Life Skills Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Life Skills Specialist (Structured Day Program)

BASIC FUNCTION: The Life Skills Specialist facilitates skill building to individuals with neurologic impairments through group and community engagement activities that will lead to successful acquisition of skills for greater independence and personal choice.

REPORT: Supervision received: Structured Day Program Coordinator

Supervision exercised: None

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Serve as an advocate and liaison for and on behalf of individuals’ rights and benefits.

• Assist with implementation of the lesson plan to meet individual participant outcomes based on participant’s Individualized Supports Plans (ISP).

• Assist with creating monthly lesson plans that follow a monthly theme designed to develop participant’s cognitive, behavioral, and social skills in structured group or community settings.

• Research and recommend training topics relevant to skill building activities and assist with acquiring and creating adult appropriate materials for class instruction.

• Facilitate various therapeutic and skill building activities focusing on:

• Acquisition, retention, or improvement in self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills.

• Acquiring more independent functioning and improved cognition, communication, and life skills.

• Acquisition of psychosocial skills, appropriate behavior, and personal choice.

• Support behavioral stability through the development and application of compensatory strategies.

• Create opportunities for participants to generalize skills learned into a community setting.

• Encourage mature adult appropriate behavior among participants. Encourage personal responsibility.

• Submit participant’s progress on a daily basis using by use of electronic record system.

• Assist in handling medical and behavioral emergencies, document as necessary.

• Provide personal assistance to individuals on an as needed basis, wheelchair maneuvering and/or with eating, and other life activities if needed.

• Ensure the safety and welfare of program participants at all times.

• Oversee lunches and ensure all participants have access to a snack.

• Travel in the community with individuals to develop and increase community participation.

• Attend and participate in required training sessions, scheduled team meetings, and agency wide as required.

• Perform all other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a human services field preferred, or

• High school diploma or GED and five (5) years of experience working with individuals with disabilities

• Experience teaching in a group or individual setting preferred

• Must have own transportation and a valid PA driver’s license. Proof of valid automobile insurance and registration.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Possess and communicate a passion for CLASS’s Mission.

• Possess knowledge of acquired brain injury and is able to demonstrate effective cognitive and rehabilitation techniques with individuals served.

• Demonstrate basic knowledge of licensing and accreditation regulations to assure a safe and healthy environment for all participants.

• Demonstrate ability to provide a nurturing, positive, individualized approach to each participant to promote their growth, well-being, and positive outcomes.

• Ability to work with a variety of participant needs, levels and behaviors.

• Strong relationship building skills; facilitate active involvement of participants and their family/support systems inf the service delivery process.

• Maintain effective working relationships with all levels of the organization as well as with participants, and family members.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as exceptional interpersonal communication skills to effectively communicate with participants, and family members.

• Demonstrate knowledge of community resources and seek to integrate individuals served in participation in roles in the community.

• Set and maintain professional boundaries.

• Proficient computer skills required. Must be proficient in MS Office products and database software.

OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Perform duties in a professional, mature, effective, discreet and efficient manner.

• Be a self-directed, organized and responsible professional.

• Respond to other staff, participants, families and funders in a tactful and professional manner.

• Adhere to the policies established by CLASS, its relevant funding sources, and Board of Directors.

• Maintain positive working relationships with supervisors, directors, co-workers, and participants.

• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion and ensure that the culture of each participant and staff is understood and respected.

• Render and accept criticism in a professional manner.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS/REQUIREMENTS

• Office time can be sedentary, requiring sitting for long periods of time. Engaging with participants and facilitating community integration involves more physical active demands.

• Regularly work in community setting required regularly scheduled trips in local community.

• Sitting, standing, walking, typing, turning in chair, stooping and reaching for files.

• Ability to receive and respond to phone calls; face to face conversation.

• Ability to see and interact with text and graphical information on screens, read forms and printouts.

• Ability to use office equipment such as copiers, scanners, computers, telephones, and fax machines.

• Ability to lift 50 pounds.

CLASS does not discriminate against any person regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, age in admission, treatment, or by participation in programs, services and activities, or in employment.

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