JOB SUMMARY: Assists in providing and obtaining services to attain and maintain the optimum physical development and health of the people supported. Responsible for the oversight of all medical records and various secretarial duties throughout the nursing office. Performs the role of “Nursing Designee” for medication administration under the guidance of the Director of Nursing.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
-
Documents medical correspondence from dictated, handwritten, or other sources accurately and in a timely manner.
-
Assures medical examinations and follow-up related to medical services are completed and documented promptly.
-
Assists with scheduling and transporting/accompanying people supported to and from appointments, including but not limited to, physical/health exams, dental exams, vision exams, psychological evaluations, medication reviews, audio logical evaluations, and physical and occupational therapy.
-
Is responsible for the safekeeping of records and securing them against loss, destruction or use by unauthorized personnel.
-
Is responsible for the pick up and delivery of miscellaneous items, meds, and supplies throughout the community.
-
Must successfully complete and maintain Medication Administration training certification and demonstrate/educate on policies/procedures as part of the Designee role.
-
Refers people supported to appropriate medical personnel for treatment of injuries/illnesses.
-
Provides or assists in providing preventative health services to people supported.
-
Assists people supported with personal hygiene and nutritional needs.
-
Familiar with and complies with Aspire, Inc. policies/procedures, accreditation standards, and safety/sanitation regulations.
-
Communicates effectively and professionally with co-workers, people supported, and community members.
-
Completes, obtains, disseminates, updates and files all applicable forms/reports.
-
Co-plans, conducts, and attends extracurricular activities, workshops, in services, ISP’s and meetings as necessary.
-
Orders/maintains adequate inventory.
-
Intervenes with immediate medical, behavior or emergency situations. This may include agency approved physical intervention techniques.
-
Advocates for people supported. Ensures choices/preference are elicited and respected.
-
Utilizes community resources in the development of programs and services.
-
In conjunction with other members of the service team, determines specific goals and objectives for individuals served, and the methods by which these goals and objectives can be accomplished.
-
Responsible for equipment and supply requisition.
Customer Service and Excellence:
-
Embodies the mission of the agency and takes pride in the job.
-
Is compassionate, honest, patient, encouraging, and treats all individuals supported, family members, community members, and coworkers with respect and dignity.
-
Makes ethical decisions even when no one is watching.
- Provides Person-Centered services to all people and is able to adapt interactions from person to person.
- Ensures all needs are met for each individual and coworkers.
Professional Conduct:
-
Has good attendance and highly dependable, uses leave appropriately, is punctual and hardworking, and has professional appearance.
-
Has good communication skills, can multitask, pays attention to detail, and can handle stressful situations not only within Aspire but also with family members, guardians, other agencies or community members.
- Is a TEAM player- provides positive and appropriate feedback and support to coworkers, team members, and agency representatives.
- Participates in, completes, and recertifies in required trainings.
- Attends and participates in all assigned meetings, sharing ideas, discussing issues openly and honestly.
- Reports all concerns to the appropriate Quality Assurance Coordinator, supervisor, or administrator in a timely manner.
- Mentors, shares knowledge, and provides guidance to staff to ensure their success and is willing to learn from others.
-
Is flexible with work schedule and able to adjust to changes quickly as assignments and travel change.
- Displays conduct at all times that enhances the image of the people supported and the agency.
Accountability:
-
Assumes responsibility for all actions.
-
Is a self-starter, meets timelines/ due dates and completes assigned duties, recognizes co-workers work load and takes initiative to assists as needed without constant supervision.
- Follows all agency policies and procedures, state and federal regulations and displays moral conviction.
- Serves as on-call relief staff when needed or assigned.
- Takes initiative in performing additional or less than pleasant tasks and participates in cross-training at multiple sites if required.
- Accurately completes, maintains, and submits all documentation as required by agency policy.
-
Able to work independently without supervision and sometimes alone.
Rights, Dignity, Respect, and Choices:
-
Allows people to lead self-directed lives by making informed decisions, experience risk, understand consequences and learn from their mistakes, while balancing safety and welfare.
-
Teaches appropriate skills and assists all individuals in being actively involved in the daily activities to achieve greater independence using person- centered planning.
- Maintains strict confidentiality of all information and records concerning people supported according to HIPAA, State, Federal laws and guidelines, and coaches others on what is sensitive information and when to release that information.
- Knows, advocates and respects the rights and privacy of individuals supported.
Safety: Security, Environment, & Health
- Follows all agency policies, procedures and protocols regarding safety in all environments.
-
Monitors and reports concerns/issues regarding maintenance and repairs to the facility or company vehicle.
- Must be able to pass Medication training, exam, & proficiencies. Administers and inventories medications in accordance with Aspire, Inc.’s Medication Administration Policy.
- Monitors and documents safety, medical or dietary needs or concerns, and notifies the proper person.
- Assists people with daily living skills with the least amount of assistance needed for the person to be as independent as possible. Assistance may include but not limited to:
-
Performs and is comfortable with assisting with personal hygiene/health duties such as repositioning, brief changes/toileting, special diets (making healthy choices, reading food labels, counting carbs and the effects of intakes), appointments, etc.
- Understands, and/or takes initiative to learn, a variety of diagnosis and how to respond to them. May be physical or mental health diagnosis such as diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer’s, seizures, etc.
- Implements individual support plans and protocols as written and follows due process.
- Responds to medical or behavioral emergencies rationally and constructively, directs others and chooses best response to the challenging situation.
- Reports all alleged instances of abuse, neglect, mistreatment and exploitation immediately to the appropriate person by following Aspire, Inc. policy.
Working Environment/Conditions:
Staff in this role may work with a person who at times may demonstrate verbal and physical aggression and self-abuse with little to know warning. Staff can anticipate to be exposed to mental and physical demands including back and muscle strain, stress, loud environments, and works in a variety of fast paced settings inside or outside the home/workplace and throughout the community. Responsibilities/essential functions require the following physical demands and challenges:
- Frequent kneeling, squatting, twisting, crouching, crawling, and bending
- Standing/ Walking (for extended periods of time)
- Lifting and/or carrying up to 50 pounds (may exceed 50 pounds during medical and safety emergency situation) with or without varying amounts of assistance on a reoccurring basis.
- Pushing, and/or pulling (i.e. wheelchairs, moving supplies, etc.)
-
Transfers and/or repositioning people who are not able to move on their own, in a sitting or lying position, to and from their chairs, beds, toilets, floor mats, vehicles, etc.
- Some climbing and balancing (i.e. stairs, assisting people walking with gait belts, etc.),
- Must have the ability to perform CPR and NVCI.
- May be exposed to infectious diseases, bodily fluids, odors, dust, cleaning agents, etc., throughout the day.
Work Challenges:
Challenges include learning about the people in order to know how to teach and motivate them, recognizing changes in behavior that may indicate additional services are needed, redirecting and implementing Behavior Support plans, and ensuring other plans are implemented correctly while dealing with maladaptive behaviors. Motivating and educating people to perform up to standards of work, home, and community expectations and instilling pride, confidence, and self-respect in the people served is also challenging.
Challenges include recognizing manipulative and maladaptive behavior, assisting resistive people, determining appropriate level of intervention or de-escalation techniques, and dealing with equipment malfunctions and adaptations.
Decision Making:
Staff must be confident and decide how to present themselves and how to respond to situations at every moment. Decisions include how to de-escalate a situation and if physical intervention is necessary; when a behavior and physical condition should be documented or reported; priority of daily work activities that are not related to someone’s personal treatment; assisting people served to make good judgments, how to treat others, when to intervene in disputes between people served; when to refer a person’s needs to higher authority; recommendation of changes in treatment and if the team needs to meet to address a person’s issues.
Decisions referred include final plans, medical needs, procedures for implementing treatment plans, and formal counseling.
Qualifications:
- Minimum of High School diploma or GED
-
Must be at least 18 years of age
-
Basic fluency in oral and written English.
- Has computer experience and is comfortable with navigation of technology.
- Pass qualifying criminal background checks which includes motor vehicle driving records.
- Pass a pre-employment drug screening. Upon hire, employees are subject to reasonable suspicion testing per Aspire Inc.’s Drug Free Workplace Policy.
- CNA and disability experience preferred.
Licenses/Required Testing:
A valid driver’s license and evidence of insurability is required upon hire. Must have a safe driving record, have at least 3 years of driving experience, and be insurable under our insurance.
Employees must successfully complete all required agency training in the required time allotted, and recertify annually.
