Direct Care Counselor - Downingtown

Direct Care Counselor

Aurora Staffing works collaboratively with you to find your ideal position within our network, caring for and supporting people with disabilities, while working to continuously advance your career. Aurora Staffing is a non-profit organization, recruiting passionate and dedicated people to make the difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities throughout the Woods System of Care in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

This position is for Brian's House:

We want you to join our team! We need deeply compassionate, committed and highly talented staff. The Woods Community at Brian's House has a rich history of helping people with developmental and intellectual disabilities live meaningful and fulfilling lives in the communities of their choosing. We provide homes and work opportunities and foster friendships, learning, and the pursuit of interests. We take great pride in helping and advocating for each person we serve through a program that is as individualized and unique as they are. We strive to provide individuals with choices and to feel valued as members of their communities.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Paid time off
• 403b retirement plan
• Continuing education programs
• Tuition-assisted program
• Career growth opportunities
• Professional development assistance programs
• Tuition reimbursement program

Salary: $16.50 - $17.50 / hour

Job Summary:

The Direct Care Counselor is responsible for the care and supervision of clients at the group home. They are required to establish a positive, supportive relationship with clients and ensure that they maintain a therapeutic, warm, homelike atmosphere at the residential program. It is their duty to report and document any and all incidences that occur at the residential programs or community. At all times, they must maintain a positive working relationship with all supervisory, support, peer and other Brian's House employees and conduct themselves in a professional manner while adhering to all Brian's House, federal, state policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for safety, health and wellbeing of clients at all times.
• Maintain proper levels of supervision for clients at all times as stipulated in the ISP and/or Management.
• Provide assistance, instructions and guidance toward client independence in such areas as dressing, washing, feeding, personal hygiene, tooth brushing, toileting, social interactions, effective/appropriate communications techniques, etc.
• Responsible for preparing meals, feeding clients and providing close supervision and quality interaction during meal times.
• Responsible for housekeeping tasks including but not limited to making beds, sorting laundry, dusting, cleaning, organizing clients and maintaining neat and orderly arrangement of client's personal belongings residential program.
• Assist in shopping for supplies for the clients and the program and maintain accountability of resident's funds, petty cash (must keep and submit receipts to supervisor/Team Leader).
• Participate in individual and/or group recreational and/or social activities based upon the particular needs of assigned clients.
• Transport clients to and fro day program, medical appointments, social and recreational activities. Supervise clients and maintain proper levels of supervision while out in the community or day programming.
• Serves as a member of the Interdisciplinary team, making recommendations for the development and/or implementation of ISP's designed to meet the individual goals set for assigned clients.
• Responsible for fulfilling mandatory training requirements at specified times as per 6400 regulations. Must ensure that required licenses and certifications are valid and current, this includes but is not limited to CPR, First Aid and Drivers License.
• Upon completion of proper training, administer routine first-aid treatment, CPR and medication to clients as needed and document and report any and all client health related concerns to appropriate persons. Complete daily documentation and any pertinent forms as required, this includes but is not limited to trip accountability form, overnight sleep charts, daily logs, health care logs, vehicle logs, communication book, incident reports etc.
• Responsible to document seizures, accidents/injuries and maladaptive behaviors on the appropriate forms and forward forms to appropriate person/department within designated timeframes.
• Chaperone individuals as assigned for scheduled medical appointments, ER visits, social and recreational trips etc. Responsible for the supervision, safety, welfare and whereabouts of assigned clients at all times.
• Relay daily (written and oral instructions) regarding shift/clients to co-workers on succeeding shift.
• Relays emergency information to the appropriate person when assistance is needed in timely manner.
• Responsible to obtain required health screenings as required by regulatory agencies and Brian's House, Inc. policies.
• Responsible to maintain satisfactory attendance and punctuality on the assigned shift.
• Ensures compliance to federal, state and local licensing and accreditation regulations.
• Have awareness of and comply with all Brian's House policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Current and valid driver's license
• At least one (1) year experience in a residential care facility or equivalent preferred.
• Knowledge of practical aspects of the training and care of mentally disabled individuals preferred.
• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds.

About Brian's House:

In 1976, Dave Tuttle founded Brian's House to provide essential services for people with disabilities, including his son, Brian. He contracted with the Chester County Office of Mental Health & Intellectual Disability to operate clustered apartments and community homes to meet the residential needs of several children and adults with disabilities. Two years later, Dave Tuttle opened Brian's House, a renovated historic home in West Chester, Pennsylvania, that served as a residence for 14 children with profound developmental disabilities. Brian Tuttle was one of its first residents and lived there until he passed away in 1989.

In 1996, Brian's House affiliated with Woods, which enabled the organization to expand with the addition of more community homes and, in 1998, the establishment of Brian's House Enterprises, a vocational program and meaningful day program for adults with more profound disabilities. Brian's House now provides residential supports, vocational opportunities, day programs, and community integration options for over 200 adults.

The residential program now goes by the name Woods Community at Brian's House as it expands its community-integrated residential services into other counties in the Greater Philadelphia area.