Adult Center Specialist

The Adult Center Specialist is responsible for working as a team member in maximizing a family’s ability to care for a family member experiencing Alzheimer’s or age-related dementia and to support a quality home like environment.  The Adult Center Specialist will be a qualified individual with essential work experience and personal traits to ensure that activities and services are provided appropriately and in accordance with participant needs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Assures program activities meet individual and collective needs of participants and families, provision of services and direct care as required including assisting with medication as appropriate.
2. Assists Adult Day Center Manager in planning, scheduling and carrying out development of recreational, daily living and leisure activities.
3. Maintains records, prepares reports on monthly activities planned and attended on a daily basis to include case notes on participants as appropriate.
4. Demonstrates essential work experience and personal traits to ensure activities and services are provided professionally and appropriately, in accordance with participant needs.
5. Attends to participants’ basic personal needs, identifies critical health/physical conditions, determines necessary care actions, supports other staff as appropriate and alerts case managers. 
6. Requests or performs emergency care as needed or requested.
7. Assists staff in the development of participant care plans, reviews and assesses participants condition as needed. Communicates changes in participant’s condition with appropriate case managers on an on-going basis and as requested.
8. Assists staff in planning monthly snack menus, preparation of snacks, and clean up after meals and snacks have been completed.
9. Assists staff with general cleanliness and orderliness.   Assures proper snacks, supplies and equipment are available and that safety precautions are observed,
10. Assures security of senior services building with opening and closing procedures.
11. Implements all agency policies as appropriate.
12. Inputs participant information and case notes into electronic medical record, in accordance with agency procedures, state and federal requirements.
13. Implements all agency policies as appropriate.
14. Attends training seminars, in-service sessions, and staff meetings.
15. Responsible for maintaining training compliance in accordance with FRA policies and procedures, state and federal regulations.
16. Provides other support services and duties as necessary.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

1. High School diploma or equivalent.
2. Two years related human/social services experience (seniors with Alzheimer’s or related Dementia (preferred).
3. Six months experience working with individuals who experience developmental disabilities is preferred, but not required.
4. Must meet agency insurance criteria for operating agency and personal vehicles on agency business (21 y/o and licensed 3 years)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with participants, families, and co-workers.  Demonstrated ability to assess needs and coordinate individual and group activities.  Demonstrated proficiency in direct care activities and training. Must have reliable transportation and a good driving record. Must possess the knowledge and ability to utilize a computer and electronic medical record (EMR) system. Ability to learn new software and hardware applications.  

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Alaska Driver’s License

Agency Provided Certifications 

• Certification in Adult CPR
• Certification in First Aid
• Geri-Care Certification

IMMUNIZATION REQUIRED:

Annual PPD Test

Hepatitis B immunization (or) Waiver

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Medium Work:  Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

Stooping:         Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.

Crouching:      Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

Reaching:        Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Standing:         Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Walking:          Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances.

Pushing:          Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, press against something with steady force in order to thrust forwards, downward or outward.

Pulling:            Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

Lifting:            Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position.

Talking:           Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.   Those activities which demand detailed or important instructions spoken to other workers accurately, loudly or quickly.

Hearing:          Perceiving the nature of sounds with no less than a 40 db loss.  Ability to receive oral communication and make fine discriminations in sound.

Driving:           Minimum standards required by State Law (including license).

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

None:              The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as typical office or administrative work).