Laundry Aide/ Technician Job Opening

Purpose:

To assist in the day-to-day activities of the Laundry Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards governing the facility to assure that it is maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.

Essential Functions:

• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility.

• Coordinate daily laundry services with nursing service when performing routine laundry assignments in resident living areas.

• Ensure that assigned work areas are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.

• Ensure equipment is cleaned and properly stored at the end of the shift.

• Maintain confidentiality of resident information.
• Knock before entering a resident's room.

• Ensure that the residents' personal and property rights are maintained by assigned personnel.
• Ensure that refuse is disposed of daily and in accordance with established sanitation procedures.

• Ensure that an adequate supply of laundry supplies is maintained to perform daily tasks; keep supervisor informed of supply need.
• Ensure that an adequate supply of clean linen is maintained in linen closets.

• Clean work and supply carts, equipment, etc., as necessary.
• Perform day-to-day laundry functions as assigned.
• Collect, sort, and weigh soiled laundry, linen, garments, etc., and place in appropriate containers or assigned areas.
• Sort soiled laundry, linen, garments, etc. and separate those items that require special stain removal/treatment.
• Sort, count, and wash soiled laundry, linen, garments, etc., in accordance with established procedures.
• Press/iron garments as necessary.
• Fold, count, stack, hang, and distribute clean laundry, linen, garments, etc. to residents daily and/or as instructed.
• Maintain confidentiality of resident information.
• Knock before entering a resident's room.
• Honor the residents personal and property rights.
• Report complaints of missing property to supervisor.
• Turn in all found articles to supervisor.

• Performs other related assignments as required.

Work Schedule

• As assigned, including some week-ends, evenings and Holidays.

Working Conditions

• Works in well-lighted/ventilated areas.
• Most of the work is performed indoors
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing staff, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal duty hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• May be exposed to bodily fluids, infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and hepatitis B viruses.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; implements or office equipment; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Collect information through observation, listening, touching, and smelling.
• Must have auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess
• Job requires regular sitting, standing, walking, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, twisting, writing, and carrying charts, food, trays, etc.
• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and color vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Employee may be required to move chairs, beds, and medical equipment, move patients in bed (with or without assistance).
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with the residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility.
• May be required to lift, push, pull, and move equipment, supplies, etc., in excess of fifty (50) pounds.
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents.

Safety, Sanitation and Infection Controls

• Assure the assigned work areas are maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary manner.
• Assure that established infection control and universal precautions practices are observed.
• Report all hazardous conditions or equipment to your supervisor.
• Follow established safety policies and procedures.
• Dispose of refuse daily in accordance with established sanitation procedures.
• Keep work/assignment areas free of hazardous objects, unnecessary equipment, supplies, etc.
• Report any accident/incident to your supervisor no matter how minor.

Qualifications:

• Must have, at a minimum, a high school diploma or its equivalent.

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions, to follow instructions, and to accept constructive criticism.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.