Do I need experience to work for your company?
A Caring Company, Inc. hires PCAs with or without previous experience. PCAs with no prior experience receive training on basic health care, emergency practices, mandated reporting, bloodborne pathogens, and universal precautions, as well as specific training based on the needs of their clients. The Qualified Professional provides the PCA training and observes the PCAs in a working environment in order to ensure that each PCA can adequately meet his/her client's needs with PCA services.

How do I get started as a PCA?
To get started as a PCA, please read about A Caring Company, Inc.'s Personal Care Assistants. Then go through and understand our PCA Job Description to make sure you are willing and able to meet all of our requirements and qualifications. If you are, follow the steps of our Application Process. [Briefly, this process includes filling out an Application Packet and receiving a certificate of completion through the required DHS Online PCA Training Program. You can turn these in via mail, fax, or email. Once received, we do a quick interview (often over the phone) and then you complete the Background Consent Form. Then you will receive an additional form from us to bring to a DHS approved site to have your photo and fingerprints taken as part of the background study process. We then set a time for training after a successful background study.]

What do I have to do to transfer to your agency?
PCAs transfer with clients to our agency all the time. If a PCA has other clients with another agency and wishes to continue working with those clients, that PCA can simply work for both agencies. He/she just needs to sign-up to work with our agency for his/her client that is transferring. PCAs that work for multiple agencies must track their total hours, which cannot exceed 275 hours a month (across all agencies).

If you are a PCA transfering to our agency, you are required to complete our Employment Packet. Existing PCAs should already have their DHS Certificate, so they just need to provide us a copy. We do a short interview and then you complete the Background Consent Form. We begin the background study and give you a form to take to a DHS approved site to have your photo and fingerprints taken as part of the background study process if they are not on record yet. Upon a successful background study, you fill out our Employment Packet, complete orientation, and begin services.

What are your pay periods?
Employees are paid every two weeks. One "work week" is from Thursday to Wednesday. A paycheck is comprised of two work weeks. Paychecks should be received by the Wednesday following the Wednesday of the second work week. Our home page displays information for the current pay period. Click here for a complete pay schedule.

How do timesheets work?
Each day, A Caring Company, Inc.'s PCAs use timesheets to record the hours they've worked and the cares they've provided to their client. Each timesheet covers a seven (7) day work period: starts Thursday and ends the following Wednesday. PCAs will turn in two timesheets each pay period per client. If a PCA works for more than one client, one timesheet is used per client per week. Click here for instructions on how to fill out a timesheet.

How do I turn my timesheets in?
You may turn your timesheets in via fax (952.881.0259) or by handing them in at our office location. We currently do not accept timesheet submissions over the internet.

When do I get paid if my timesheets are late?
Timesheets are due every other Monday. Any late timesheets will be processed the next pay period. If timesheets are only a day late, we try to process them for the current pay period, but no guaruntees.

Do you have direct deposit?
Yes. A Caring Company, Inc. can direct deposit paychecks to a PCA's checking account, savings account, or money card. For checking accounts, simply complete our Direct Deposit Form and attached a voided check (deposit slips do not have the correct numbers). Savings accounts and money cards require a bank statement showing the routing number and account number.

What type of training do your PCAs receive?
PCAs receive the majority of their training at orientation. The orientation session covers the following:

1. A review and check of all required employment forms (if needed).
2. Information on A Caring Company, Inc. and its policies.
3. Training on completing timesheets and an explanation on signatures and fraud.
4. An annual In-service Test and Mandated Reporter Test.
5. Training on general health care, privacy concerns, and safety issues. These include administering first aid, assisting a client who has fallen, calling for emergency assistance, taking care of an ill client, client confidentiality, communication, body mechanics, incident reporting, mandated reporter requirements, and OSHA Standards (identification and prevention of communicable diseases/blood borne pathogens/universal precautions, and the company's Exposure Control Plan).
6. Training specific to the client being served. This may include training on assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), health related procedures, using equipment, and redirection/intervention of behaviors. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) may also be covered.
7. The Qualified Professional will also observe PCAs performing the required tasks that ensure competency of PCA staff to provide the required PCA services. This observation can also happen during a 14 day follow-up after initial orientation.
8. Review of the client's Care Plan and PCA Choice Agreements (if applicable).

A Caring Company, Inc. will maintain records of the training a PCA has completed. As a client's needs change, or if a PCA is assigned to new clients, additional training will be given on an as-needed basis. PCAs who are assigned to clients requiring extensive care may be required to "shadow" a current PCA prior to starting their first shift. In addition, PCAs will be required to pass an In-service Test, as well as a Mandated Reporter Test, every year. New training information will be included with each test in order to keep PCAs updated on information they need to know.