Program Specialist

Opportunity Summary:

The Program Specialist supports the Residential Director in overseeing the daily operations of assigned residential homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This role ensures high-quality service delivery by supervising residential staff, maintaining regulatory and agency compliance, coordinating schedules, monitoring household operations and budgets, and ensuring individuals receive safe, person-centered support aligned with their personal goals. The Program Specialist helps maintain a safe, well-organized living environment, supports documentation and program oversight, and provides direct care assistance when needed to promote the health, independence, and quality of life of the individuals served.

Who Should Apply:

This position is ideal for experienced Direct Support Professionals, Residential Supervisors, Assistant Residential Directors, or Human Services professionals who are ready to take the next step in leadership while continuing to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

About Unified Community Connections:

Unified Community Connections is a leading provider of services and programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Maryland. We believe that all people living with disabilities have the right to be treated with respect and dignity as well as to exercise the same control over their lives as any other person.

We provide comprehensive, wrap-around services tailored to the unique needs of each person and family we support. Our programs are designed to assist individuals with disabilities in achieving the quality of life they seek. We promote self-determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion in all facets of life.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities:
In a manner consistent with Unified Community Connections' Mission Statement, the Program Specialist shall:
• Ensure all individuals served are living according to their rights and responsibilities and are free from abuse and neglect.
• Have knowledge of and comply with all Agency, state, and federal policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Maintain and monitor budget.
• Maintain each assigned household with groceries and necessary supplies.
• Maintain hours over schedules with ARD.
• Ensure medications are not expired in ALU.
• Complete each assigned household monthly paperwork
• Work with the RD to maintain schedule for each ALU
• Ensure Monthly activity calendar aligns with PCP goals and is communicated to house.
• Ensure ALU books are current.
• Ensure ALU's are maintained inside and outside, and all equipment is in working order.
• Ensure maintenance requests are reported asap.
• Perform direct care as needed.
• On-Call rotation.
• Assist in vehicle maintenance as necessary of assigned ALU.
• Report all Quality Assurance concerns and issues to the Residential Director as soon as possible, this includes; but is not limited to, any health and safety concerns.
• All other duties as required or assigned.

Schedule:

Primarily Monday through Friday day shift. Must be available during a regularly scheduled on-call rotation that includes weekends & nights and emergencies.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervises Residential Program staff and others as assigned.

Qualifications:

The specific requirements listed above represent most of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to fulfill the requirements of the position. To successfully perform this job, the employee must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential task.

Must be able to demonstrate skills in the following areas: problem solving, project/task management, time management, dependability, good judgment, safe work practices, supervision, budget management, and service delivery. Knowledge and understanding of the needs of individuals with disabilities is preferred.


Education and/or Experience:

Associates Degree in Human Services is preferred. Experience will be considered in lieu of the educational requirement. Two (2) to five (5) years in Residential or Personal Support Services environment and two (2) to five (5) years of experience in a supervisory role preferred.


Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure: whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.


Language Skills:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions and written correspondence and interpret documents. Ability to write reports and complete forms or other documents as required. Ability to communicate with others including individuals in Unified programs, family members, medical professionals, co-workers, and vendors both verbally and in written form.

Computer Skills:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Must possess a valid driver's License with no more than 2 points and successfully pass defensive driving course prior to driving.


Training:

Must complete, pass and maintain all DDA required training. Must complete, pass, and maintain Medication Technician Training Program (MTTP), if applicable. Must complete, pass, and maintain Behavioral Principles and Strategies (BPS) training, if applicable. Must complete, pass, and maintain all Unified Community Connections training upon hire and on a recurring basis as requested or required.

Physical Demands:

While performing the tasks of this position, the employee is required, but not limited to, write, type, stand, walk, sit, bend, kneel, climb, crawl, and use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with arms and hands, balance, lift, stretch, etc. The employee may be required to lift/transfer over 50 lbs. Must be willing to assist with participants needs, including, but not limited to feeding, dressing, toileting and hygiene assistance. Must be able to utilize proper body mechanics and safe work practices while assisting with transfers of individuals of varying weight and physical needs. Vision abilities required for this position include, near distance, far distance, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job tasks.

Work Environment:

At Unified we are committed to providing a safe working environment for all employees and to prevent all work related injuries and illnesses. Working in a safe manner is an essential function of this position. Home and office settings with varying degrees of background noise. Light and ventilation as found in typical home or office settings. Employee will frequently be in areas occupied by participants in Unified's programs and he/she must be professional and respect the participant's fundamental rights.

Other:

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Therefore, the employee may be requested to perform other reasonable, related duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor or other management as required.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.