Personal Support Specialist (PSS) + Community Companion Hours - Pathlight Group

Make a difference on Mondays!

Pathlight Group has been supporting and empowering individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities (and their families) in Western Massachusetts since 1952.

• This is a ONE -ON-ONE role that involves helping the individual with some personal care and community companion hours.

Availability Needed for Position:

• Mondays from 4-8PM

Additional Information:

• Individual uses adaptive equipment (wheelchair, stand assist, harness, gait belt) - we will train candidate that meet the basic requirements and have comfort & experience with personal care & companionship - lived, or professional. She is also legally blind. She loves music, restaurants, and parks and greatly appreciates outings!
• Females encouraged to apply.

Personal Support Specialist II - Summary of Position:

Perform a variety of personal care duties to support individuals with developmental disabilities and to promote their dignity, safety, health, welfare, rights and development following established individualized services and procedures, specified program standards and procedures.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Provide personal care which may include eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, varied supports with walking, transfers and lifting.

2. Participate in the individualized services of each person and be current on all changes. Follow clearly established methods, techniques and procedures for engaging, assisting and monitoring individuals while assuring safety and well-being in accordance with the services. Confer with the supervisor, with input from the Care Provider on an individual's support plan, and on related questions, concerns or problems.

3. Remain in the attendance of, and fully available to Individuals served at all times.

4. Follow program policies and procedures for crisis management, emergencies, health, safety, human rights and preventing and reporting abuse. Ensure confidentiality regarding all information shared concerning the individual and support providers.

5. Under the direction of the supervisor, 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.

6. Provide First Aid/CPR and seek emergency medical care as needed.

7. Accompany the individuals we serve to appointments as requested by the supervisor; may include providing transportation.

8. Submit work time sheets, with summaries of activities, in a timely manner. Participate in periodic meetings regarding the Individual's progress and carry out changes as recommended.

9. Attend in meetings or training as directed.

10. Participate in general maintenance and laundering activities specific to the individual's needs. Ensure clean, safe and operable equipment for the individual's use.

11. Perform other similar and related duties as needed or as assigned by supervisor.

HIRING REQUIREMENTS:

1. Minimum 18 years of age.

2. High school diploma or equivalent.

3. 2 years of related experience.

4. Valid driver's license and reliable transportation, as required by program.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 6 MONTHS:

1. Human Services field, personal care services, individuals with developmental disabilities, basic teaching instruction requiring some advanced skills knowledge.

2. Person specific training for delivery of ADLs and personal care.

3. First Aid, Fire Safety, CPR, Human Rights, Privacy, Confidentiality.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

1. Must be able to maintain regular attendance.

2. Must be able to read, write and communicate in English.

3. Good communication skills requiring tact to avoid conflict and obtain cooperation.

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:

• Lifting/transferring person with or without assistance, with or without mechanical lift.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to or greater than 60 pounds.
• Repetitive twisting, bending, squatting with full use of arms/legs, stooping, kneeling.
• Reaching above shoulder level.
• Prolonged standing, walking.
• Work requiring depth perception
• Ability to get up off the floor.
• Driving personal vehicle.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: talk and hear; lift and carry, push and pull with force; maintain balance. The employee occasionally is required to climb, use stairs, reach with hands and arms, work with hands and fingers to operate an object or control. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and peripheral vision; reading of written, printed or computer screen data.

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