Caregiving with ARS

Habilitative Specialists are agency employees hired to provide support and care for adults with disabilities enrolled in the agency’s program. The clients’ support services are served in their own homes in local residential areas. Habilitative Specialists will provide support to the clients by offering and providing instruction and care on every shift. Such support services must be offered in a respectful manner, using the least restrictive measures yet meeting all of the program’s safety and supervision measures.

Responsibilities

• Successfully completes all DDA/WAC required trainings delivered by the company (HCA, therapeutic options, nurse delegation/diabetes, first aid/CPR, CEs…).
• Provides various types of living skills by instructing and supporting clients.
• Implements successful medication passes to clients, when on shift, following rules and regulations set in place (Prescribed medication, PRNs, Controlled substances…). Medication WACs to follow in this instance from WAC 388-101D-0295 to WAC 388-101D-0365.
• Keeps track of clients’ Cash on Hand (COH), when on shift, including but not limited to counting money, tracking receipts, filling out correct ledgers, and handing off to the next employee on shift.
• Encourages, assists, and/or accompanies clients with various types of community access and integration which includes, but is not limited to outings, shopping, and necessary appointments.
• Performs successful clients’ tracking when on shift including but not limited to: ISP tracking, time tracking. Also, reports incidents such as GERs, T-logs, through proper regulated channels, as instructed.
• Completes thorough cleaning on each shift based on the cleaning checklist set by the agency. Graveyard shift is expected to deep clean the home on every shift according to the checklist in place.
• Shares the responsibility for housekeeping tasks and seasonal yard work/maintenance which are not assumed or completed by the client(s) in their home.
• Becomes familiar with the location of posted information, such as emergency phone numbers, safety materials, etc.
• Encourages clients to engage in a healthy living lifestyle following support plans and protocols. Suggests healthy meal choices and/or helps with meal preparation when on shift.
• Assists clients with hygiene per their PCSP and IISP which includes but is not limited to: Peri care, showering, shaving, nail trimming to ensure their health and safety.
• Thoroughly reads, signs, acknowledges, and follows all clients’ plans in the home when on shift to ensure successful support service.
• Performs and follows safety protocols and plans in each client’s home, to include drill schedule.
• Ensures consistency and comfort in modeling or coaching appropriate and successful social skills.
• Provides transportation to the clients within the agency, being reimbursed by the agency for mileage (reimbursement goes through monthly payroll). Follows all laws such as using safety belts, driving safely, following speed limits, not talking on the phone, and providing proof of current auto-insurance coverage.
• Moves temporarily or permanently from house to house depending on schedules/staffing/clients’ needs when assigned by the Administrator, HR, and/or the Scheduler.
• Ensures presence for any additional training hours required in the form of handouts, staff/house meetings.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years old or older.
• Must have a minimum of two professional and one personal reference.
• Must be mentally/physically capable of doing the job, which may include working with clients who may be physically challenging and/or aggressive at times.
• Must act respectfully and professionally with all clients, treating each client with dignity and respect.
• Must be willing and able to pass a drug and alcohol test.
• Must be willing to complete/submit a Washington State Background Check Form with BCCU clearance.
• Requirements of the position may change at any time due to the nature of the clients with whom we work and interact.
• Must be able to read, write, and comprehend written instructions and policies set in place for clients’ positive support.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED diploma.

Skills

• Thoroughness
• Time management
• Mandatory reporting
• Self-awareness and personal boundaries while on shift with the clients
• Basic math skills
• Professionalism

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional environment and in the client’s home. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Regularly required to talk and hear.
• Very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day.
• Must frequently lift and move items over 50 pounds without any restrictions.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Schedule

This is a full-time and/or part-time position. Days and hours of work are defined by the schedules accordingly. The Habilitative Specialist is required to log in to the scheduling software to check their schedule daily.

Travel

Some travel is expected for this position.

Benefits

• Assisted Residential Services will pay the basic renewal fees for registration and certification for their CNA, HCA-C, and NAR licenses.
• ARS will provide CE training to satisfy the required mandatory 12 hours necessary to maintain certifications.