Housekeeping Associate

General Summary: The housekeeping associate provides housekeeping services for the residents of the household to meet their daily needs and enable them to function at the highest possible level. The Housekeeping Associate is one of the resident’s closest advocates in the household. They promote the residents’ psychosocial well-being through meaningful relationship building, and works with the household team to meet other social needs of the resident and of the household always providing support, friendship and kindness for each of the household members. The housekeeping associate maintains a clean and safe household environment.

All housekeeping associate tasks are performed in accordance with current standards, guidelines and regulations and in a safe efficient manner.

Principal Duties of a Housekeeping Associate

Housekeeping Associate participates and can assist with social activities for residents as time allows.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Dust horizontal surfaces that collect dust.
2. Empty wastebaskets and remove trash.
3. Damp wipe all furniture.
4. Clean and polish metal and porcelain fixtures in bathroom.
5. Dust mop and wet mop hard floors and vacuum carpets.
6. Spot clean walls and wipe window ledges clean windows inside.
7. Replenish room supplies.
8. Clean upholstered furniture as necessary.
9. Assist in cleaning emergency spills observed and upon request.
10. Maintain assigned equipment for cleanliness and have repairs made when needed.
11. Observe and report the need to repair equipment, furniture, building and fixtures on Maintenance Work Order with copy to Supervisor.
12. In case of fire or other internal disaster, perform duties as assigned in the Disaster Procedure Manual.
13. Clean and sanitize rooms that are in “Isolation” according to specific isolation procedure.
14. Perform any other tasks, which may be assigned.
15. Organizes all supplies necessary to complete the tasks.
16. Follows universal precautions, proper infection control; sanitation and safety standards of practice in all work and activities.
17. Observes residents closely, identifying changing needs and conditions at first indication, and reports immediately to nursing or household leadership as appropriate.
18. Consistently works with all household team members, led by resident and family preference to meet the needs and desires of all household residents.

Life Enhancement Tasks:

1. Continually seeks opportunities to support the social needs of all members of the household through support, friendship and kindness.
2. Participates in social activities for individual residents, small groups and for the household, making the necessary arrangements to assure success if the activity. May assist in planning and organizing the neighborhoods.
3. Continually seeks opportunities to share personal interests and talents with members of the household through both planned and spontaneous activities.
4. Maintains appropriate documentation.

  Ancillary Tasks:

1. Maintains clean spaces in the household, including resident’s rooms. Household common areas and support spaces.
2. Assists to maintain a supply of all materials to meet resident needs in the household.
3. Supports all aspects of the household environment, including pets, plants, children, visitors and guests, serving meals, all planned and spontaneous needs and activities.
4. Coordinates work with all other associates to ensure the housekeeping needs of the household are met within the staffing resources of the household.

Only duties and responsibilities necessary for proper job evaluation have been included. This list is not all inclusive of the total scope of the job duties and responsibilities.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Position Specific Competencies:

1. Must complete all mandatory in-services required by Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility within time limit as set forth by the facility.
2. Homebuilding: respects the resident’s room as their home and assists the resident in feeling in charge of everything that happens within. Contributes to making the household a healthy and happy place, works together to get things done, facilitates the creation of homey spaces, sees the possibilities of creating a daily life that naturally facilitates pleasurable moments, laughter and fun with lots of opportunity for a wide variety of meaningful relationships. Engages sensitively and appropriately throughout the household.
3. Person-Centered, Elder-Directed, Quality Focused: Housekeeping Associates must develop the ability to observe and connect with residents in a way that gives them clear insights into each individual’s preferences and concerns. Also must demonstrate the intention to strive for high efficiency while always respecting and preserving the resident’s personhood. Ability to communicate with residents and other employees. Will refer families to the Clinical Associate when asking questions out of the housekeeping associates realm.
4. Leadership: Housekeeping Associates should see this function as an active role in shaping household life, not merely passively waiting for other’s instructions. They should serve residents’ needs freely and without resentment. They should see their contribution to household leadership as highly significant.
5. Critical Thinking: Housekeeping Associates should possess the ability to assess a situation and probe for cause-and-effect, potential resources, possible options; and devising plausible solutions/responses that are resident-centered and appropriate. Ability to discern changes in a resident’s condition.
6. Taking Initiative: Housekeeping Associates should understand their roles, and be comfortable acting on their own instincts and conclusions while recognizing the needs for input.
7. Must have knowledge of proper lifting techniques and be able to lift 75 pounds.
8. Ability to push/pull wheeled carts and chairs weighing up to 300 pounds.
9. Observe and report the need for repairs to equipment, furniture, building and fixtures immediately upon discovery.
10. Working Conditions: works in resident rooms and other rooms with exposure to noise, unpleasant odors, resident behaviors and housecleaning chemicals.