What are the responsibilities and job description for the Direct Care/Staff I position at Charles River Center?
INTRODUCTION: Residential Counselors are responsible for the development and implementation of the residents ISPs and programs, providing direct care (including personal care), direct training and support, implementation of Behavior Plans and necessary interventions, as indicated by program/service model. Areas covered can include functional education and activities of daily living; social/interpersonal and communication skill development; recreation and leisure skill development; community employment and vocational skill development; work options, and others as indicated within consumers annual plans.
Residential Counselors work in accordance with the principles of normalization, and in accordance with the mission, principles, policies and procedures established in the Charles River Policies and Procedures Manual. Some positions require personal care, including assisting residents in and out of the bathtub and transfers into and out of wheelchairs, or the application of emergency physical restraint and Residential Counselors must be physically able to perform these functions in some homes.
ESSENTIAL PROGRAM DUTIES (other duties may be assigned):
Provide direct care support by instructing and supervising residents in the following areas: medical, dental and personal care, education skills, social skills, meal preparation, clothing purchase and care, travel training, telephone usage and postal services, monitoring and assistance with funds, religious practice if desired, self-preservation and other areas identified in the annual plan.
Implement, develop, and review of Individual Support Plans and corresponding data collection.
Assist and train consumers in abiding by the rules set by their individual landlords or Housing Authorities.
Transport residents to activities and medical appointments as assigned by the Program Director.
Provide the least intrusive assistance necessary in household maintenance, errands, grocery shopping, and meal planning.
Demonstrate effective use of Positive Behavioral Supports.
Obtain necessary training and direction by attending and fully participating in in-services, trainings, staff meetings, and review meetings with the Program Director or other Community Living Staff.
Ensure that resident rights and dignity are upheld. Promote Charles River Centers Human Rights and Consumer Sexuality policies and procedures. Assist Program Director and Case Managers in providing residents with training and advocacy regarding human and legal rights. Know and apply DDS and CRC regulations re: Behavior Management, Emergency Restraint Interventions and DPPC. Act as Human Rights Officer at the request of the Program Director.
Ensure that documentation requirements relevant to the home are completed in a timely fashion. Other record keeping as assigned.
Conduct weekly House Meetings with the residents to discuss recreational planning, general home issues, House Rules, and resident successes.
Obtain state certification in medication administration within the first three months of employment and then maintain current certification. Safely administer medication according to DDS regulations and CRC policy.
RE: Awake Overnight Residential Counselors:
Provide personal care and monitoring of basic health and safety, necessitating that staff remain awake and alert at all times.
Complete housekeeping tasks as assigned.
Provide emergency coverage as needed in case of inclement weather of lack of relief staff availability (not to exceed the 66 hour weekly maximum without the authorization of a Cluster Director or the V.P. for Residential Services).
Cooperatively communicate with family members, advocates and guardians. Communicate residents programmatic concerns and issues to the Program Director.
Maintain financial records of residents and program funds.
Perform additional duties, or substitute for others as required for overall program benefit.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Interpersonal Skills: Interacts with others in an effective, appropriate, positive and professional manner; develops relationships (inside and outside the agency at all levels) that enhance understanding and communication.
Teamwork/Cooperation: Works well with team members to accomplish the goals of the department. Works well with management to achieve agency goals. Flexible in accepting new or additional assignments.
Dependability: Follows through on job responsibilities with thoroughness and accuracy. Reliable and consistent.
Communication: Clearly and effectively presents information through oral and written means. Demonstrates clear and concise communication in individual or group situations. Listens and assimilates information on job performance.
Planning/ Organization: Plans and manages work to accomplish tasks on time. Plans and implements appropriate use of resources. Adapts to changing conditions. Prioritizes work demands and manages multiple tasks simultaneously.
Responsibility: Adheres to company policies and procedures and follows company guidelines in conducting business relationships.
Attendance: Adheres to program schedule and routines, which includes arriving to assigned location promptly and conforms to the agencys attendance standards. Attend all required meetings and trainings promptly.
Initiative: Self-reliance in thinking, planning, and carrying out job responsibilities. Demonstrates problem solving skills.
Management: Supports and enforces agency policies and objectives; sets example through personal conduct and performance.
Data collection: Collects data, compiles information and prepares reports in a timely and accurate fashion.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Possess or be enrolled in a course of study culminating in an undergraduate or higher degree in human services; in certain instances, experience and other qualifications may be sufficient.
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Successful completion and maintenance of all state and agency mandated trainings.
- First Aid/CPR Certification. (Within first month of employment)
- DDS Medication Administration Certificate. (Within first six months of employment)
- Safety Care/Legal Certificate (Within first six months of employment)
- DPPC/Fire Safety/Human Rights/Universal Precautions Certificate (Upon hire)
- CORE Curriculum (Within first three months of employment)
- Knowledge and use of principle of Normalization and Community Inclusion.
- Working knowledge of the use of behavior modification techniques.
- Must be willing to authorize a Criminal History Background Check (CORI) and release information concerning allegations from Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC), Department of Disability Services (DDS), and other agencies.
- Must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable members with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
- Drivers License that is valid in Massachusetts and reliable personal transportation.
- Proficient computer skills in Microsoft applications.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Must be fluent in English and have the ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write advanced reports and correspondence. Ability to communication effectively with members served in their primary mode of communication, members under supervision, employees of the organization, families and members of the community. Ability to effectively present information individually and in small groups.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Employee must have significant endurance to sustain physical demands of the job.
While performing duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel or crouch. The employee is frequently required to use hands/fingers to handle objects, tools or controls and to reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently be able to generate the force to maneuver up to 100 pounds. Assistance in lifting members will be provided whenever possible. Employee must be able to lift up to 30 pounds from floor to waist and 10-15 pounds from waist to overhead.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.
