Caregiver

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Your Partner For A Stronger Arizona.

DES works with families, community organizations, advocates and state and federal partners to realize our collective vision: A thriving Arizona.

DES serves more than 3 million Arizonans. Our Mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life.

CAREGIVER

Job Location

Address: Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

1364 West Calle Rio Seco Tucson, Arizona 85714

Posting Details

Salary: $40,000.00 - $42,000.00

Grade: 14

Closing Date: July 17, 2024

Job Summary

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view 'Our DES' video. Come join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a Caregiver. DDD provides individuals with developmental disabilities, and their families, services and supports that are flexible, high quality, and member driven. These services provide individuals with opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities of independent decision-making and engagement in the community.

Applicants for this position cannot be licensed or certified by the DDD Office of Licensing Certification and Regulation, cannot have a principal interest in or have a spouse or close family with principal interest in a DDD Qualified Vendor Agreement, and cannot be employed or subcontracted by a DDD Qualified Vendor.

Job Duties

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to

• Responsible for the personal care (e.g., bathing, toileting, dressing, personal hygiene), health, safety and general well-being of members encouraging as much independence as possible.
• Supports and encourages members in mealtime preparation, technique, and service in accordance with specialized diets and engages and interacts with members during mealtime. Occasionally prepares and cooks meals.
• Implements Individual Support Plan (ISP) programs and strategies, records and occasionally compiles data, writes progress and communication notes. Encourages development of new skills while maintaining present skills. Implements therapeutic recommendations that may include positioning, sensory activities, and exercises.
• Provides recreational, medical and leisure opportunities at home and in the community. Drives a transport vehicle, operates a lift, if needed, assists members with safety requirements including seat belts and shoulder belts. Ensures safety and stability of a wheelchair in the vehicle using tie downs.
• Completes incident reports and notifies the member's guardian of the incident, if needed. Responds to members emergency situations by calling for assistance and providing emergency intervention until medical help arrives; assists in coordinating the emergency response plan and follows the necessary steps to ensure the safety of the member.
• Orders, logs, dispenses, administers, and stores medications of members according to doctor's orders upon successful completion of the appropriate 16-hour medication technician or medication administration course. When assigned, perform shift lead responsibilities which may include organizing and implementing shift tasks, staff assignments, and members schedules.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

Knowledge in

• Cleaning and basic housekeeping
• Human rights
• Providing personal care
• Planning processes.
• Basic cooking.
  
  

Skills In

• Planning activities designed to meet specific needs of individual members.
• Using a computer, including email.
• Communicating with members verbally and/or through sign language
• Time and work management
• Advocating for members
  
  

Ability to

• Understand and follow spoken and written directions.
• Display compassion with respect to others.
• Attend staff training and apply the basic principles of program training and data collection designed to meet the specific needs of members including medication administration.
• Learn and apply behavior support techniques.
• Learn and apply basic physical, occupational and speech therapy techniques.
  
  

Selective Preference(s)

The ideal candidate for this position will have

• Applicant must be 18 years of age to apply and read and write English. Must be willing to work weekends, holidays, overtime, and change work locations, when necessary.
  
  

Pre-Employment Requirements

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver's License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver's license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to Driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operated a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) (R2-10-201.11).

• Employee shall have a valid Level One fingerprint clearance card issued pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute 41-2758.07 in order to work with children and vulnerable adults.
• Candidates for this position shall be subject to a search of both the Department of Child Safety Central Registry pursuant to A.R.S. 8-804 and the Adult Protective Services Registry pursuant to A.R.S. 46-459.
• Successfully pass background and reference check; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the Agency's ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
  
  

Benefits

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance
  
  

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

Contact Us

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact us Ariana Dominguez at 480-790-1749 or arianadominguez@azdes.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 480-790-1749 or arianadominguez@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.