Adaptive Skills Training Professional (Direct Support Specialist) for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Position: Adaptive Skills Training Professional (Direct Support Specialist) for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Job Type: Full Time (40 hours per week, some weekend hours may be needed). Non-exempt.

Pay: $25-$35/hourly depending on qualifications and experience

Job Summary:

Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) is a Bay Area non-profit organization founded in 1996 and focused on helping individuals with special needs and their families find love, hope, respect, and support through integrated community involvement. The Adaptive Skills Training (AST) Professional assists adults with special needs under the direction of the Program Director & Assistant Director. The AST Direct Support Professional works with the client in a 1:1 ratio on activities around Fremont City and the neighboring areas. The clients are adults with primarily Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectually delayed who have low verbal abilities, poor comprehension, and some behavioral challenges. The Adaptive skills training curriculum may involve participating in community outings, walking or hiking, engaging clients in games, music, and other fun activities, caring for the client’s physical as well as emotional health and safety needs, affirming his/her abilities, striving to promote dignity in his/her relationships, and helping the client live the best life that fits his/her needs, desires, and abilities.

Essential Functions & Key Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of an experienced professional and a BCBA, responsible for designing adaptive skills training curriculum in the areas of communication, self-advocacy, mobility training, developing practical social, leisure, and recreational skills, community integration, meal planning, and food preparation, social skills, and interpersonal communication, as appropriate. 
• Directly work with clients to implement the adaptive skills training curriculum. 
• Establish and maintain a supportive and trusting relationship with clients, including but not limited to your regular assigned clients.
• Respect the client’s right to privacy and maintain confidentiality of information obtained in adaptive skills training programs.
• Provide continuous supervision to help minimize health, safety, and other risks to the well-being of clients.
• Learn Person-Centered methods, and provide flexibility options for classes, activities, and social interactions during the program. Encourage clients to express themselves, and offer them choices.
• Learn and implement adaptive skills training curriculum. Assists participants in meeting their ISP goals and objectives.
• Learn and practice ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) and other behavior management techniques to support clients’ behaviors needs.
• Learn and practice CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) and keep everyone safe.
• Learn and perform First Aid and CPR, and other emergency services (i.e. evacuation during a fire, earthquakes, seizures, etc.) as appropriate.
• For the full-time position, regularly work 8 hours per day (9am to 5 pm), including working lunch time.
• As needed, transport your assigned client using your insured vehicle.
• As needed, prepare and attend staff meetings and training, also parent check-in meetings, ISPs, etc. Some meetings are scheduled during weekends, usually 1-2 hours per month.
• When assigned, to lead Classes (Arts & Crafts, Alphabet & Reading, Number and Math, Life Skills, Social Skills, Exercise/Dance, etc.)
• Prepare teaching material in advance and be ready to lead the class, or work with your assigned students. Materials need to change periodically to keep your students motivated.
• Documents participant’s Daily Progress Report, and other data collections. Prepare monthly check-in reports, special incident reports, semi-annual/annual ISP reports, and other reports as necessary.
• Provide appropriate care, support, and training that the clients need and to protect client’s hygiene and safety. Some clients’ needs may include feeding, lifting/transferring, bowel, menses, bladder care, ambulation and personal hygiene.
• Fulfill administrative paperwork in a timely manner: BambooHR (Timesheets, leave requests, training, car insurance, etc.), Mileage reimbursements, etc.
• Communicate with parents in a professional manner.
• Communicate effectively and proactively with the Team regarding client issues when changing shifts, and reporting to supervisors.
• Supporting the assigned client in public settings, and facilitating the client’s interactions with the public in a professional manner.
• Maintain an organized, safe and clean environment.
• Performs other duties as assigned
  
  

Qualifications:

1. Education: Bachelor’s or Master's degree in education, psychology, counseling, nursing, social work, applied behavior analysis, behavioral medicine, speech and language, rehabilitation, marriage and family therapy, or a comparable degree in a human services field
 
2. Experience:

• Experience with individuals with an intellectual disability or related social service program is a plus
• At least one year of experience in the design and implementation of adaptive skills training plans is a plus
• Candidates with experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) will be given priority consideration

 3. Professional Skills:

• Be able to speak, understand, read and write in English
• Is able to receive certifications in CPR/ first aid & Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI)
• Mandarin or Cantonese speaking is a plus but not required
  

 4. Personal Traits:

• Possess reliability, patience, compassion and kindness towards special needs individuals.
• Has demonstrated an ability and willingness to work effectively under the direction of others.
• Has ability to represent the organization in a professional manner at all times.
• Is able to get along with co-workers, participants and collaborative partners Respects the cultural, linguistic and communication values of stakeholders including Participants, their parents/advocates other staff and community collaborators.

   5. Environmental Conditions:

• Must be willing to transport students in your vehicle when needed.
• Must be willing to work with different students as assigned.
• Be able to work during lunch time with pay, and eat with the clients.
• Be able to attend 1-5 hours per month staff meeting and training with pay during the weekend.
• Be able to attend new staff orientation, staff meetings and in-service trainings. 

  6. Physical Demands:

• In good health, and can walk, hike, push wheel chairs for 1-4 hours a day.
• Be capable of physically assisting participants in the activities of daily living (feeding, lifting/transferring, bowel, menses and bladder care, ambulation lifting and personal hygiene).

Company-wide Job Requirements: 

• Must pass CDSS and DOJ fingerprint-based background clearance prior to employment.
• Must pass a health screening and TB test prior to employment.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have a clean driving record if required for the position.
• Obtain valid CPR and First Aid Certificate within one month of employment.
• Use of mask when recommended/required by local Public Health Department.
  
  

Benefits:

• Paid Sick Leave (PSL)
• 401(k) & matching
• Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• Life/AD&D insurance
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Holiday Pay
• Sign on Bonus/Referral Bonus

Salary : $25 - $35