Client Companion (Caregiving Role)

Scope of Services

As a Navi Caregiver, the contractor provides non-medical in-home support services to Navi clients in accordance with each client's co-created care plan. The full scope of services includes:

PERSONAL CARE

• Bathing, grooming, oral hygiene, hair care, nail care (non-clinical), skin care.
• Dressing and undressing, including adaptive clothing assistance.
• Toileting and incontinence care, including dignified support and discreet management.
• Transfer and mobility assistance, including safe lifting techniques, ambulation support, and use of mobility devices.
• Feeding assistance, including support with adaptive utensils, positioning, and aspiration-aware feeding pacing.
• Repositioning to prevent pressure injuries for clients with limited mobility.

ATTENDANT CARE & COMPANIONSHIP

• Supervision and safety monitoring, particularly for clients with cognitive impairment or fall risk.
• Companionship, conversation, and meaningful-activity engagement based on client preferences and interests.
• Cognitive stimulation activities (puzzles, reading aloud, reminiscence work) where appropriate.
• Accompaniment to medical appointments, social activities, or community outings (where transportation arrangements are pre-coordinated with Navi).
• Emotional presence during difficult moments — including post-surgical pain, grief, anxiety, or end-of-life care.

HOMEMAKER SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE CLIENT

• Light housekeeping focused on the client's immediate living areas (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, primary living space).
• Meal planning and preparation, including support for dietary restrictions and preferences.
• Laundry, including client clothing and linens.
• Grocery shopping and errands in support of the client (when pre-coordinated and within Navi policy).
• Pet care of limited scope when the pet is part of the client's wellbeing (feeding, walking, basic care).

OBSERVATION, DOCUMENTATION & COMMUNICATION

• Observation of changes in the client's condition, behavior, mood, environment, or care needs.
• Timely documentation of services delivered, observations made, and any deviations from the care plan, in accordance with Navi documentation standards.
• Communication with Navi's clinical team, scheduling team, and (as authorized) the client's family regarding the client's status.
• Escalation of clinical concerns, safety issues, or care-plan questions to the Navi Nurse Manager or designated clinical contact, without delay.

Required Qualifications

Every Navi Caregiver must meet the following at the time of engagement and maintain throughout the engagement period:

EDUCATION

• Completion of, or active pursuit of, higher education (associate degree, bachelor's degree, or equivalent professional credential) is required. This Navi-specific standard reflects the advanced depth of judgment, professionalism, and communication required for the role.

CAREGIVING EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 1 year of direct caregiving or related care experience (home care, assisted living, hospital tech, hospice volunteer, family caregiving with documented depth, or comparable healthcare-adjacent role) OR Nursing Student at an affiliated college.
• Demonstrated experience with at least two of the populations Navi serves: post-surgical recovery, post-discharge care, geriatric and aging-in-place support, hospice and end-of-life care, or chronic disease management.

CREDENTIALING & COMPLIANCE

• Active completion of an AHCCCS-approved Direct Care Worker (DCW) training and competency examination, or qualifying equivalent (Principles of Caregiving Level I & II).
• Current CPR and First Aid certification or BLS (American Heart Association or American Red Cross).
• Arizona Level I fingerprint clearance card, current and unexpired.
• Negative TB test (within 12 months) and documentation of immunizations per Arizona Department of Health Services and AHCCCS guidance.
• Valid Arizona driver's license, current auto insurance meeting state minimums, and reliable personal transportation.
• Smartphone capable of accessing Navi's documentation and communication platforms.
• Completion of Navi's onboarding pathway (virtual pre-learning, in-person Phoenix orientation, shadow shift, and curated first independent shift) prior to engagement on independent cases.

SKILLS & APTITUDES

• Comfortable functioning as part of an interdisciplinary care team, collaborating with schedulers, nurses, nurse navigators, physicians, therapists, and/or clinical leaders to coordinate care and achieve positive client outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication in English. Bilingual ability (Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, ASL, or other) is a significant asset given the populations Navi serves.
• Comfort using mobile documentation tools, basic technology, and digital scheduling platforms.
• Demonstrated emotional regulation under difficult circumstances — grief, family conflict, behavioral expression, end-of-life situations.
• Cultural humility and adaptability to client homes that may differ significantly from the contractor's own background and preferences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in healthcare, social work, gerontology, psychology, or a related field.
• Prior experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Home Health Aide (HHA), or Assisted Living Facility Caregiver, in addition to the required DCW credential.
• Specialty training or experience in dementia care, end-of-life care, or post-surgical recovery.
• Experience documenting in electronic health records or care management platforms.
• Pursuit of further credentialing — nursing school, social work programs, allied health pathways. Navi welcomes contractors who are growing toward expanded clinical roles and supports continued development.

Work Environment & Physical Considerations

Navi Caregiver work takes place in the residences of Navi clients across the Phoenix metropolitan area. Each home is unique. The contractor should anticipate and be prepared for:

• Variable home conditions — homes may be modest or affluent, well-maintained or in need of attention, comfortable in temperature or not. Navi expects respect for every home and every client regardless of circumstance.
• Presence of pets and family members. Comfort working alongside, and around, the people and animals who live in the client's home is essential.
• Physical demands typical of caregiving work, including but not limited to: standing and walking for extended periods; bending, kneeling, reaching, and squatting; safe lifting and transferring of clients up to typical adult weight using proper technique and adaptive equipment; carrying groceries or supplies.
• Exposure to common bodily fluids, infectious materials, and clinical scenarios that require proper PPE and infection control practice.
• Emotional demands including, at times, witnessing client decline, family grief, behavioral expression in clients with cognitive impairment, and end-of-life moments.
• Travel between cases, including driving in Phoenix-area weather and traffic conditions.

Independent Contractor Responsibilities

As a 1099 independent contractor, the Navi Caregiver is responsible for:

• Providing their own transportation, smartphone, and personal supplies needed to fulfill engagements (Navi will provide client-specific care supplies as appropriate).
• Managing their own schedule, including communicating availability, accepting or declining available cases, and arranging coverage when a previously accepted case cannot be honored.
• Maintaining all required credentials, certifications, and compliance documentation in current status, and providing updated documentation to Navi as required.
• Filing and paying all applicable federal, state, and self-employment taxes.
• Carrying personal auto insurance meeting Arizona state requirements and any additional coverages outlined in the Independent Contractor Services Agreement.
• Maintaining the confidentiality of all client information in accordance with HIPAA, Navi policies, and the Independent Contractor Services Agreement.
• Operating as an independent business — contractor is free to engage with other clients or care entities, provided no conflict of interest or breach of confidentiality with Navi clients results.