Community Living Specialist

Community Living Specialist

We are looking for experienced professionals in providing services and supports to individuals with intellectual disabilities around the Allegheny County area. Make a difference by leading a team of Direct Support staff to facilitate the goals of the individuals we support!

About Achieva:

At Achieva, we envision a community where all people with disabilities lead lives of personal significance. We are an organization of individuals, professionals, and community partners that help people reach their individualized goals. Throughout its 70 years, Achieva has been committed to the support and inclusion of those with disabilities.

Position Type: Hourly

Salary/rate: $25.73/hour; $2,000 Hiring Bonus!

Travel: Travel throughout Allegheny County. Mileage reimbursement provided for any travel using personal vehicle.

Position Description:

The Community Living Specialist is responsible for supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This position works with assigned staff to support people's outcomes. Together with each person, their family, and other team members, assist in charting a course that supports each person in realizing their life of personal significance. The specialist is responsible to ensure compliance with the regulatory, internal, and external policies and mandates as assigned.

Job Responsibilities-Highlights:

• Coordinates and contributes to the development of plans that are mandated by regulations . Ensures implementation and adheres to each person's person-centered plan and current ISP. Responsible for the revision of the ISP that reflects the goals and outcomes chosen by the person. Ensures the accuracy of ISP contents.
• Coordinates the completion of assessments as requested by external partners with the Community Living Supervisor. Presents assessment results.
• Respects each person's right to make choices and exercise self-determination, resulting in life experiences and personal growth, supporting their health and safety, and their right to risk.
• Ensures that opportunities are provided for each person to explore their interests in their community and form relationships.
• Ensures ongoing communication between the Supervisor and families to appropriately support each person.
• Ensures ongoing communication with the Supervisor so that each person's daily routine appropriately supports that person; including personal care, appointments, leisure activities, and transportation.
• Completes required documentation.
• Completes the Medication Administration training and acts as a Medication Trainer, as assigned.
• Participates in training and meetings as required. Maintains awareness of new developments, current trends, bulletins, and memos as they become available.
• Adheres to all policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ensures appropriate and accurate expenditures and reconciliation of monies disbursed from the Achieva Support Rep Payee and Achieva Support Custodial Account for assigned Persons.
• Serves as Point Person, Incident Manager (IM), and Certified Investigator (CI) in the reporting of incidents through EIM. Serves as Mandated Reporter as required.
• Performs other related duties as assigned. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee in this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

From a managerial perspective, Community Living Specialists develops positive working relationships with team members, supervises and evaluates staff as assigned, communicates to assigned staff, on a regular basis, to clarify job responsibilities, expectations, philosophy, and goals, while providing ongoing training, development, and constructive feedback, as well as implementing corrective action with prior approval. This role also communicates and informs the supervisor, or other staff as needed, of operation concerns, including fiscal and personnel-related issues. In addition, this role finalizes approval of schedules and makes adjustments due to vacation, absenteeism, or illness, and can request provisional employees and overtime with prior approval.

This position remains available to assist either by phone or on-site in emergencies, at the discretion of the Vice President, Associate Director, or Assistant Director, Community Supported Living. Ensures that staff adheres to the crisis procedures. Provides support to staff and people to continue ongoing responsibilities and activities.

Minimum Requirements:

The following combination of experience and education are required:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university and 1 year of work experience working directly with individuals with an intellectual disability.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and 2 years of work experience working directly with individuals with an intellectual disability.
• Associate degree from an accredited college or university and 4 years of work experience working directly with individuals with an intellectual disability.
• Effective communication, organizational, interpersonal, and planning skills are essential for success in this role.
• Satisfactory Act 33/34 clearances and FBI background check required.
• Valid Pa driver's license and properly insured vehicle.
• Must obtain First Aid/CPR certification within two months of the start date

Benefits (Full-time):

• Medical, dental, and vision with low employee monthly contributions and low deductibles.
• Achieva pays for term life insurance, accidental death insurance, and long term disability.
• 403(b) retirement plan. Achieva contributes to the 403(b) retirement plan after 1 year with or without employee contributions.
• Paid time off and holiday pay.

Achieva is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Achieva is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Human Resources Department at (412) 995-5000 or jobs@achieva.info.