Senior Instructional Assistant - Medical

Job Title

Senior Instructional Assistant-Medical

Job Description

Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, assist a certificated teacher or specialist in providing instructional support to individuals or small groups of students with disabilities in a Special Education program; assist in meeting specific student instructional needs which may include feeding, toileting, positioning and monitoring students with medical conditions; and perform a variety of instructional, medical, behavioral, and clerical duties as assigned.

Function & Duties

Provide instructional support as directed by the teacher to individuals or small groups of students with disabilities in a variety of areas including cognitive, gross and fine motor skills, feeding skills, self-help skills, vocational skills, and behavior; utilize and implement basic digitized instructional programs and applications for student learning and/or progress monitoring and utilize the District's Learning Management System. Assist students using a wheelchair when arriving and leaving classrooms; position and reposition students with medical equipment as appropriate. Assist students getting on and off bus, including students in wheelchairs; accompany students with medical conditions on the bus, as assigned. Assist the teacher in maintaining the health and safety of students with severe and multiple disabilities by scanning the environment for potential hazards for each student; assist the teacher to implement medical, health, and safety procedures according to established guidelines procedures. Serve lunch and feed students with mobility difficulties and monitor students who self-feed, as directed by a teacher; use gastronomy and suctioning equipment and take appropriate action when students have difficulty while eating. Assist students with personal hygiene; wash hands and faces; monitor individual toilet training schedules; toilet students and change diapers; and change clothing as needed. Monitor, observe, and collect data on students' academic, behavioral medical, and social-emotional progress according to approved District protocols; report progress to school staff as assigned by the classroom teacher; utilize approved behavior management strategies to redirect challenging behaviors. Assist District staff and specialists with providing physical development activities. Operate a variety of medical equipment including oral suctioning, gastronomy and orthopedic equipment. Administer first aid and CPR, as needed, to students with chronic and acute medical conditions. Perform routine custodial duties to maintain assigned facility in a clean and sanitary condition; clean dishes, tables, mats and therapy equipment; wash aprons, towels and other used materials/equipment. Collaboratively work with Individual Educational Program (IEP) teams to support students' growth and progress toward goals. Assist teacher in maintaining a variety of records including student data sheets, medication records and data on student progress toward (IEP) goals; assist in monitoring and reporting behavior changes and seizure activity as directed. Provide support to the classroom teacher by setting up work areas, displays and exhibits, operating audio-visual equipment, operating educational training equipment, and distributing and collecting paper and supplies. Supervise and direct students at all times including lunch time, group activities, field trips, on the playground, and when mainstreamed into another class as needed; supervise the loading and unloading of students on school buses as assigned. Participate in meetings and in-service training programs as assigned. Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of: Basic child development practices as they relate to students with disabilities. Unique needs of students with severe and multiple medical conditions. Strategies and techniques to assist in the instruction of medically fragile students. Reading, writing, and mathematics. Effective oral and written communications skills. Safe practices in classroom and playground activities. Basic instructional strategies. First Aid and CPR procedures. Ability to: Use appropriate interpersonal skills of tact, patience and courtesy. Demonstrate empathy, friendliness, patience and responsibility. Work collaboratively with the classroom teacher and school staff to support students' academic, behavioral, health, vocational, social-emotional, and self-help learning. Maintain confidentially of sensitive and privileged information. Effectively assist teacher in responding to students' emergencies. Assist in toileting feeding, and basic health procedures. Prepare instructional materials as directed by teachers. Maintain records as directed by the teacher. Understand and follow oral and written directions. Work cooperatively with others and independently with limited direction and supervision as needed. Assist in lifting students and equipment, including fully grown students. Demonstrate attendance sufficient to complete the duties of the position as required. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Demonstrate empathy, friendliness, patience and responsibility. Maintain a work pace appropriate to the position.

Education and Experience, Licenses and Other Requirements

Education and Experience: Any combination equivalent to: graduation from high school and one year of paid or volunteer experience working with individuals with medical disabilities, or possession of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate and experience working with individuals with severe disabilities. Licenses and Other Requirements: Valid First Aid and CPR Certificates issued by an authorized agency, as well as meeting requirements to keep certificates current. All candidates must meet the state Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirement for this position. This can be met one of three ways: 1. Possession of an associate's degree or higher 2. Completion of at least 48 full semester units at an accredited college or university 3. Taking and passing the ESSA exam administered by Downey Unified School District If you meet the ESSA requirement through possession of the associate's degree or higher or have completed at least 48 full semester units, please attach a copy of your degree or college level transcripts to your application.