Home Care Aide

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services. We are recruiting for the following position:

Sea Mar is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization

Home Care Aide – Posting #24706

Hourly Rate: $20.30

Position Summary:

Sea Mar Community Health Centers is seeking a full-time Home Care Aide. Sea Mar Home Care Program services are non-medical. Program’s Home Care Aides must limit themselves to follow the clients’ plan of care/services. This position serves clients living in King County, travel will be required to client's homes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

As a mission-driven organization, the core values of, and the services offered at Sea Mar are based on the belief that everyone deserves to be respectfully treated in a way that preserves dignity and enhances self-worth. Sea Mar is an advocate for its clients and aims to achieve industry-leading, client-centered, culturally-aware services. 

Sea Mar employees serve as an extension of this mission and demonstrate their commitment to an excellent client experience by:

• Understanding and empathizing with client needs
• Surpassing client expectations
• Demonstrating a high level of integrity
• Exhibiting compassion and commitment
• Advocating for social justice
• Taking pride in individual work as well as that of the team
• Continually learning to stay current with industry standards, best practices and technology

As a Sea Mar employee, the individual in this position commits to adherence to these values to their utmost ability and endeavors to strengthen and embody this mission daily.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

NON-MEDICAL SERVICES

Sea Mar Home Care Program services are non-medical.  Program’s Home Care aides must limit themselves to follow the clients’ plan of care/services.

Home Care Aide performs basic household management, and provides personal care assistance to assigned clients. The non-medical tasks provided to the clients fluctuate depending on the client’s health condition and may include all or some of the following duties and responsibilities:

A. Household Management Tasks include but are not limited to providing assistance with:

• Housekeeping - Cleaning the assigned clients living environment. Regular activities include sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, emptying trash to garbage cans, changing linens & making the bed, and cleaning the kitchen and bathroom.  Occasional activities include washing interior windows, cleaning cupboards/closets, and oven cleaning.
• Laundry  - This includes washing, drying, folding, and putting clothes away.
• Meal Preparation  - This may include preparing more than one meal at a time, to be stored   (frozen), and eaten later. Dishes are to be washed and put away, and countertops cleaned.
• Shopping -  This task is done with or for the clients as assigned.
• Escort/Transport - Escort to provide transportation to/from medical appointments as assigned.      

B. Personal Care Tasks include but are not limited to providing assistance with:

• Dressing - This may range from tying shoes to completely dressing/undressing an assigned client.
• Bathing - This may range from a sponge bath to providing support in/out of bed to in/out of chairs.
• Toileting - This may range from assistance the client in getting to/from the toilet to providing a bed pan to bed bound clients.
• Transfers - This may range from assisting the client in/out of chairs.
• Ambulation - This may range from providing support or steadying the client to pushing wheelchair.
• Med. Reminders - This non-medical task is limited to reminding the client to take his/her medication, utilizing at all times the following
• Client identifiers:  first, middle and last name(s) and birth date.  In addition to this Home Care Aides must always check the medication’s expiration date.
• Pain Measurement: Upon arrival at the client’s home the Home Care Aide will ask the client if he/she has pain. For this purpose, the home care aide will utilize the pain measuring tool with the faces and numbers and will show it to the client so that he/she can indicate the level of pain. If the client cannot see well, the Home Care Aide will ask the client to indicate the level of pain using as an example the numbers from 1 to 10, ten being the highest level of pain.  Once the client has stated the level of pain, the Home Care Aide will write the number on her/his time sheet, and on the bottom of the time sheet and/or the back if additional space is needed, the employee will indicate the steps the client is taking or willing to take to address his/her pain.
• Skin Care:    Home Care aides must ensure client’s skin remains intact and health.  In the event they notice any skin redness or discoloration, or any other skin issues they must notify the home care supervisor immediately so that he/she can contact the case manager and or the client’s medical provider.
• Supervision:   This task ensures the safety of those clients who are unable to recognize and/or respond to unsafe situations.

C. Occasional duties may include

• Snow Removal - Shoveling snow from walkways to/from the entrance to the client’s home.
• Wood Chopping - Cut or chop stack wood if it is the client’s sole source of heat and/or cooking.

IV.CLIENTS’ LIVING ENVIRONMENT

Home Care Aides are responsible for maintaining a safe and healthful living environment for the assigned client(s).  All tasks are designed to allow the client to remain in his/her home, and in the community by delaying institutionalization.

V. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Submitting complete and accurate timesheets.
• Notifying a Supervisor of absences if unable to work according to schedule.
• Notifying a Supervisor of any need to change a client’s schedule.
• Attending all scheduled meetings and required training.
• Observing and reporting all client or service related problems to a Home Care Supervisor.
• Reporting all accidents to a Home Care Supervisor.
• Being available to work the number of hours, and/or days of the week, agreed upon at time of hire.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

A minimum of one year experience in household management, paid or unpaid.  Prior experience with adults unable to care for themselves is preferred, as well as demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the clients served.  Home Care Aides must be mature, empathetic, and able to deal with the multiple demands of the job. 

This person must pass a Department of Social & Health Services background check.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

1. All Home Care Aide Candidates will be interviewed by the Home Care Program supervisors. If the candidate passes the interview, he/she will be scheduled for an eight hour training/introduction to the home care industry, and infection control session with the Program Manager. During the training/introduction to the home care industry session, the applicant will learn about all the home care industry requirements.  At the end of the training session she/he will be invited to continue the hiring process if the individual is interested.
2. If the applicants decides to continue with the hiring process he/she will complete all the necessary steps of the hiring process and will receive additional training provided by the Home Care Program supervisor. This training will focus on job assignments, required program’s documentation, professional job performance requirements, etc.
3. The purpose of the training sessions and to ensure the individual understands her/his role in the home care program and the client’s wellbeing. , and according to her/his job description.  The individual acknowledges receipt of the training received on the training outline/schedule.
4. Immediately upon completion of hiring process which is finalized in Sea Mar’s Administration the Home Care Aide will receive the 5 hour CD’s, and will be scheduled to attend the 70 hour class room training (Basic Training) for him/her to be able to take the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) certification exam, successfully complete it and be able to obtain the DSHS certification.
5. During his/her employment the home care aide will be required to attend the home care aide quarterly training/meeting, and any other training (formal or informal) as deemed appropriate by the Home Care Program supervisors, manager/her designee.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Verbal and written English communication skills are required; Bilingual desired. (Spanish will be preferred)
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write and keep client timesheets for payroll purposes.
• Ability to speak effectively with clients, staff such as office personnel and home care supervisors.

 COMPUTER SKILLS

• Ability to use computer, mouse and keyboard for training purposes.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to respond to emergent client behavioral and/or rapid changes of client medical stability i.e., call 911 immediately for emergency medical assistance.  Report client ongoing changes within a reasonable time frame to supervisor/program manager as circumstances arise.

Education and Experience, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, and Medical Screening

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Effective from January 1, 2012; New Home Care Aides are required to attend 75 class room training hours (Basic Training) for the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) certification exam and must obtain the DSHS HCA certification, Must obtain DSHS HCA certification no more than 200 calendar days. High school diploma or GED preferred, but not required for this position. Previous experience in nursing home geriatric setting is preferred. 

Effective from January 1, 2012; All Home Care Aides must renew the DSHS certification annually prior to the expiration date (their birthdate). Without valid certification, they will be suspended from employment immediately until the proof of the renewed certification is received by the home care supervisor/manager.

All Home Care Aides must provide to the home care office supervisor/program manager valid Washington State driver’s license, proof of current automobile insurance (liability), and clean driving record when assigned to transport clients or run any client related errands (shopping, medication pick up, etc.). TB test and other health screening results as required under Sea Mar Policies and Procedures. Must successfully completion 12 (twelve) hours of annual Continuing Education prior to his/her birthdate. Failure to comply will result in immediate suspension from employment which will last until the employee completes and submits proof of required annual trained.  

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must have and maintain a current TB test, be current with standards health immunizations.  

What We Offer:

Sea Mar offers talented and motivated people the opportunity to work in a dynamic and growing community health organization. Working at Sea Mar Community Health Centers is more than just a job, it’s a fulfilling career with opportunity for advancement. The fringe benefits surpass most companies. For example, Full-time employees working 30 hours or more, receive an excellent benefit package of:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Prescription coverage
• Paid-time-off starting at 15 days per year + 10 paid Holidays.

We also offer 401(k)/Retirement options and an exciting opportunity to work in a culturally diverse environment. 

How to Apply:

To apply for this position, complete the online application and click SUBMIT or APPLY NOW. If you have any questions regarding the position, email Deborah Ned, Director of Home and Community Services, at [email protected]. Please send a resume and cover letter with your request.

Sea Mar is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Posted 1/31/2023
Reposted on 5/1/2024

Please visit our website to learn more about us at www.seamar.org. You may also apply thru our Career page at https://www.seamar.org/jobs-general.html