SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

CLASS TITLE: Specialized Physical Health Care (SPHC) Assistant

To provide specialized physical health care services to severely medically disabled special education students; to maintain records documenting the provision of health care procedures; to assist designated staff members in appropriate specialized health care procedures

The class of Specialized Physical Health Care (SPHC) Assistant assists assigned nurses and other certificated personnel to meet the specialized physical health care needs of designated students. Employees in this class receive general supervision within a well-defined framework of policies and procedures. An employee in this class will be specifically assigned to one student.

Employees in this class perform such functions as gastronomy tube procedures, oral feedings, tracheostomy procedures, and other specialized procedures in accordance with medical procedures and clearly defined instructions. This class requires specialized training in designated procedures as well as a high degree of positive contact with special education students and certificated personnel.

• gastrostomy tube procedures

• oral feeding

• tracheostomy procedures

• cleaning intermittent catheterization

• oxygen administration

• oral/nasal suctioning

• blood glucose testing

Possession of:

• Cardiopulmonary (CPR) certification

Knowledge of:

• Proper English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation

• Basic concepts of child development and behavior

• The unique needs of exceptional children

• Effective record-keeping practices and procedures

• Basic academic subjects/developmental activities taught/practiced in assigned instructional unit

Ability to:

• Learn, strictly follow, and accurately perform specialized physical health care procedures to severely medically disabled students including gastronomy tube feedings, tracheostomy suctioning, and other specialized procedures as required and in accordance with medical orders

• Learn, strictly follow, and effectively apply medication administration requirements and procedures

• Understand the needs of the special education students with medical conditions and effectively relate and respond to these needs

• Understand and follow both oral and written instructions

• Effectively communicate in both oral and written forms

• Assist severely handicapped students with personal activities of daily living including toileting, diapering, eating, dressing and other self-help skills

• Establish and maintain a variety of records and files related to the provision of specialized health care procedures, health-related protocols and administration of medications

• Exercise tact, diplomacy, and good judgment in dealing with special education students with severe medical disabilities

• Maintain and monitor designated equipment and supplies needed for physical health care procedures in a sanitary and effective manner

• Take appropriate action in response to emergency situations according to established procedures/protocols and emergency medical guidelines

• Operate standard office

• Meet the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform required duties including lifting and positioning students

• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

May require the ability to:

• Speak, read, and/or write in another language other than English.

Requires:

• Passing a pre-employment physical examination related to job duties/assignments and in accordance with applicable law, statutes, bargaining unit agreements, and merit system rules.

Any combination of experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way of demonstrating these qualifications would be:

• Two years experience providing services to severely medically disabled persons including one year working with or serving individuals with exceptional needs or behavioral deficits, and graduation from high school or equivalent.

• Graduation from high school or equivalent. Completion of 30 college semester units which include course work directly related to the job, such as behavior management, psychology, child care, child growth and development may substitute for six months of the required experience.

BARGAINING UNIT: Aides Unit

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Frequently (34-66%): smell and reach above shoulders

• Continuously (67-100%): bend, twist, push, pull, climb, squat, crawl and kneel

• Frequently (34-66%): employ the use of the Hoyer Lift to elevate up to 120 lbs. from floor to chest height

• Frequently (34-66%): lift 40-50 lbs. to waist height

• Frequently (34-66%): sit, reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stand and walk; grasp with hands and fingers; and lift up to 50 lbs.

• Continuously (67-100%): use hands to finger, handle or fell objects, tools, or controls; see (including close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus), hear and speak; key (i.e., computer, calculator, telephone); and lift (up to 40 lbs.).

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Approximately 95% of the time performing job duties is spent indoors, within a specialized classroom environment.

• While performing the duties of this job, constantly exposed to risk of trip and fall (over wheelchairs, walkers, IV stands, Hoyer lifts, crutches, etc.)

• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Approximately 30 minutes each day is spent at bus loading area where noise is extremely shrill and loud.

• The temperature of the work environment is moderate and ranges from 65 – 80 degrees.

MACHINES, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:

• Seldom (1-5%): automobile

• Occasionally (6-33%): copier, fax and computer

• Frequently (34-66%): writing instruments and telephone

• Frequently (34-66%): hand-crank Hoyer lift, IV stands and tubes for feeding and medication

TRAVEL:

• This job class requires minimal routine travel within close proximity to the regular assigned work location.

Approved by the Personnel Commission: January 27, 2005