The Resident
Care Assistant is an unregulated health care provider who is primarily responsible for the close observation of patients whose behaviors poses a risk to his/her safety or the safety of others. Passionate about person centered care, the observer engages in restorative care, and provides assistance with activities of daily living to the patient/resident for whom they are observing.
Working under the direction of the supervising registered health care professional, including the Unit’s Patient Care Manager or designate. The patients you are observing may be elderly and suffering from dementia, or they may be young patients who have experienced a traumatic injury. This includes individuals who may have been in motor vehicle collisions, who have been assaulted, who have fallen, or people who have attempted to harm themselves or may have experienced a physical disfigurement.
Summary of Duties
- Observe the patient(s) assigned so as to support a safe and caring environment for the patient(s).
- Ensure the safety of residents directly relating to violent outbursts of assigned resident.
- Provide 1 to 1 compassionate supervision services for Residents with Dementia, Alzheimer's, Frontal Brain Injury, Schizophrenia, Stroke, Etc.
- Supervision for residents with elopement risks: resident suicide watch: staff and resident protection for residents with an uncontrolled responsive behaviours for long and short term.
- Engage residents in meaningful 1:1 activities as much as possible - i.e. reading stories, looking through photo albums, story telling
- Always staying within close proximity to the resident including during supervision - i.e. by the door or behind the curtain (not sitting in dining room when PSW is giving care in room), following the resident to new programs and/or group activities.
- Completion of documentation as requested by facility: i.e. Dementia Observations Scale (DOS), Behaviour Assessment Record (BAR) charting every hour.
- Notify a registered health professional immediately if the patient is in any danger, if the patient has gone missing, or if there is a significant change in the patient’s behaviour and/or condition.
- Interact with the patient, comforting the patient as needed and engaging in cognitively stimulating recreational activities as appropriate.
- Maintaining a Professional Image and always wearing a Name Tag - that is easily legible for the resident and public.
- Under the close or direct supervision of the patient’s registered health professionals, provide assistance to the patient with the activities of daily living.
- Communicate their observations with the health care team to facilitate care planning.
- Complete the documentation specifically required of Observers, as per corporate policy and procedure.
- Other duties as assigned (high touch cleaning, filling masks, etc.,).
Qualifications/Skills
- Minimum Grade 11 or equivalent education as recognized by the Ministry of Education, Province of Ontario
- One year of recent related experience in patient care, hospital, long term care or complex continuing care setting required OR a PSW certificate from an accredited program OR completion of a minimum of one year of an accredited Nursing program.
- Must be fluent in speaking and documenting in English.
- Successful completion of recent accredited Personal Support Worker certificate an asset
- Demonstrated experience and delivery of patient focused care
- Demonstrated ability to perform effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary care team
- Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills
- Current Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification
- Proof of current immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV), diphtheria, pertussis, and hepatitis B
- Proof of negative 2-step TB skin test within the past year or negative chest x-ray within the past 5 years
- Willing to undergo Vulnerable Sector Police Check as a condition of hire
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Last updated on Nov 24, 2023