Program Specialist I

The Day Program Specialist is responsible for ensuring that Horizons Residential Care Center assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates opportunities for participant engagement within individualized recreational, arts-based, and community-based experiences. The Day Program Specialist collaborates with individuals served, internal colleagues, families, and community partners to improve the wellness and safety, meaningful day activity, and community engagement of participants supported by Horizons. Volunteer coordination is a key component of this position and supporting volunteers in activities with the residents is an essential responsibility. A broad range of responsibilities is assigned to this role including, individual recreation, leisure, and education activities, group recreation, leisure and education activities, campus-wide event planning, programmatic team collaboration meetings, recreational and leisure goal writing and data collection, volunteer/staff training, holistic supports to improve Quality of Life and other duties as assigned by the QIDP & Director of Clinical Services.


Training and Experience

Must have a High School Diploma and completed or enrolled in a certificate or degree program related to the position. Experience in supporting both children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities is required. Strong skills in areas of customer service and interpersonal relations, project management, problem-solving, confidentiality, time management, meeting deadlines and multitasking, detail-oriented/accurate, good judgment and decision making, verbal and written communication, self-motivated, dependable, flexible, and thinking outside the box.


Clinical Duties & Responsibilities

1. Collaborate with 40 residents living at Horizons and their families and support staff to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate various individualized recreational opportunities.
2. Links inter-disciplinary support with recreational and programming opportunities.
3. Supports the development of the day program and collaborates with the programmatic teams.
4. Responsible for ensuring the availability of activities and resources for staff to utilize in providing continuous active treatment. (i.e., active treatment carts for each wing).
5. Serve as a member of the interdisciplinary team, which is responsible for the development of support plans for each individual. Provides input related to programmatic goals, recreational goals, communication supports, behavior support, and other quality of life indicators (family, community involvement, rights, etc,). Participates in MY Plan meetings and others as necessary.
6. Design active treatment interventions for daily programming that support the individual needs of residents based on their MY Plan & Educational goals.
7. Ensure Day Program has a schedule for staff to follow, ensure residents are enjoying offered programming, ensure staff is participating in providing daily programming and documenting completed goals.
8. Coordinate and lead community outings and events to fulfill the psychosocial needs of residents for the high quality of life. Provide transportation for these outings. Provide Medications on outings. Able to provide suctioning, CPR/First Aid, and other supports during an off-campus emergency.
9. Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the volunteer program to ensure that the community increases its support, awareness, and involvement in the lives of the citizens at Horizons.
10. Utilize the following assessments
    1. Preference assessments
    2. Quality of Life assessments
    3. Environmental assessments (identify supports required for participation)
11. Collaborate with various programmatic and leadership personnel to plan, conduct, and evaluate campus-wide event planning. Ex. Fun Fridays, Fall Festival, Christmas of Lights, etc.
12. Collaborate with the various leadership staff to implement staff training and coaching that improves the quality of life of individuals living at Horizons through various therapies (sensory, horticulture, hydro, equine, music, tactile, etc.).
13. Maintain and foster positive relationships with community partners who help to enhance the lives of those we serve (including fostering worship opportunities). Demonstrate a positive image in the community of Horizons as an agency and act as a role model in the company. Represent Horizons at various community events, outings, and internal tours.
14. Supports the development and embedding of the organization's mission/vision.
15. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, regarding person-centered services.
16. Provides a monthly report to the Director of Clinical Operations and QIDP regarding the status of various outlined responsibilities.
17. Engages in coaching/collaboration to build on personal development.
18. Flexibility in availability to ensure that the people who live at Horizons are offered every opportunity to live life to the fullest. Become a Barrier Breaker at Horizons.
19. Provide personal care and direct supports to residents as needed.
20. Other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift, push, pull and move forty (40) pounds in performing various citizen movements with the possibility of citizen resistance.
• Full range of motion (above the head, to the side, front and back) is required with hands, arms and shoulders.
• Should be able to operate under the following outside conditions associated with field trips and other recreational outings: heat, cold, wind, grass/weeds, sun, etc.
• Should be able to safely handle: various cleaning supplies, blood/airborne pathogens, and other potentially dangerous materials.
• Must be able to go up and downstairs.
• Must possess the properties of awareness/peripheral vision, average hearing, average stamina, and adequate balance & agility in order to provide constant care and support to citizens.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to kneel, stoop, bend, and push, i.e. operating wheelchairs, lifts, tilt tables, etc.
• Hand, wrist, and finger mobility, as well as eye-hand coordination, is needed, i.e. placing tubes for tube feedings, fastening slings to mechanical lifts, etc.
• Must possess adequate communication abilities with clear speech, i.e. providing vocal reinforcement for specific citizen behavior, etc.
• Should possess a good awareness of area needs including, safety, personal care needs of citizens, coaching opportunities with staff, and naturalistic teaching moments for citizens.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs preferred.

10:00 AM- 6:30 PM; some weekends included