Residential Support Worker

Description:

Reports to: House Leader

Working Hours: Hours vary due to providing 24/7 care to the individuals and may include overtime (if necessary).

Location: Staff are hired to work for the company and the location may vary dependent upon the needs of the individuals and the company.

Safety Sensitive: Yes

Agency Expectations of Employee:

• Adhere to 6400, 6100, and Chapter 51 Regulations.
• Adhere to SHS’s policies and procedures.
• Adhere to SHS’s handbook.
• Act in an ethical manner.
• Maintain individuals’ confidentiality through adherence to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules and regulations.
• Perform duties as workload necessitates.
• Communicate regularly with other staff and management about issues or concerns.
• Demonstrate flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.
• Be patient, understanding, and have a non-judgmental attitude.

Position Purpose and General Summary:

The purpose of this position is to provide quality care to individuals with disabilities; treat them with respect and dignity; and to assist the individuals with activities of daily living (ADLs) while using positive approaches. This position is responsible for ensuring the safety of the individuals while preparing food, administering medications, and providing transportation. This position will assist in helping the individuals to become members of their community to ensure a quality lifestyle. Your main goal will be to ensure that the residents are safe, comfortable, and able to live as independently as possible. You will work closely with other staff members to create a positive and supportive environment for the residents. This role requires a compassionate and patient individual who is able to handle challenging situations with professionalism and empathy.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• On-site regular attendance and punctuality are essential for this position. SHS must meet state regulated and individual plan requirements for staffing to ensure the health and safety of the individuals served.
• Provide the individuals with protection from abuse and neglect by not participating in any behavior that is abusive or neglectful and reporting all incidents of abuse and neglect by someone else to the Compliance Coordinator or to the Director of Residential Services.
• Encourage personal skill development through showing, teaching, and talking.
• Promote self-confidence and self-esteem within the individuals and act as a positive role model.
• Provide opportunities for new experiences and get the individuals involved in the community.
• Encourage and assist individuals in making choices and decisions in all areas of their lives.
• When needed, assist individuals with meeting their personal care needs to ensure proper hygiene. This includes but is not limited to assisting individuals with showering and/or toileting when necessary to meet their needs.
• Maintain focus on the individuals throughout the entire shift and maintain the level of supervision as stated in the individual support plan. Remain in an upright position while resting (feet must be on the ground). Staff are required to remain awake throughout the entire shift.
• Build positive relationships with the individuals to enable you to offer support, guidance, and direction and encourage them and offer support to them to build positive relationships with others.
• Encourage, teach, and assist individuals with planning and completing activities of daily living, such as, household work, community participation, hygiene, and personal responsibilities (including but not limited to shopping, cleaning, laundry, financial responsibility, doctor appointments, etc.) and ensure that they are completed by the individual or yourself.
• Verbally deescalate individuals and apply the Physical Crisis Intervention (PCI) techniques to keep individuals and others safe, as needed.
• Work as a team and offer support, respect, and feedback to co-workers (i.e., peer evaluations).
• Provide clear, concise, and honest verbal and written communication with others.
• Attend staff meetings, actively participate, and contribute professionally. Participate in the development of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) and Behavior Support Plans (BSPs) (if required), implement recommendations stated on the ISPs and BSPs, and evaluate the individuals’ progress daily.
• Approach team members directly and privately to resolve issues as they arrive; if not resolved, follow the chain of command to ensure issues are resolved adequately.
• Be respectful of the workplace physical structure; keep it clean, safe, sanitary, and secure for the individuals.
• Perform all required household duties (such as, cooking, doing laundry, vacuuming, dusting, scrubbing kitchen and bathrooms, snow/ice removal, lawn care, etc..).
• Provide transportation for the individuals, must have access to a vehicle and a valid PA driver’s license, complete mileage reimbursement sheets, and complete necessary documentation associated with transportation of the individuals.
• Ensure completion of company vehicle inspections and keep the company vehicles clean (inside and out).
• Report any needs for maintenance on the house or vehicle to the maintenance department.
• Perform job duties in accordance with the company’s health and safety policies and report all hazards or violations to the maintenance department.
• Keep harmful substances locked up and out of reach of the individuals in accordance with their support plan.
• Administer medications correctly, follow proper protocol, and immediately report any medication errors to the Medical Coordinator. This includes oral and non-oral medications, such as but not limited to liquids, pills, drops, creams, ointments, inhalers, sprays, etc. Medications must be administered to any area of the body, as prescribed by the doctor.
• Be aware of the individuals’ medical needs and ensure all doctor’s appointments are attended (unless the individual exercises their right to refuse) and documented. Report any missed appointments to the Medical Coordinator, immediately.
• Document information given by the doctor and read and follow through with all doctor’s orders.
• Be responsible for the individuals’ safety in all situations; ensure appropriate medical attention is sought when necessary and notify the appropriate individuals.
• Conduct emergency evacuation procedures with the individuals and accurately complete and submit the required documentation.
• Complete shift duties as required; initial when complete.
• Complete all required documentation including, but not limited to daily logs, goal data sheets, calendars, menus, outing schedules, fund requests, medication administration records (MARs), health care charts, doctor appointment summary forms, antecedent/behavior/consequence (ABC) forms (as necessary), time sheets, and any additional required documentation. Submit documentation to the office in a timely manner.
• Correctly and immediately document individuals’ funds, petty cash, grocery monies, etc.
• Maintain all personal matters regarding the individuals, their families, and team members as confidential.
• Be knowledgeable about policies and procedures and implement them accordingly.
• Report any suspected wrongdoing.
• Additional duties, as assigned.

Americans with Disability Specifications:

* The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made (without causing undue hardship to SHS) to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, upon request and with proper documentation.

Work is performed inside and outside the house and in the community. For any length of time, the job frequently involves running, walking, sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, manipulating objects, and climbing stairs. Manual dexterity and coordination are required to operate a computer (keyboard, mouse, scanner, copier, fax machine, etc.). Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus to read the computer monitor and paperwork. Must be able to read and write in English to communicate with the individuals. Writing legibly is required to complete paperwork. Performing general cleaning and upkeep of the homes, yards, and company vehicle is a requirement. This may include, but is not limited to sweeping, dusting, mopping, cooking, doing laundry, mowing the lawn and other lawn care, and snow/ice removal. All staff should be able to push, pull, or lift at least 40 pounds and be able to apply physical intervention techniques, as needed, using the Physical Crisis Intervention techniques as trained by Superior Human Service’s PCI Instructor. Staff must be able to run in the event of an emergency (such as elopement or fire, etc.). Driving is a frequent requirement and must be done during all hours of the day and in all weather conditions. This may be a task that would be performed for both short and long periods of time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, upon request and with proper documentation.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Requirements:

General Requirements:

• In accordance with Pennsylvania Code, §6400.21, Criminal History Record Check, all employees shall submit a Criminal History Record Check within 5 working days after the person’s date of hire through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If the employee resides outside of the Commonwealth, the Criminal History Record Check must be submitted through the Federal Bureau of Investigation within 5 working days after the person’s date of hire. (Record checks completed before the date of hire must have been completed no more than one year prior). It is the policy of SHS to have the Criminal History Record Check on or before the first day of training. SHS shall retain a copy of the employee’s Criminal History Record Check.
• Superior Human Services, Inc. (SHS) is a facility covered under the Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA); therefore, it is a requirement for all employees to satisfy the conditions of the Act for employment by providing a current (within 12 months of the date of hire) criminal background clearance and child abuse clearance, free from prohibited offenses contained in Act 169 of 1996 as Amended by Act 13 of 1997.
• In accordance with Pennsylvania Code, § 6400.42, Minimum Age, all employees shall be 18 years of age or older.
• In accordance with Pennsylvania Code, § 6400.151: Staff Physical Examination - all staff shall have a physical examination within 12 months prior to employment, which must include a Tuberculin (TB) test with negative results. In accordance with the updated Office of Developmental Programs Announcement 24-094: Initial physical examinations for staff must still include a TB test by the following acceptable methods; however, subsequent TB testing is no longer mandatory unless specified by the physician. Physical examinations must be redone every 2 years thereafter at the cost of the employee.

Acceptable TB tests include:

• Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST).
• Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test - QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFTPlus).
• Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test - T-SPOT®.TB test (T-Spot)

SHS shall retain a copy of the employee’s physical and TB results.

• Additionally, to adhere with SHS policy, all employees will need to provide a copy of the following:
• valid Pennsylvania driver’s license, and
• proof of current vehicle inspection, insurance, and registration.

Education and Experience:

• Staff must successfully complete medication administration training during new hire training and at any other time deemed necessary throughout the course of employment.
• Staff must successfully complete all other new hire training (prior to working with individuals) and continue to meet training requirements throughout the course of employment in accordance with regulations and company policy.

Skills:

• Supportive skills to help the individuals in satisfying their needs.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of regulations within the human services industry.
• Be self-motivated, reliable, and able to work independently.
• Ability to carry out basic tasks on a computer or handheld device.
• Ability to set and maintain appropriate boundaries.