Community Companion - Pathlight Group

ABOUT PATHLIGHT:

Pathlight (formerly known as The Association For Community Living) has been supporting and empowering individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities (and their families) in Western Massachusetts since 1952.

DIVISION: Family Services

TITLE: Individual Support Specialist (ISS) 1

GRADE: Non-Exempt

LOCATION: Springfield

HOURS: Per Diem

PAY: $19.50/HOUR

AVAILABILITY: This is a community companion role. The individual is looking to go out either on Wednesdays OR Fridays after 4:30PM.

Females encouraged to apply.

Summary of Position:

Perform a variety of home and/or community based direct care duties to support individuals with developmental disabilities and to promote their dignity, safety, health, welfare, rights, development and social inclusion; provide transportation to individuals.

Essential Job Functions:

• Engage, assist, instruct, motivate and monitor individuals in social/recreational, skill building and family directed activities. Model appropriate behavior in social situations and assist in development of independence skills.
• Learn the individualized services of each person and participate in their routine implementation. Follow clearly established methods, techniques and procedures for engaging, assisting, instructing and monitoring individuals while assuring safety and well-being in accordance with the services. Confer with the supervisor, family, care provider and other service team members about an individual's goals, implementation and other related questions, concerns, or problems.
• Remain in the attendance of, and fully available to Individuals served at all times, unless specified otherwise within the individualized services of the person.
• Apply Pathlight and program policies and procedures, particularly in the areas of crisis, emergency, health and safety, individual rights and preventing and reporting abuse. Ensure confidentiality regarding all information shared concerning the individual, family, care providers. Seek emergency care as needed.
• Complete related records as required and instructed by contract or supervisor per standard format ensuring confidentiality and safe-keeping of documents.
• Accompany individual to appointments, social functions, recreational activities and other planned events as requested by the supervisor, to include providing transportation. Inform care provider or family and supervisor of activities carried out, individual's level of participation, any behavioral issues or other challenges encountered. Maintain professional boundaries in relationship with the individual and family.
• Respond and relate to routine inquiries, visitors, the Individual's family, friends and allied staff or professionals as outlined in program standards or by the program supervisor.
• Submit weekly or bi-weekly time sheets with summaries of activities in a timely manner. Submit timely and accurate mileage reimbursement requests. Participate in periodic meetings regarding the Individual's progress, and carry out changes as recommended.
• Attend and participate in program and related meetings or required training as directed. Perform other similar and related duties as needed or assigned by supervisor.
• Perform other similar and related duties as needed or assigned by supervisor.

HIRING REQUIREMENTS:

1. Minimum 18 years of age.
2. High school diploma or equivalent.
3. Over 1 year related experience preferred.
4. Valid driver's license and reliable transportation/vehicle as required by program.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 6 MONTHS:

1. First Aid/CPR, OSHA,
2. Basic understanding of developmental disabilities and/or autism.
3. Plus additional person specific training

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

1. Must be able to maintain regular attendance.
2. Must be able to read, write and communicate in English
3. A variety of duties to assist with the routine personal care of individuals with developmental disabilities, involving a number of procedures and the application of clearly established standard practice as specified by programmatic operations and within the individual client service plans/implementation strategies and program policies.
4. Regular contacts with clients providing limited personal care, instructing, assisting and monitoring in daily living, social and community based skills. Requires patience, responsibility, good judgment and tact to maintain rapport with children, individuals and families.
5. Work with confidential data such as client case history and personal data which if disclosed, could have significant internal effect or minor external effect.

MENTAL ATTENTION OR VISUAL DEMAND: Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and peripheral vision; reading of written, printed or computer screen data. In addition, the ability to:

• fully focus and concentrate on the task at hand.
• demonstrate decision making; considerable judgment.
• maintain a calm, composed manner.
• calmly and effectively communicate with individuals and families
• work with unexpected disruptions.
• redirect individuals served appropriately to maintain safety for self and others.
• actively listen and communicate clearly with staff and others.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

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. Somewhat undesirable working conditions. Regular exposure to site conditions; frequent exposure to weather during travel to and from work and on outings. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, continued:

• Rarely lifting/transferring person with or without assistance of co-worker with or without mechanical lift
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to or greater than 60 pounds
• Occasional twisting, bending, squatting with full use of arms/legs
• Potential stooping, kneeling
• Reaching above shoulder level
• Prolonged standing throughout shift
• Work requiring depth perception
• Assist and participate with recreational activities such as biking, walking, hiking
• Potential to engage in activity with individual on the floor
• Ability to get up off the floor
• Driving personal vehicle and/or company van

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

1. Reports to designated Supervisor.
2. Interacts frequently with existing support personnel.

Pathlight has demonstrated a commitment to issues of diversity. We welcome all applicants. EOE equal opportunity employer.