4.2.1 Personal Care Attendants (PCAs): Assessing Needs & Interviewing Applicants
Louisiana Statewide Transition Project and Louisiana: Healthy and Ready to Work Fact Sheet Series
	7/28/99

I. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) can provide support and/or assistance to young adults with disabilities by supporting or assisting with personal care that is related to activities of daily living. PCAs may provide this support/assistance at home, on the job, and/or in the community. By providing such a service, a PCA can help foster a more independent lifestyle. When a PCA is needed, it is very important to carefully select the right person for the job. It critical to remember that PCAs not only needs to be willing and able to carry out all of the demands of the job, but also personally compatible with the young adult for whom they are working.

II. KEY POINTS

Before interviewing applicants for the PCA position, young adults should conduct a personal needs assessment in order to identify and define the tasks with which assistance or support is needed. Areas to consider may include, but are not limited to: bathing, dressing, and grooming; toileting; taking medication; using of adaptive devices and/or support animals; transferring, ambulating, and range of motion; preparing and eating meals; housekeeping, laundry, and household maintenance; shopping and errands; and transportation.

The PCA will perform duties based upon the unique needs of the person for whom he/she works, therefore it is important to prepare a written list of tasks based on the needs assessment to share with applicants. This list should include of the type of assistance/support required, the level of assistance/support required, and the amount of time needed to complete each task. It is also helpful to get the input of the people currently supporting/assisting with these tasks, as they offer a different perspective.

Another key task to complete before beginning the search for a PCA is to determine how services will be funded. The services of a PCA can either be paid for by the young adult requiring the services or through funds received through various programs and agencies. Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) and the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) are two agencies that fund PCA services for young adults meeting their eligibility requirements. Young adults should contact these agencies to determine if they are eligible.

Once duties have been identified and defined, the search for candidates may begin. The young adult should develop a job description in order to give information about what type of PCA is being sought. The job description may include tasks identified in the needs assessment, a sample daily schedule, availability of transportation, and other relevant details. It can be disseminated to family members, friends, as well as service providers.

Some young adults may want to place an advertisement in local newspapers or newsletters. Information included in these types of publications should be more general than the information listed on the job description. Other information listed may include minimum qualifications of applicants [including training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, and disease prevention]; types of job experience preferred; and telephone numbers or a post office address to which applicants can respond (for safety reasons, do not include a home address). It is important to remember that as more qualifications are required, the pool of potential applicants will get smaller, and the rate of pay required will increase.

After advertising the position, it is necessary to gather information about applicants in order to determine which ones to interview. When potential applicants inquire about the position, young adults should ask questions that will yield information about their ability to meet the basic requirements of the job. Screening questions may focus on such areas as availability of reliable transportation, ability to perform essential tasks of the job, etc. If potential applicants answer identified screening questions favorably, then an interview should be scheduled. Young adults may also choose to use an application form to gather additional pre-interview information about candidates for the PCA position. These forms can include the following information:

· legal name, address, and phone number;

· Social Security number and drivers license number;

· date the applicant is available to begin work;

· previous work experience (including contact information);

· relevant training received;

· disclosure of previous felony convictions; and

· references.

The most important technique to use when searching for a PCA is the interview. Young adults should practice their interviewing skills before conducting actual interviews. By conducting mock interviews with trusted family members or friends, young adults will be better prepared when conducting actual interviews. For security reasons, young adults may want to schedule interviews in a location other than their home. Young adults should stagger interview times so that there is adequate time between each one for reflection on the applicant's skills, note taking, and preparation for the next interview. Be sure to schedule enough time between interviews to avoid fatigue. Young adults should also make sure that they are well prepared for the interview, ensuring that needed materials are at hand and interview questions are drafted. There are some questions to avoid in interviews, as they may be considered discriminatory. These include, but are not limited to:

· "What is your age or date of birth?"

· "What is your marital status?"

· "What is your race?"

· "What is your sex/gender?"

When interviewing applicants, young adults should not try to make the job sound easier or less time consuming than it actually is in order to persuade an applicant to take the job. They should be clear about the amount of time the PCA will be working and determine in advance what wage is available.

Interviews for a PCA will be somewhat different than interviews for more traditional jobs because of the tasks associated with the job. The PCA will be required to carry out or assist with tasks that are highly personal; therefore, these issues must be discussed at the interview. Typically, such intimate details are not discussed with strangers; therefore, some young adults may feel uncomfortable when interviewing. It is very important, however, that such details are discussed in the interview, as they are central to the PCA's tasks. Before concluding the interview, young adults may want to get certain release forms signed in order to do background and reference checks. Finally, young adults should always conduct post-interview follow-up activities such as background and reference checks. Remember, it is important to utilize several of the suggested techniques in order to get a balanced view of each applicant.

III. ROLES/NEXT STEPS

Students/Young Adults: Young adults should conduct a personal needs assessment before taking any other steps to hire a PCA. By identifying and defining all needs, young adults will better know what kind of person they are seeking to provide support or assistance.

Self-advocacy and self-determination skills can be very helpful when utilizing the services of a PCA. Young adults must learn how to articulate what they want and/or need, and also how to advocate for themselves to get it. By learning and practicing self-advocacy and self-determination skills while still in high school, young adults can gain the experience needed to be successful employers of PCAs.

Young adults should make efforts to improve their communication skills. The more effective they are at communicating their needs to others, the better their relationship with their PCA will be. Communication is especially critical when interviewing applicants. Young adults must be able to accurately express the requirements and expectations for the position. They must also be skilled at asking follow-up questions, and asking for clarification.

Families: Families should support young adults in their pursuit to hire a PCA. It is helpful to give the input to young adults when they are conducting a needs assessment. The perspective of those providing support or assistance is very important in this process. Family members can also help the young adult when searching for PCA applicants, as well as when interviewing and selecting a PCA.

Families should talk to young adults about the qualities of the various applicants, and what they can offer. Families should aid young adults in the decision making process, helping them evaluate all options and make informed choices. However, families must realize that the young adult must have the final authority when choosing a PCA, since it is the young adult who will be receiving the assistance or support.

Agencies: All agency personnel involved in transition planning should support young adults in their quest to be self-determined. By listening to young adults and respecting their thoughts, opinions, and dreams, agency personnel can help young adults advocate for themselves and reach their goals. Local education agencies (LEAs) and adult agencies should offer self-advocacy/self-determination training to young adults. These skills are very useful when working with PCAs.

When requested, all adult agency personnel should attend Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings at which transition to adulthood is discussed. LRS counselors, OCDD personnel, and others have valuable information that must be shared with teachers, families, and young adults wishing to utilize PCA services. If the young adult is already using the services of a PCA, then he/she should also be invited to be a part of the transition planning process.

IV. RESOURCES/CONTACTS

Centers for Independent Living:

New Horizons, Inc. (Shreveport area)

318-865-1000

Resources for Independent Living, Inc. (New Orleans area)

504-522-1955

Southwest LA Independence Center, Inc.

318-477-7194

(Each center has satellite offices in surrounding communities)

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS)

925-4131 (in Baton Rouge) or 800-737-2958*

(contact to get the number of the office nearest you.)

Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD)

225-342-0095*

(*Contact these state offices in order to get the number of the regional office nearest you.)

V. REFEERENCES

Ludlow, Catherine D. (1995). Getting From Here to There: A Manual on Personal Assistance, The Training Partnership Project: A. J. Pappakikou Center.

Ulicny, Gary, R., Jones, Michael, L. (1987). Step by Step Guide for Training and Managing Personal Care Attendants, Research Training Center on Independent Living: University of Kansas.