Group Home Associate Professional

Job Description

Job Description

Purpose of Position:

The Residential Associate Professional provides direct care services to one or more person’s receiving services through the Agency’s licensed residential facility. The Residential Associate Professional is the shift leader and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the facility while on duty

• Assist persons served by teaching skills as outlined in their PCP and the service definition under which they are providing service to promote a higher level of independence, including but not limited to the following: social skills, personal hygiene, budgeting, anger management, meal preparation, grocery shopping, maintaining their living arrangement, job searches, interviewing, self advocacy and symptom management.
• Support the person served in understanding and exercising their rights
• Provide support services in a manner that is safe, therapeutic, and free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
• Support the persons served by maintaining the best possible health by following the PCP including but are not limited to the following: nutrition plans, health care plans, exercise regimes
• Assist the persons served in accessing community resources including but not limited to the following: accessing civic organizations and benefits
• Support the person served in establishing and maintaining relationships that are important to him/her
• Administer prescription, overthecounter, and PRN medication as ordered by a physician and in accordance with State and Agency rules, statutes, and policy and procedures, if credentialed to do so and if such is noted the person served’s PCP

As requested, attend health-related appointments with the persons served and promote self advocacy and if necessary communicate effectively on his/her behalf

• Ensure that all information resulting form health related appointments is documented and communicated to the Home Manager.
• Attend and participate in treatment team meetings, audits, and committees as requested
Documentation
• Service notes oComplete all service documentation including but , not limited to the following: service notes, incident reports, medication administration, etc. on the appropriate form and in a thorough and timely manner, as required by State, Federal, and Agency rules, statutes, policy and procedure, and Agency service operation manuals.
• Submit service notes to the Home Manager on a weekly basis
• Time sheets oAccurately complete timesheets, reflecting the amount of time spent in service provision
• Submit timesheets to the appropriate Home Manager on a weekly basis
• Submission of personal timesheets, including supporting service documentation within 24 hours of the service event. [Note: Failure to submit this information will result in a decrease in the hourly rate to minimum wage.]
Quality Assurance and Improvement
• The Residential Associate Professional is the shift leader and is responsible for the day to day operations of the facility while on duty
• Assure that service documentation clearly is clearly written, reflects the specific goals and symptoms to be addressed, pursuant to the PCP, and are signed
• Assure that medications are administered, as applicable, in accordance to the prescribed dosages, and times and frequencies and noted in on the Medication Administration Record (MAR)
• Assure that timesheets and mileage reimbursement forms are accurate, clearly written, and turned in at the designated times
• Assure that staff vehicle is safe and in good working order, as applicable
• Provide direct supervisor and support team with ideas/suggestions of how service provision can be improved
Qualifications: Education
• Must meet Associate Professional Status as defined by 10A NCAC 27G.0104
Experience
• 1 year of experience working with the population served
Training
• Must successfully complete all state required trainings pursuant to the support service delivered
• Must successfully complete all required Agency trainings and inservices
Additional Requirements
• Basic mathematical skills
• Ability to read, write and understand the language of the person served and read and write in English.
• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to work as a team member
• Reliable transportation including proof of current automotive insurance and current inspection sticker and registration
Performance Expectations:
• Maintain a professional demeanor and image in all situations, including but not limited to person served and staff relationships, verbal communications, and attire (please see Employee Handbook)
• Adhere to Federal Antikickback and Medicaid Fraud laws (see Medicaid Fraud and Federal Antikickback Defined)
• Maintain therapeutic boundaries with consumers, families, and guardians
• Be familiar with HIPPA as related to confidentiality of information specific to persons served
• Have an understanding of Client Rights
• Have an understanding of person served abuse, neglect, and exploitation rules
• Develop and consistently demonstrate an understanding to the persons served, their likes, dislikes, behaviors, desired life outcomes, visions for the future, and their PCPs
• Have a basic understanding of mental health and its related symptomology
• Have or develop an understanding of the medications that the persons served may be taking, their purpose and side effects
• Have or develop a working knowledge of therapeutic interventions to assist persons served in effectively monitoring and dealing with their emotions and behaviors
• Consistently practice appropriate medication administration and documentation
• Consistently practice appropriate service records documentation, pursuant to State, Federal, and Agency Policies and Procedures
• Provide support services as scheduled, showing up ontime and working on person centered goals for the duration of the time allotted
• Serve as a valued member of a person focused team to support the individuals we serve
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and persons served
• Express ideas clearly, both verbally and written
• Ability to plan and execute work effectively
• Be aware of expiration dates and maintain current training and recertification requirements
• Attend and participate in all team meetings, committees, and audits as requested

Accuracy Required In Work and Consequence of Error: The Residential Associate Professional is responsible for delivering services to each consumer on their caseload, which has the potential to severely affect the health and safety of consumers and staff. This position has a fiduciary responsibility to the Agency including but not limited to billing, in which errors could result in significant funding infractions for the agency

Supervision and Training Provided To Employee: The local office will provide initial training, while on-going training and supervision is provided on by the supervisor.

Physical Effort: Ability to sit, stand and/or drive for duration of shift, bend, reach, climb stairs, lift up to 30 pounds and the manual dexterity to operate standard office machines, such as, computers, fax machines, copiers and telephones. From time to time travel will required, which may include out-of-town travel.

In the residential setting employees' workstation is usually a home-like environment. Odors and noise are often present due to the functioning level of the client. Behavior problems of persons served, such as aggression, or lifting could cause bodily injury for employees in some settings. Providing transportation could result in accidents or injuries. Employees must be able to perform emergency physical restraint, if necessary.

Work Environment and Conditions: The Residential Associate Professional works primarily in the community in order to ensure the quality and provision of services to the consumers. For residential services, depending on the shift worked, much of the service might be provided in the residence

Direct Supervisor for this position:

Immediate supervisor is the Home Manager

Salary Range: To be negotiated.