Community Skills Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

Encourages, implements and facilitates independence, inclusion, individuality and productivity. Prepares notes, files and attends participants’ conferences. Provides direction to the assigned Community Skills Assistants. All documentation and performance is supervised by a designated (Community Skills Coordinator).

Position Duties:

1. Monitors activities of assigned participant group. Facilitates activities that are consistent with valued outcomes of independence, individualization, inclusion and productivity. Provides functional training that will maximize the participant’s independence via person centered planning.
2. Assists in the development and implementation of participant program plans.Participates in case conferences and all participant-related meetings.
3. Assists in assessing participant skills, needs, and preferences.
4. Implements community based training opportunities, and facilitates use of public transportation, public facilities and resources in the community. May provide travel training and safety skills.
5. Maintains appropriate contact with day program personnel when involved with community inclusionary activities.
6. Ensures all daily documentation and all paperwork (i.e. dates sheets, inclusionary logs etc) is maintained contemporaneously. Uses Precision care software for data collection as required.
7. Prepares monthly notes and provides supervisors (Community Skills Coordinator) with data sheets and all required paperwork.
8. Reviews submitted documentation for accuracy and completeness.
9. Works directly with program participants and assists with feeding, self care, personal hygiene including toileting as needed, may lift/transfer as needed. Ensures the health, safety, and well being of participants.
10. Ensures the maintenance of any equipment, i.e. adaptive equipment. Maintain clean, and safe program environment. Reports any health or safety issues to management.
11. Notifies administration and/or nurse of any medical concerns of participants served. Accompanies participants to the hospital/health care provider and advocates for treatment.
12. Performs all other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. The ability to coordinate the movement of the arms, legs, and torso together in activities where the whole body is in motion, including the ability to exert one’s self physically over long periods of time such as standing for two (2) plus hours at a time.
2. The ability to safely lift individuals to/from various surfaces.
3. The ability to safely perform a two (2) person transfer. Perform a stand pivot transfer with weight bearing individuals.
4. The ability to lift and reach common objects such as laundry and nonperishable food items.
5. The ability to push/pull, turn and maneuver equipment including occupied wheelchairs.
6. Possess strength, coordination and agility to safely and quickly respond to emergency situations.
7. The ability to bend, stretch, rotate, or reach out with the body, arms, and/or legs to ensure the safety of individuals in all situations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Associate Degree/60 college credits in a health care related field.
2. Minimum 1 year experience in related field.
3. Successful completion of AMAP, CPR and other required training including PrecisionCare, and basic use of MS Word preferred.
4. NYS Driver’s License preferred.
5. Must be willing to work outdoors for community based activities.

REQUIREMENT:

1. Performs all job responsibilities in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Adheres to the agency’s corporate compliance program, including the code of business conduct, the NYS and federal false claims acts, whistleblower protections and mandatory reporting. Completes corporate compliance training at least annually. Fully cooperates in all corporate compliance investigations and reviews.

MACHINES OPERATED:

1. Full Range of Adaptive Equipment.