Home Care Center Team Member

Summary

The KARM Home Care Center Team Member creates a safe, respectful, hospitable environment in which basic necessities of life are provided to support the care for guests staying in the KARM Home Care Center. Maintain a fertile and stimulating environment of hope and commitment to guests continued physical and mental recovery. Utilizes community knowledge and administrative skills to advocate in connecting guests to needed resources. Monitors the activities of guests in all areas of the KARM Home Care Center. Is available to offer one-one care, encouragement, and support. Team Members, depending on individual skill set and experience, will be cross-trained for other responsibilities within the Care Coordination Department or other departments within Knox Area Rescue Ministries. 

Duties

• Coordinate/schedule timing of home care visits with patient and Home Care staff. *Rare for the weekend unless it’s an emergency visit or a new patient not seen by Friday.
• Arrange transportation for patient to medical appointments outside of the facility.
• Provide assistance to visiting Home Care staff with routine care that would be provided by a loved one if patient was at home, such as basic would care, blood sugar checks, compliance with medications.
• Be present with Home Care staff during their assessments.
• Adhere to plan of care set forth by Covenant Home Care nurse.
• Act as an advocate for the guests and coordinate guests needs.
• Assist guests with understanding medications and monitor daily intake, allowing guests to be independent in complying with the set plan of care for medication.
• Be comfortable with wound care needs of guests as trained by the Home Care staff, which can also include monitoring of IV antibiotics, trach care and willingness to understand tube feeding needs defined as non-clinical in nature.
• Understanding the difference between clinical care and home care as guests who enter the KARM Home Care Center are in the transitional phase of moving from clinical hospital care to being monitored in a home-like setting.
• Receive and safeguard guest’s medications and control log.
• Willingness for continued education from the Home Care staff for individual guest needs.
• Encourage guests to adhere to diet restrictions as set forth in plan of care by the Home Care agency.
• Contact the Home Care RN on call in case of a non-emergency medical issue.
• Treat guests with overwhelming biblical hospitality and respect.
• Provide spiritual comfort through listening, prayer, and sound biblical comfort to guests as the opportunity presents.
• Check guests into KARM Home Care Center: assign beds, distribute linens, towels, and toiletries, including orientation to the unit, expectations and commitment to treat understanding as set forth by Knox Area Rescue Ministries and the Home Care agency.
• Ensure the safety and security of the environment for guests, employees, and volunteers.
• Maintain cleanliness in the unit, bathroom and medication room.
• Maintain necessary documentation for efficient service delivery and accomplishing of ministry purpose, which includes documentation in Spero, end of shift reports, and verbal review with Manager on Duty prior to end of shift.
• Trains and supports volunteers as assigned when applicable.
• Represent KARM appropriately to guests, volunteers, donors, and partner agencies.
• Exhibit a caring Christian lifestyle to guests, co-workers, volunteers, and donors.
• Establish a beginning sense of safety and hope, for personal growth and change with residents, volunteers, interns, and employees.
• Lead with a basic understanding of mental illness, alcohol and drug addiction issues, physical and sexual abuse, and poverty, specifically in regard to those affected by these.
• Perform administrative duties as needed.
• Ability to work interdependently with Frontline, Home Care Center, and Care Coordination team.
• Direct line of reporting to KARM Home Care Center Team Lead/Supervisor on day-to-day operations, status changes, following plans of care set forth by Covenant.
• Weekly one-on-one virtual or in person meeting with KARM Home Care Center Team Lead/Supervisor.

Requirements

• Ability to share the Gospel and demonstrate Christian values and beliefs when interacting with guests, peers, and the public.
• Ability to show compassion, set appropriate boundaries, and exercise mature judgment regarding any requested service restriction.
• Have a basic understanding of trauma, mental illness, substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, specifically in regard to communicating with homeless guests affected by these.
• Ability to identify, respond and defuse crisis situations.
• Ability to negotiate calmly with those who have a history of mental health issues, which could lead to behaviors.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications and other office equipment and willingness for training as needed.
• Ability to give directions to others; high degree of flexibility.
• Ability to receive directions and willingness for flexibility throughout the day.
• Self-discipline.
• Confident problem solver.
• Have a working knowledge of community resources.
• Skilled nursing services/CNA/Home Health Aide preferred.
• CPR and Basic First Aid following training calendar set forth by Knox Area Rescue Ministries.
• 2-3 years related experience preferred.
• Basic organizational and follow-up skills.
• Basic understanding of boundary setting and protection of patient medical information.
• Able to participate with Covenant Home Care for required and ongoing training.
• Current driver’s license and insurance.

Working Conditions

• Ministry campus facility in restricted access to the KARM Home Care Center.
• Exposure to stressful client situations requiring compassion and discernment.
• Walking, standing, sitting, bending, and minimal lifting required.
• Attendance at meetings and occasional special events as requested by supervisor, which may be outside of normal work schedule.
• Exposure to infectious diseases requiring understanding of universal precautions.
• The KARM Home Care Center is considered part of the 24/7 staff category need. Staffing will be coordinated through Supervisor for holiday coverage.
• PRN/full time/part time will be asked to consider additional scheduling for hours of need outside of the regularly scheduled hours functioning as a standby when full time staff is not able to meet scheduled days.

Specific Training

• Trauma Informed Care.
• Boundaries within the work place.
• Protocols for managing exposure to bodily fluids.
• Infection control.
• Management of communicable diseases.
• De-escalation of behaviors.
• Orientation for understanding and maintaining patient care plans.
• Real time recognition of medical issues.
• General stability monitoring and alert system for medical advice/support.
• Spero documentation and other systems used within KARM.

• NOTE: Due to the logistics of when Covenant Home Care schedules their appointments with the patients and the scheduling of outside medical appointments, there are some distinct differences in duties and responsibilities. There is no difference in the level of care as it relates to plan of care by Covenant Home Care.