Senior Program Assistant (Home Health Aide)

Company: Fairfax County Government
Location: Fairfax
Posted on: May 24, 2025

Job Description:

Job AnnouncementThis position assists in providing a quality therapeutic recreation program for a specialized population(s) of individuals, 18 and older, with a variety of diagnoses and multiple disabilities in the Adult Day Health Care Center (ADHC). Facilitates and implements daily person-centered care programs coordinated by the recreation therapist which include social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and recreational activities, but are not limited to using virtual platforms such as Zoom. Serves as a resource and provides guidance to the home health aides with programing and assisting with activities of daily living, personal care such as bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, oral hygiene, nail care, transferring and walking for both males and females, taking vital signs, and using personal protective equipment (PPE). Helps with the nutrition program by maintaining statistics, ordering meals, setting up and serving food. Employee may be required to cover at other ADHC sites as business needs and staffing ratios require. This may be a short-term or long-term arrangement.Illustrative DutiesCreates and oversees daily assignments and schedules for the ADHC Centers;Serves as a resource to Home Health Aides in documenting daily assessments and activities;Provides guidance and assistance and assists in orientation for new Home Health Aides;Serves as a resource in dealing with challenging and difficult participants;Assists Recreation Therapist in development and implementation of activities;Provides feedback to Recreation Therapist on activities and any necessary modifications;Assists Recreation Therapist in planning and implementing field trips and special events;Fills in for Recreation Therapist when necessary;Provides personal care services, assisting with activities of daily living for participants in the ADHC Program;Insures the safety and well being of participant during personal care by using appropriate precautions and guidelines;Assists with clinical services such as vital signs, strength training and special therapies;Monitors for, documents and reports changes in participants' behavior, eating habits and general well-being;Participates and contributes in staff meetings and daily rounds;Works to maintain an overall pleasant environment in the center;Orients, reassures, calms and manages anxious, agitated or aggressive participants;Plans for and serves meals, based on special dietary needs of participants, and requirements of CMP, licensing and health department;Maintains a clean, safe, pleasant and healthy environment in the dining area and kitchen;Observes and assists participants during meals.Required Knowledge Skills And AbilitiesAbility to accurately observe record and notice changes in behavior, participation, and general well-being of participants;Ability to assist with client transfers from sitting to standing and standing to sitting;Ability to lift up to 50 lbs;Ability to communicate clearly in English both orally and in writing;Ability to communicate effectively with cognitively impaired adults;Ability to establish and maintain friendly rapport with physically and/or mentally disabled adults;Ability to train and guide lower level staff;Ability to prioritize competing demands of participant care and documentation;Ability to learn protocols and procedures for safely and effectively assisting physically and mentally impaired adults with activities of daily living;Knowledge of protocols and procedures for safely and effectively assisting physically and mentally impaired adults with the activities of daily living;Knowledge of procedures for managing anxious, agitated or aggressive behavior;Knowledge of safe food handling practices.Employment StandardsMINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to a High School Diploma or GED, plus one year of experience working with the elderly as a Home Health Aide or equivalent.CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• CPR, First Aid, and AED Certifications (within 60 days of hire)
• Limited Food Handlers Certification (within 60 days of hire)NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, and sanction screening to the satisfaction of the employer. A Tuberculosis screening upon hire.Additional Work Schedule Requirements: Employee is required to cover at other ADHC sites as business needs and staffing ratios require. This may be short-term or long-term.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Experience working with older adults with multiple chronic conditions including dementia.
  • Experience leading a team.
  • Experience coordinating and directing recreational activities for older adults.
  • Experience assisting, coordinating, and implementing activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, assisting in eating, walking, personal hygiene, and using personal protective equipment - PPE) for older adults.
  • Experience using various technology platforms (Microsoft Office, Teams, Zoom, etc.).
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing.PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:Position is active in nature. Must be able to monitor and observe the activities of program participants. Regularly moves about or positions self to supervise and interact with participants at their level. Occasionally lifts, transports, positions, push/pulls or moves up to 50 pounds. Must be sufficiently mobile and possess a range of motion to perform repetitive standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, sitting on the floor, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and twisting. Ability to react quickly to the physical actions of program participant. Requires the ability to apply CPR and First Aid skills as needed and respond to emergency situations. Administrative and supervisory activities will require the ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings at various locations and make presentations to county staff and community. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.SELECTION PROCEDURE:Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home ( Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others ) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov . EEO/AA/TTY.

Keywords: Fairfax County Government, Washington DC , Senior Program Assistant (Home Health Aide), Healthcare , Fairfax, DC