POSITION: Continuing Care Assistant (CCA)
DEPARTMENT: Nursing
RESPONSIBLE TO: RN-Charge Nurse and Director Clinical Services (Care)
Under the direction and supervision of the RN Charge Nurse &/or LPN, the Continuing Care Assistant (CCA), provides resident –focused, holistic care, within an interdisciplinary team consistent with the Mission, Vision, Values and philosophy of care of the RK Mac Donald Nursing Home. As an employee of the RK Mac Donald Nursing Home, every person has a responsibility to be involved in providing a stimulating environment for the residents and to serve as a positive role model; as a partner in the provision of care and support of our Residents, and to represent the home in a positive, professional, efficient and confidential manner.
Key Responsibilities
1. To deliver Safe, Competent Personal Care: Responsible to deliver resident focused care within the full scope of practice of a CCA, in a home-like environment respecting the individuality and dignity of each resident and family
- Performs the responsibilities of the position within the legislative and regulatory standards set out by the Health Association of Nova Scotia and the
- CCA Program Advisory Committee document Scope of Practice of the continuing Care Assistant in Nova Scotia (2009)
- Demonstrates a clear understanding that this facility is the Home of our Residents and we have been honored with the privilege are being invited to participate in the delivery of care to meet their needs
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of the recognition of the vulnerability of the resident and their family as they entrust themselves to our care
- Required to be are aware of and follow the RN-developed care plan for each resident
- Responsible to communicate suggested changes/preferences to RN so that care plans can be updated and followed with consistency
- Participates in all aspects of personal resident care to ensure the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of each resident/family are met
- Utilizes therapeutic communication by establishing a working relationship with residents/families and coworkers for the purpose of meeting the residents needs; ensuring respect, dignity and individuality of each resident and staff person
- Knowledgeable of and provides for the “simple pleasures” of each resident ie. Knowing that the resident likes to have the morning paper with coffee;
- knowing that the resident likes to sit in the sun in mid afternoon.
Participates with other team members in formulating, delivering and reporting the daily resident care needs and personal preferences by:
- Attending and gathering pertinent data from report
- Seeking direction from the professional staff
- Delivers personal care and attends to the ADL’s of all residents in a respectful, private, dignified and professional manner
- Delivers effective and efficient care that promotes resident/family choice and acknowledges the resident’s strengths, limitations as well as their need for safety and the safety of others
- Observation of residents to monitor their responses to their environment, behaviors and abilities to perform ADL’s
- Observes residents for any changes and reports these changes immediately to the RN/LPN
- Respects the knowledge, awareness, dignity and the right to choose of the individual resident and their family
Consistent with a resident-focused approach will meet resident needs by:
- Assisting with serving meals, feeding, providing nourishment supplements to all residents until the needs of all residents are met
- Assisting with the transporting and transferring of residents as required
- Actively promoting resident and family involvement in activities within the Home
- Accompanying and actively participating with residents, in activities of their choosing
- Responding to any resident in need by answering bells, alarms telephones and by assisting every employee until all care is complete
Task list of duties include but not limited to:
- Providing an environment that welcomes resident and family interaction with staff and each other
- Providing personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming, mouth care, toileting, shaving, hair styling, jewelry)
- Providing assistance with meal set-up, serving, feeding
- Hourly resident checks and rounds (including but not limited to vitals, incontinent rounds, safety rounds)
- Performing light housekeeping duties daily (tidy room, hang clothes, wiping up spills when they occur, maintaining daily cleanliness of personal equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, etc, tub room, utility rooms & kitchen area)
- Participating in recreational activities
- Completes nightly safety & equipment checklist
- Participating in care conferences as directed
- Participating in unit meetings, general staff meetings and CCA meetings
Documentation of Care
- Responsible to clearly, legibly and objectively document care delivered according to facility standards (ie. Nursing notes, bowels records, Q1H checks, EOR and/or any other form as required)
2. To maintain and enhance KNOWLEDGE: to practice safely and competently every CCA must demonstrate understanding and compliance with:
- Gentle persuasion approach
- Teepa Snow Approach to Care of Persons with Dementia
- Resident Centered Philosophy of Care
- Crisis Intervention methods
- Fall prevention methods
- Lift/transfer techniques & Body mechanics
- Infection Control Procedures
- All Emergency plans
- Risk management/CQI program
- Environmental Hazards (WHIMIS)
- Food Handlers safety
- Occupational Health & Safety
- Palliative care guidelines
3. To maintain and practice those skills, abilities and attributes required on hiring:
- Critical thinking
- Interpersonal skills
- Problem solving
- Organizational skills
- Stress management
- Confidentiality
- Patience
- Supportive of residents and co-workers
- Time management
- Compassion
- Integrity
- Maturity
- Positive attitude
- Respectful
4. Responsible to maintain and continually demonstrate in practice the following CORE COMPETENCIES:
Resident centered focus (responds to resident/family requests)
- Identifies needs and expectations
- Responds efficiently and effectively
- Takes action beyond explicit request
- Refers complex questions to charge nurse or designate
- Meets needs in a respectful, helpful and responsive manner
- Seeks feedback to develop a clear understanding of residents needs
- Uses resident/family satisfaction monitoring methods to ensure resident satisfaction
Communication (fosters two way communication)
- Elicits comments or feedback
- Maintains continuous open and consistent communication with others
- Openly and constructively discusses diverse perspectives that could lead to misunderstanding
- Communicates decisions and recommendation that could be perceived negatively, with sensitivity and tact
- Supports messages with relevant data, information, examples and demonstrations
Conflict Management
- Listens to differing points of view and emphasising points of agreement as a starting point to resolving differences
Self & Community Awareness
- Recognizes the situations that arouse strong emotions and personal bias or preference, but resists temptation to act on them immediately
- Accepts feedback from others without being defensive
- Communicates clearly, minimizing misunderstandings
- Uses accurate observation and understanding of local culture contexts to improve overall performance
- Seeks out, recognizes and uses creatively what different people have to offer
- Recognizes when a social “mistake” has been made and takes steps to avoid long term negative impact
Teamwork (fosters Teamwork)
- Assumes responsibility for work activities and coordinating efforts
- Promotes team goals
- Seeks others input and listen to their perspectives
- Acknowledges the work of others
- Shifts priorities, changes style and responds to new approaches as needed to meet team goals
5. Responsible to maintain and demonstrate in practice the following Job-Specific Competencies:
Orientating & Mentoring
- Participates in the orientation and mentoring of new staff
Adaptability/Flexibility (adapts to a variety of changes)
- Adapts to new ideas and initiatives across a wide variety of issues or situations
Continuous Learning (seeks to improve personal effectiveness in current situation)
- Tries new approaches to maximize learning
- takes advantage of learning opportunities (courses, in-services, watching others, etc.)
- Integrates new learning into work methods
- Understands the role of culture in the helping process
Initiative (addresses imminent issues)
- Takes action to avoid problems
- Looks for ways to achieve greater results or add value
- Works persistently as needed and when not required to do so
Quality, Risk and Safety Management (employees at every level are responsible and accountable for safe work practices & adhering to the practices outlines in the NS OH&S Act)
- Strives for excellence
- Makes decisions based on risk analysis
- Reports safety issues to supervisor
- Supports a culture of safety by following safe work practices and policies
- Actively participates in quality initiatives
- Completes safety audits as assigned
- Is familiar and adheres to policies and procedures related to lifts and transfers
- Participates and promotes usage of personal protective equipment
- Forwards any unresolved safety concerns
Values & Ethics
- All interactions, care delivered and presentation of self to others is congruent with the Mission, Vision and Values of the Home
- Recognizes how professional and personal may conflict and seeks assistance to avoid &/or resolve presentation of this conflict
- Identifies and considers different ethical aspects of a situation when making decisions.
EDUCATION
- Provincial CCA certification required for permanent employment.
- Current member of the CCA Registry (Continuing Care Assistant Program – HANS)
- Willing to consider partial completion of LPN (completion of 1st year) &/or BScN (completion of 1st clinical in 2nd year) programs for casual/temporary employment
- Certification in CPR, WHMIS, Food Handlers, Dementia/Alzheimer, Palliative care courses and gentle persuasion approach
EXPERIENCE
Experience in geriatric setting an asset
Approved by: Director of Clinical Services (Care)
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