Person Centered Advocate

Person-Centered Advocate

Job Title : Person-Centered Advocate

Program : Admiistration

Reports to : Executive Director

FLSA Status : Hourly

Revised Date : May 25, 2021

POSITION SUMMARY :

The Person Centered Planning Advocate, working under the Director of Vocational Services, is responsible for supporting Community Speciailists in ensuring that our services are delivered using Person Centered Planning practices. The PCP Advocate will also act to be a resource to clients, Community Specialists and other individuals in finding person-centered solutions to increase Community Engagement and Competitive Integrated Employment opportunities.

Uphold the company philosophy of the Basic Principles of a Collaborative Workplace and Shift Happens. Provide support to PMs and CS's to provide and ensure smooth onboarding. Provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities as necessary that facilitate their ability to work and live independently in the community as needed.

OUTCOMES :

Assist in the efficient and effective daily operation of the program.

Ensure individuals served will be safe and their needs met.

Ensure individuals we serve show progress in goals, objectives and attending a greater level of independence as it relates to their home and work life.

Ensure all program staff and individuals served work in a pleasant, positive, cohesive, and uplifting environment.

Provide input for assessments, reports, and individual goal plans for clients as well as ensure input from program supervisors, direct care staff members, and the individual's circle of support.

Act as an advocate and support participants to achieve their community engagement and employment goals.

Provide engaging, developmentally appropriate instruction to participants to help them achieve their goals

Rotate between locations to ensure adequate support for our clients and community specialists

Supervise and assist participants during volunteer activities, classes and other community activities, as needed

Drive agency vehicles as needed (transporting participants to events. Etc.) Maintains necessary records, evaluations and billing, and submits all in a timely manner.

Maintain effective communication and act as a liaison between the clients and all other parties

Ensure a safe continuous working environment according to general safety practices

Report any participant or employer problems that might arise to the department Coordinator or Department Manager

AUTHORITIES :

Person-Centered Advocate is authorized to :

1. Train and coach program staff as it relates to person-centered thinking, planning and action.

2. Take appropriate and prudent action in emergencies and review with the immediate supervisor.

3. Schedule, conduct, and document all meetings on Person-Centered issues and solutions.

4. Regularly review and discuss with all staff issues that may have not been handled in a Person-Centered Manner

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

Ensures, oversees and supports all Community Specialists in delivering services in a positive person-centred manner.

Submits notes and reports as needed on issues that required support in solving a client issue and propose positive Person-Centered solutions..

Ensures open and consistent communication happens between the program and all outside stakeholders, i.e. families, funding agency, employers, care providers, etc. following the agency's customer service policy.

Facilitates trainings and support options for all clients and Community Specialists

Trains all new Community Specialist, Case Managers for the first 90-days, observes and provides feedback on improving Person-Centered support options. Provides input to the Program Manager on the evaluation of the CS.

Provides consultation as appropriate and directed by the certain director to assist community specialists and clients in achieving goals and objectives in the most person-centered way possible.

At the request of the Director of Vocational Services, will attend special staffing meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS :

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and / or EXPERIENCE :

Associate's Degree from an accredited college or university; and one to two years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Prefer individual with developmental disability experience. Position requires experience with computer software such as windows, word, and excel.

LANGUAGE SKILLS :

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS :

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

REASONING ABILITY :

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions and deal with several variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS :

Must possess valid California Drivers License, reliable transportation, auto insurance, good driving record and have current Standard First Aid and CPR certificates.

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 the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and / or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.