Community Integration Specialist - Temp

Title: Community Integration Specialist

Reports to:   Program Manager

Department: 725 - Community Fusion

Location: 1817 S. Central Ave., L.A. CA. 90021

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt – TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT 12-16 weeks

Benefits: Position is temporary, therefore not eligible for benefits.

Program Hours:   Monday – Friday, 9:00am-2:00pm

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Position Summary

The Community Integration Specialist will provide direct supervision, training and evaluation of participants' preferred community-based activity. The Specialist will work with participants to integrate them into the community and enhance their quality of life as a valued member of society.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide supervision and serve as job coach to program participants while facilitating their full inclusion in the volunteer placement, recreation, and employment sites of their choosing. Play an integral part in participant community integration into the surrounding communities while enhancing their quality of life. Provide behavioral intervention to participants through appropriate methods as designated through NCI Training and overall goals. Integrating participants with a 1-2 ratio in person-centered community activities including exploring community resources based on participant choice, job exploring, productive recreational activities as indicated in curriculum and managing contacts to cultivate, grow and in maintaining each relationship. Healthy lifestyle will be supported by community agency partnerships, both in-house and in the community. Will assist participants to become self-advocates and independent through self-determination.

• Use public transportation, personal vehicle or ECF vehicles to transport participants to volunteer commitments, community activities and events. Maintain ECF vehicle logs, perform regular maintenance checks, and report issues immediately to the program manager.

• Provide supervision, training, and evaluation of participants' choice of volunteer and community-based activities. Teach new skills identified in the participants' Individual Program Plan (IPP) including but not limited to self-help, communication, gross and fine motor, vocational, pre-employment, cognitive, social- emotional skills and in identifying and accessing important community resources. Assist in the development of motivational techniques and in improving work skills of participants.

• Establish, coordinate, and implement person-centered community activities with guidance and support from the case management team. Maintain participant documentation to include but not limited to daily, monthly, and quarterly evaluations as directed by case manager. Document unusual incidents through case notes/SIR reporting.

• Attend in-service trainings and staff meetings.

Other Duties

· Comply with ECF’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program. Ensure safe use and operation of tools and/or equipment.

· Comply with ECF policies and procedures, including mandated reporting requirements.

• Regular and reliable attendance is required for this position.
• Assist participants as needed with personal hygiene including toileting, illness, and incidents of incontinence.

· Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education/Licenses/Certifications:   High School diploma or equivalent.

Experience: One year working with individuals with special needs.

Knowledge/Abilities/Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with participants to provide direction and understand their needs.
• Detail oriented with excellent document skills.
• Patience and compassion to work with individuals with a variety of special needs.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to drive ECF van.

Requirements

• Driving is an essential function of this position. Proof of valid California driver’s license, reliable transportation, evidence of state-mandated car insurance, and insurable driving record are required. While driving for work, should a need arise, the employee’s insurance is deemed primary and ECF’s coverage is secondary.
• Driving Disclaimer- Employees driving for company business must maintain a clean record and operate vehicles safely and responsibly. Company vehicles will be monitored and activity recorded. Violations of the driving policy may result in disciplinary action, including suspension of driving privileges, reassignment, or termination.
• Provide evidence of a negative TB test.
• Pass a pre-employment physical.
• Obtain NCI, First Aid and CPR certification within the first 2 months of employment and maintain as required.

Work Environment

This is a program for adults who have varying degrees of learning, behavioral, emotional, and developmental disabilities. Employee may encounter individuals who are in crisis, exhibiting emotional/psychological distress or behaving in an aggressive manner. Work will be performed primarily in the field. Environment may include frequent interruptions, loud noise, odors, varying indoor temperature, and drafts. Outdoor temperature and weather will vary.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job.

• Mobility to work in a program setting or in the community using mobile devices.
• Require the use of hands to produce records and/or documentation in manual or electronic format.
• Vision to read printed materials and computer screen.
• Hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 60 pounds with assistance.
• Required to travel to various sites within Los Angeles County.
• Ability to implement NCI, First Aid and CPR.
• Ability to stand for most of the work shift and lift 20 pounds unassisted.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Exceptional Children’s Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.  We are on a mission to support independence, belonging and community. We strive to build a culture that is safe, respectful, fair, and supportive for all employees. We are proud to employ people of all backgrounds who possess the talent, energy, and focus to accelerate our vision forward.

At-Will Statement

Employment with Exceptional Children’s Foundation, aka ECF is at-will employment which means that ECF or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without advance notice. ECF holds the right to modify the terms of employment, including but not limited to, job descriptions, duties, schedules, compensation, work locations, procedures, guidelines, practices or employee benefit programs with or without advance notice. I acknowledge and understand that the at-will nature of my employment relationship with ECF can only be changed by an express written agreement signed by the President/CEO of ECF and me.