information, communicating policies and procedures, and interacting effectively with a diverse clientele.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans