Caregiver Job Description Example for Home Care: A Guide (2024)

14 Dec Caregiver Job Description Example for Home Care: A Guide

Posted at 03:48hin InsightsbyBrett S0 Comments

Learn about the job description for caregivers in home care agencies and in home health. We discuss the job duties and work responsibilities for caregivers as well. Be sure to consider the caregiver job descrption listed below when crafting your own resume. Whether you are a job candidate, employee, or employer, feel free to use our job description below word for word! Plus, caregiver jobs are discussed, including the best home care agencies hiring caregivers aroundPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania.

What is an employee job description?

Employee job descriptions are written statements, generally created and distributed by the employer. They generally detail the duties, responsibilities, necessary qualifications, and reporting relationships of a particular job. They are, or should be, based on objective information obtained through job analysis. It includes an understanding of the skills and competencies required to complete tasks of the position. It might discuss the needs of the organization to produce work.

What are the purposes of a job description?

There are many reasons for organizations and their employees to have an effective job description in place. Here are just some of the main uses of a job description:

It helps provide the employee with the expectations that are required of them in the position
Offers details to help a prospective applicant assess if they are suitable for the role
Supports the company’s recruitment team during the recruitment and selection process
It helps shape questions for the interview process
Lets the prospective employee determine their standing or role within the structure of the company
It can assist in shaping a legally binding contract of employment
Helps set goals and targets for an employee when joining the team
Assists in the evaluation of the employee’s job performance
It helps to formulate training and development plans

What is unique about the job description for caregivers?

The caregiver job description will often be standardized, or similar, across many employers. This is because this position has fixed training requirements as well as a set scope of work responsibilities in which they work. However, a caregiver may still see a variance in these job descriptions as they look at different HHA jobs.

Generally, the largest differences they will find will be in the work setting of the caregiver. For example, a caregiver working in a residential facility may be different from that of providing care to a single individual in one’s home. As mentioned, caregivers(along with many other healthcare positions) have limitations on the work and tasks they complete. Therefore, a caregiver may also find a job description that lists what a caregiver CANNOT do as well as what they are allowed to do.

I am looking at open caregiver positions or considering a career as a caregiver. Are the job openings I see online the same thing as what the job description looks like?

Possibly. The caregiver jobopening may be nothing more than a copy and pasted version of the job description itself. However, some job openings may offer much more limited information, or it may be crafted to be much different than the position’s job description.

Both a job description for a caregiver and a job posting will have similar aims. Ideally, they will list the qualifications necessary for the role, including education and training required. They will also list the job duties and responsibilities of the caregiver position, although the job description itself may offer more detail. The caregiver job posting will usually offer more information on the company itself, as it will most likely be a first company introduction to an initial caregiver applicant. As you can see, while they have some similar functions, their aims will vary as one (the job posting) is tailored to job applicants that are considering applying. The other (job description) is aimed at employees that are hired by the organization. Plus, the job description is usually signed by the employee and sometimes the employer as well upon hire.

If you are a prospective candidate for acaregiver position, the best practice is to request thecaregiverjob description from Human Resources or the hiring manager so you can have full clarity on the Home Health Aide role at that specific company. Plus, it will show to the organization that you are serious about meeting the commitment of the position.

What is a sample caregiver job description?

The caregiver job description will likely vary from healthcare employer to employer. However, we offer a sample job description for caregivers to view below near the end of this article. This is great for both prospective caregivers to view as well as employers considering a caregiver job description of their own. Please note that this job description is written from the perspective of a home care agency or home healthcare agency. At the end of the article we have a complete caregiver job description for your review. Feel free to copy and paste the job description below or print it for your own reference!

If I have caregiving experience, what should I include on my caregiver resume?

For caregivers that have prior caregiving experience, you definitely have a leg up on the competition. If you are trying to craft a resume but don’t know how to start, definitely include many of the tasks that you find in a caregiver job description. That is, of course, assuming you’ve done the activities listed. A job description is a good place to look for ideas on what to add to a caregiving resume because many of the tasks you’ll find listed on the job description are likely job tasks and duties that you have done in your caregiving work experience. Therefore, be sure to highlight your caregiver experience on your resume when applying for jobs.

Caregiver Resources and Training

Who falls under the caregiver classification?

A caregiver is a relatively general term. Within the category of caregiving, there are other roles that will fall in them. For example, caregivers are also known as direct care workers. They are the employees that provide hands on care in a variety of environments. In this article, we mostly refer to caregivers working one-on-one with a client in the client’s home or a residential setting.

When evaluating caregiver roles, you may find numerous job titles that fall under the broad term of “caregiver.” The specific job requirements may or may not be the same across them. Some job titles that are the same or related to a caregiver are:

Personal care aide or personal care assistant, AKA PCA
Caregiver
Caretaker
Certified nurse aide, or certified nursing assistant, aka CNA
Direct care worker
Homemaker
Home health aide
Adult sitter

Do I need to be trained or certified to be a caregiver?

Caregivers do not generally need an advance certification. However, the exception to this is if a home care agency specifically needs a home health aide or a certified nurse aide. These individuals can act as caregivers, but will have some more medical-focused tasks that they are able to complete.

Caregivers will naturally need some training, especially if they don’t have experience. Employers will generally offer this training to caregivers that come to work for them. This is true as well for Chosen Family Home Care. The state of Pennsylvania requires some training for all caregivers. In addition to that, employers will often provide the training both through lecture, reading, and hands-on application. This is generally true for caregivers, homemakers, and personal care aides.

To get a home health aide (HHA) certification, an interested home health aide candidate must complete an HHA training course. Chosen Family Home Care actually offers some of its caregivers this training for free! Training requirements are shaped by federal regulations. These HHA training and certification programs may be offered by community colleges, private schools or employers (home care agencies such as Chosen Family Home Care) in the medical field.

If a home care agency required a CNA, that training can be obtained as well from either community colleges, private schools, or employers. However, generally the only employers that offer CNA training are nursing homes and long term care facilities.

What does a home health aide learn in the certification course?

A home health aide student will learn a lot of important skills necessary for success over the course of the home health aide training program. At Chosen Family Home Care,the home health aide training program includes the following building blocks of the Home Health Aide HHA training. These core competencies include:

Client rights and confidentiality.
Communication and problem-solving skills.
Infection control.
Personal care skills.
In-home and nutritional support.
Safety.
Understanding the needs of clients

HHA training programs must meet federal regulations. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that means that a home health aide training course must be at least 75 total hours in length. In most cases, that means it can be completed in just two weeks. However, each employer or program is different. 16 of the total hours offered in the HHA course must be hands-on clinical or lab practice. This is done under the direct supervision of the nurse instructor.

The training program offered by Chosen Family Home Care gives a good example as to how a home health aide has advanced skills as compared to a caregiver or personal care aide. For example, the first 40 hours of the program is built around the foundations of caregiving. This includes the skills needed for success of all caregivers and personal care aides. The next 35 hours is built around more specific health-related tasks that a home health aide will do. These health-focused tasks are what makes the home health aide more advanced.

Considering Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area employers of caregivers

Caregivers can work in a variety of settings. However, the majority will understandably be found working one-on-one with clients in their home. As a result, most caregivers work directly for home care agencies and home health agencies. Consider working at the best home care agency in all of Philadelphia

Chosen Family Home Care is the best place to work for caregivers

When it comes to finding a career as a caregiver, you’ll find a wide variety of work settings and home care agencies. Surely, if you’re looking for a job as a caregiver, you will prioritize home care agencies that offer the following: a great place to work, career advancement opportunities, a caring, supportive, and fun culture, and good pay and benefits. Chosen Family Home Care combines many, if not all, of the top perks that make a home care agency a great place to work. We don’t just want to be a great place to work. Chosen Family Home Care aims to be thebest home care agency employer of caregivers in all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Benefits of working as a Philadelphia caregiver for Chosen Family Home Care

Every employee will earn an average of $13.75 per hour. Even if you have no experience, Chosen Family Home Care will make sure that you not only have the tools to be successful but that you will also be paid an average of $13.75 per hour.
Employee referral bonus of $300. Every caregiver that you bring onboard and refer to the home care agency earns you a $300 check!
5 paid days off after one year of service. Get 10 paid days off after your first year of service as a full-time employee!
Flexible schedule. We understand you have commitments outside of your job. Whether you work full or part time, Chosen Family Home Care works diligently to accommodate your schedule.
Professional growth. We provide paid training monthly to all caregivers and home health aides.
No Long Commutes. We work to match caregivers with a nearby client as much as possible.
Weekly pay. No waiting around or wondering when you will get paid as a caregiver with a once a week pay schedule.

Are you interested to learn more? Whether you are a family caregiver or an experienced CNA, we are always looking for the best caregivers in all of Philadelphia. Check out our careers page to learn more and apply. Also, reach out to us directly and speak to us if you have any questions or want to learn more about what we can offer you.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Caregiver

JOB SUMMARY:

Join our team as a personal caregiver. You’ll have the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives when they need hands-on support. We pride ourselves on offering a person-centered caregiving experience. You will have the opportunity to use your skills to provide premier support and care to your assigned clients. As a caregiver, you will create solid relationships as you provide care for your clients in a variety of ways. This includes assisting with personal care needs such as with personal hygiene, promoting physical activity, and completing light housekeeping tasks. team of your assigned clients. You’ll coordinate and work alongside physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and other health care providers to ensure that the needs of the patient are provided.

CAREGIVER QUALIFICATIONS:

Have a sympathetic attitude toward the care of the sick and elderly.
Ability to carry out directions, read and write.
Maturity and ability to deal effectively with the demands of the job.
Must pass a criminal background check
A car, insurance, and valid driver’s license is preferred
Negative tuberculosis screening test before hire
Willingness to Learn: No college degree or high school diploma required, but must be teachable
Previous caregiving experience is preferred, but not required

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The duties of a caregivermay include, but are not limited to the following:

Recording pertinent information pertaining to the client’s care.
Reminding clients to take medication at the appropriate time.
Planning and preparing meals according to specific dietary requirements of the client, and if needed, feeding the client.
Performs personal care and assists with activities of daily living (ADLs) as assigned, including hair care, bathing, oral hygiene, grooming, and dressing.
Assisting with ambulation with or without mechanical aids.
Aiding with routine bodily functions such as toileting.
Maintaining a safe, clean and healthy environment through light housekeeping including changing bed linens, dusting and vacuuming, cleaning kitchen and bathroom, and laundry.
Providing companionship and stimulation for the client including reading, walks, etc.; and accompanying the client to doctors or other appointments.
Grocery shopping or other errands when needed.
Performing additional housekeeping tasks as indicated in the care plan.
Observing and reporting changes in client’s condition to this agency’s Administrator.
Completes appropriate visit records in a timely manner as per company policy.
Attends continuing education and in-service programs as scheduled and necessary.
Understands and adheres to established company policies and procedures.
Attends client care conferences as requested and scheduled.
Other duties as assigned.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Works indoors in the Chosen Family Home Care office and in client homes. May work outdoors as needed and requested to assist with patient activity and care. Will travel to/from client homes.

JOB RELATIONSHIPS:

Supervised by and reports to: Case Coordinator

RISK EXPOSURE:

High risk

LIFTING REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to perform the following tasks if necessary:

Ability to participate in physical activity.
Capable of working for an extended period of time while standing and being involved in physical activity.
Heavy lifting, up to 40 pounds.
Able to do extensive bending, lifting and standing on a regular basis.

I have read the above job description and fully understand the conditions set forth therein, and if employed as a caregiver, I will perform these duties to the best of my knowledge and ability.

_____________ ________________________________

Date Signature