Personal Care Attendant (PCA)

POSITIONS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE STATE What is a Personal Care Attendant

(PCA)? A PCA provides assistance to, and is employed by, MassHealth PCA

program consumer-employers in accordance with the MassHealth PCA

Program. A consumer-employer is a MassHealth member who receives

MassHealth-covered PCA services and who hires and manages one or more

PCAs. PCAs help consumer-employers live in their homes by providing

support with the activities of daily living, such as: - Walking -

Mobility, including transferring in and out of chairs and beds -

Toileting - Bathing and dressing And/or the instrumental activities of

daily living, such as: - Meal preparation - Housekeeping - Shopping What

is the MassHealth PCA Program? MassHealth's PCA program provides funds

for people with disabilities to manage one or more PCAs. Who is the

employer? Consumer-employers are responsible to hire, train, and manage

the PCA. The consumer-employer is listed as the employer on the I-9 and

W-4 forms. PCAs are NOT independent contractors: taxes are withheld.

Benefits/Pay What are the advantages of working as a PCA? - Hourly wage

of $19.00 - Up to 50 hours of paid time off each year - Paid family

medical leave - Time and one-half pay on 6 holidays - Access to a

Healthcare Navigator (to help find a health insurance plan) -

Opportunity for job seekers to grow their skill sets with specialized

trainings provided by the 1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund and PCA

Workforce Council. - Access to free certificate programs and college

courses after one year of PCA work (health care, IT, education).

Qualifications and Requirements What is required to be a PCA in

Massachusetts? - Authorization to work in the United States - Ability to

understand and carry out instructions of the consumer-employer -

Completion of a paid, four-hour PCA new hire orientation training Are

there any restrictions on who can be hired as a PCA? A person cannot be

hired if he/she is the consumer-employer's: - Parents of minor

children - Spouses - Legally responsible relatives What other

considerations are there regarding PCA work in Massachusetts? - PCAs can

work full time (up to 50 hours/week) or part-time (as few as one hour

per week). - Each consumer-employer has their own preferences for worker

certification, licensure, or educational attainment. - Each

consumer-employer can choose whether to run a CORI, SORI or drug test. -

Each consumer-employer can choose whether to require COVID-19

vaccination.