Community Habilitation Specialist

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Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Performs all duties of DSP 1, as indicated in job description, ensuring the overall supervision, protection and care of individuals, assisting individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities, while upholding their personal rights and facilitating activities that provide social capital and connections to the community.

• Ensures health, wellness and safety by providing appropriate supervision of the people we support in a variety of settings, providing support for people with varying levels of need, in accordance with each person’s individualized service and behavior support plans, demonstrating the OPWDD Core Competencies.

• Takes the lead during crisis situations, effectively deescalating situations relating to individuals, facility or other environmental issues and directing DSP 1s while adhering to applicable policies, procedures and regulations.

• Ensures implementation of person-centered, individualized plans following levels of supervision and safeguards including protective oversight (IPOPs), as well as Behavior Support Plans (BSPs), Staff Action and/or Life Plans for all people we support, demonstrating understanding of and effectively modeling and training DSP 1s on the intentions, related interventions and goals of the plans.

• Models professionalism at all times by maintaining a strong allegiance to the persons supported, proactively prioritizing and completing regular duties with limited direction while willingly accepting changes to assignments and approaching others in a positive, supportive and courteous manner.

• Maintains a clean, safe and organized therapeutic environment.

• Utilizes safe & appropriate handing procedures when working with individuals and implements infection control protocols.

• Assists with a variety of tasks for people we support, as appropriate/authorized, including:

• Providing personal care and assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) including intimate care and personal hygiene (e.g. bathing, dressing, and toileting), laundry and housekeeping.

• Ensuring that medication is administered as prescribed, in accordance with applicable guidelines.

• Teaching/developing skills.

• Supporting person-centered advocacy with the individuals and for individuals with I/DD as a group through participation in formal ad vocacy efforts and/or groups .

• Assisting in communication, self-expression and resolving disputes amongst individuals.

• Facilitating ethical decision making.

• Providing supervision for and/or planning and preparing balanced meals and snacks for people we support in accordance with dietary restrictions and guidelines of specific individuals including for modified diets or liquid consistencies.

• Transporting and escorting individuals on recreational activities, medical appointments, home visits, volunteer and/or employment sites, etc.; may lead establishment and/or creation of schedules for volunteer opportunities, community and/or therapeutic activities for program.

• Assisting people supported with making purchases, as well as safeguarding personal allowance funds and any additional funds provided.

• Understands and uses specialized clinical knowledge of person specific needs in program to provide effective supports to individuals and to inform activities and training, serving as a role model for other staff.

• Implements Behavior Support Plan as written by Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS) demonstrating u nderstanding of behavior as communication and employing person-centered thinking to support positive interactions and prevent further escalation.

• Collects, records, and summarizes data on individuals’ observable behavior.

• Observes and reports any changes in behavior, or other signs and symptoms and/or potential concerns, to clinical and/or leadership team.

• Reports maintenance, upkeep and safety concerns observed at YAI facilities to Program Supervisor or appropriate designee.

• Serves as a member of a highly effective team (teamwork within the circle of support), providing feedback and communicating programmatic needs to members of team and maintaining a solution-oriented approach during conflicts.

• Appropriately communicates concerns and/or issues relating to team dynamics and situations with persons supported to supervisor, clinical staff and/or other leadership for handling.

• Communicates by phone, email and/or in person with circles of support, including families and external providers, to provide updates and/or obtain information, as directed by clinical or program leadership; may take the lead or be assigned to handle related communications for program on shift or on a regular basis.

• Completes and maintains all necessary trainings and certifications, including specialized trainings based on program and position to ensure compliance with YAI policies and all applicable rules or regulations and applies skills.

• Reviews communication logs daily and makes entries of events, progress notes, services and/or information; collects and enters data as part of daily operations using an electronic health record (e.g. Digital Agency [DA], Electronic Medication Administration Records [eMAR]).

• Reviews and completes all other required paperwork and documentation to ensure compliance and/or billing completely, accurately and within appropriate timeframes (e.g., notifications, logging, incident reports, update files, maintenance requests, phone calls, and tracking of incidents) .

• Uses foundational teaching skills (Explain, Model, Observe and Evaluate [EMOE], task analysis, essential skills, supports and modifications, etc.) and progressive teaching.

• Attends and actively participates in team meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary team (IDT), consulting with IDT to ensure streamlined and top-quality care and providing feedback or ideas to improve supports and/or program operations; may run shift meetings, assigning duties, completing shift sheet, etc. as needed.

• Utilizes/demonstrates approved YAI and OPWDD training techniques (i.e. verbal, environmental, and physical interventions, including take downs) to respond timely and appropriately to challenging and/or self-injurious behavior, ensuring the health and safety of the people we support, self and others; may provide training to less-experienced staff and redirect staff or escalate concerns to supervisor, accordingly.

• Provides coverage for other direct support staff as requested, which may include assisting at another YAI or off-site location (e.g. hospital) based on needs of program and/or individuals supported, including remaining on shift to ensure maintenance of minimum coverage levels for program.

• Complies with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

• May perform, assist with and/or guide less experienced staff with a variety of administrative tasks relating to financial, clinical and/or medical functions including documentation or entries to ensure quality of notes on a regular or as needed basis working closely with HCS, ABIS, Assistant Supervisor, clinical staff and/or program leadership as requested.

• May participate in the implementation of changes, including new processes, procedures or systems, providing feedback, training and/or instructing others.

• May assist with or prepare monthlies for persons supported by reviewing and accurately summarizing progress data from applicable daily notes.

• May participate in life plan meetings for persons supported and development of treatment plans.

• May participate in and/or guide less experienced staff with writing services and safeguards, establishing goals and informing updates to life and/or staff action plans, responses to service (RTS) and other documentation or plans.

• For certain assignments, may be required to operate YAI motor vehicle to transport individuals to and/or from programs, residences, community or other locations on a daily (or other regular) basis with appropriate credentials.

• Performs all other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements including education, experience, licensure/certification, etc. and essential physical capabilities (e.g. lifting, assisting lifting, standing, etc.)

• Two (2) years of experience as a DSP 1 in a YAI program; and

• Must hold foundational certifications for current service setting: Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention – Revised (SCIP-R), CPR (issued by American Red Cross or American Heart Association) and YAI-issued Approved Medication Administration Personnel (AMAP) certification for residential assignments or Day Services Model Mentorship Training; and

• Must maintain foundational certifications (as described above) for applicable service setting; DSPs changing settings must obtain AMAP (for new residential assignment) or Day Services Model Mentorship Training (for new day assignment) within three (3) months of appointment; or

• Satisfactory equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training; however, all newly hired employees must be at least 18 years old, have at least three (3) years of direct support professional experience with the I/DD population and must obtain (and maintain) required YAI certifications based on setting within six (6) months of appointment.

• Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; use hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; assisting with lifting/moving individuals of any weight with assistance of mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Behavior Support Plan if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff.

• Strong written and oral communication skills including the ability to appropriately document services provided for billing and tracking purposes and to effectively communicate information regarding individuals supported across various levels and with external providers or circles of support.

• Enthusiasm for working with people with I/DD, willingness to take initiative and ability to demonstrate positivity, patience and empathy and compassion in all interactions.

• Knowledge of the specific needs of individuals supported in the program, including a solid understanding of clinical rationales.

• Ability and willingness to assist with and teach others a variety of supports and ADLs, including regular exposure to and handling of various bodily fluids with limited direction and in accordance with documented plans.

• Proficiency with computers and electronic systems including email, utilizing Workday and/or related systems (DA, etc.) to complete tasks.

• Must hold and maintain additional certifications as required by program assignment and persons supported (for example: Choking – Return Demonstration , Diabetes Care, Tube Feeding, etc.); for DSPs changing programs/settings, must obtain and maintain any applicable certifications within three (3) months of appointment.

• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships in alignment with YAI’s mission and vision.

• Ability to remain calm, act assertively and display professional competence and good judgment in stressful situations, including with challenging individuals or behaviors and work in a high energy, fast-paced environment.

• Ability to work beyond regularly scheduled hours/shift and/or to report to work as scheduled on holidays, in inclement weather or during other emergencies to maintain minimum coverage requirements of program, unless otherwise authorized.

• For assignments that require transporting persons supported by vehicle, must hold or obtain and maintain valid Driver’s License and Van certification (based on position/location/program).

Preferred Qualification Requirements (desired requirements beyond MQRs above)

• HS diploma or its educational equivalent

Compensation

• $19.05 hourly

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran. YAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To ensure fairness, safeguard transparency, and promote an equitable workforce environment, YAI Network prohibits the practice of nepotism in the workforce and hiring process.