GENERAL DESCRIPTION
All employees of Friendship take pride in learning about what is most important in the lives of people receiving services and providing and/or developing supports to help them achieve their personal priorities. We are responsible for working with people to develop and implement their Individualized Program Plan (IPP) by demonstrating the values outlined in Friendship’s Mission Statement and Corporate Culture.
CORE VALUES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
It is the firm conviction of the Board and Management of Friendship, Inc. and of our sponsoring organization, Catholic Health Initiatives, that one of the principal responsibilities of each employee is to actively contribute to a workplace environment clearly and explicitly based on the Christian values of willing service, kindness and respect for those we serve. This includes an insistence on the worth and dignity of each person and a readiness to actively commit to a job performance style based on these values. To that end we pledge ourselves to a behavioral style based on the core values of Compassion, Reverence, Integrity and Excellence as an integral element of the quality of performance we expect and require of one another.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
LEARNING ABOUT THE PERSON SERVED
- Use the Personal Outcome Measures, Outcomes Biography Assessment, Personal Profile, etc. to learn about each person’s goals and dreams.
- Identify and establish services and supports needed to assist the person to achieve his/her goals and dreams.
- Learn about the life experiences (work, residential, social, etc.) of the person and assist him/her to expand his/her experiences through education and a variety of community experiences.
- Learn what barriers hinder the accomplishment of the person’s goals and dreams. Utilize current services and supports and/or advocate for additional services and supports as needed to overcome the barriers.
- Identify the person’s strengths for achieving his/her priorities and assist the person to use his/her strengths to achieve his/her goals and dreams.
INTEGRATION AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
- Learn about people’s vocational, community and social interests and provide the necessary support to assist the person to develop his/her interest in an integrated environment.
- Support and assist people to remain connected to their natural supports (family, close friends, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc.).
- Support and assist people to develop and maintain a network of friends/relationships.
- Support and assist people to be active members of the community (i.e., volunteer work, belonging to clubs/organizations, participating in church activities, etc.) by emphasizing choices and options.
SYSTEM ADVOCACY
- Support and assist people to direct their services and make informed choices in all aspects of their life.
- Be an advocate for people and teach members of the community to treat people we support with dignity and respect by modeling positive attitudes and respectful communication and interactions.
- Assist people to become personal advocates.
- Advocate with employers, service coordinators, families and other stakeholders to develop needed supports and services for people we support
HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE PERSON SERVED
Oversee and develop supports for people…
- To have a safe environment in which to live and work, free of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
- To look their best by providing needed assistance to complete hygiene, grooming and clothing care tasks.
- To learn to maintain a clean living/work environment.
- To learn about nutritional recommendations through meal planning and preparation.
- To learn about and practice safety awareness in all of their environments (living, work/daytime and leisure activities).
- To learn about their personal finances and budgeting skills.
- To learn about and exercise their rights.
- To learn about fair treatment and to understand due process if s/he feels that treatment is not fair.
- To learn about and become involved in their personal health needs.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
Employees of Friendship, Inc. perform a variety of duties that assist and support people to become more involved in the community. While some people require very little assistance or support, others may require more. The level of need varies for each person; the list of duties below is a partial list. Additional duties will be identified as services and supports are discovered/learned about through each person’s Individualized Program Plan (IPP) and/or Individualized Education Plan.
Development, implementation, and monitoring of Program Plans:
- Facilitate IPP team meetings.
- Attend IEP team meetings.
- Coordinate and/or complete assessments.
- Oversee completion of annual social histories.
- Oversee completion of release of information forms with signatures.
- Oversee the accuracy of team meeting minutes.
- Ensure the accurate completion of training/support methods following IPP/team meetings.
- Complete initial program training with team members.
- Coordinate program training with the Manager.
- Complete comprehensive reviews as determined by the person’s team.
- Provide on-site monitoring/observation of program implementation in all environments.
- Present behavior intervention plans to the Behavior Intervention Committee as assigned.
- Present human rights forms to the Human Rights Committee as assigned.
Health care supports:
- Learn about the best possible health needs (including physical and mental health) for the person you are supporting, including knowledge of medications taken by the person and the effects of the medications.
- Accompany people to medical appointments and provide support during medical procedures as needed.
- Complete follow-up recommendations (i.e., order medications, complete medical forms, update Medication Administrations Records) as per department policy.
Financial management of department:
- Oversee department financial budget.
- Oversee/negotiate individual contracts through the Department of Human Services.
- Oversee peoples continued eligibility for benefits (i.e., housing/rent assistance, phone assistance, food stamps, social security, etc.)
- Oversee the completion and filing of peoples’ income taxes.
- Oversee/complete monthly balancing of checkbook/savings accounts with bank statements as assigned.
- Monitor and approve employees’ overtime.
- Maintain programs at 95% occupancy.
- Approve expenditures of $50.00-$200.00.
Departmental enhancement:
- Attend supervisory meetings as scheduled
- Attend individual apartment meetings as requested/needed.
- Participate in reviews for accreditation.
- Participate/facilitate organizational activities as assigned (i.e., Supervisory Review Committee, Operational Team, Quality Enhancement Team, Regional Referral, Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation Committee, General Staff, action teams and other standing committees as developed).
- Follow established call-in and leave request procedures per agency policy.
- Maintain confidentiality of information about people served, customers, records, personal practices, internal practices, co-workers and Friendship’s business affairs.
- Accurately and timely complete PTO/STD Usage Form For Exempt Employees.
- Participate in the A/N/E on-call.
- Participate in department on-call as needed or requested.
Staff supervision and development:
- Provide direct supervision of Manager positions.
- Facilitate the employee selection process of Manager positions.
- Oversee the on-site orientation process with new Managers.
- Coach employees to facilitate performance improvement.
- Oversee the completion of Coordinators and Supervisors performance evaluations.
- Conduct Managers performance evaluations on time.
- Review/approve time sheets of Managers and/or department employees.
- Oversee the completion of training requirements (modules, inservices, etc.) of department employees.
ONGOING EDUCATION AND TRAINING
- Successfully complete module training as required.
- Attendance at and successful completion of all required employee orientation and training requirements.
- Maintain current CPR, First Aid and Confrontation Avoidance certification.
- Certification for medication administration and administering according to established procedures may be required.
- Attend training activities for professional development as assigned
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree and verified qualification as a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP) per Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines.
- At least two years supervisory experience and extensive direct program experience in serving people with developmental disabilities including, but not limited to services, standards and staff training.
- Familiarity with business use of computers.
- Current valid driver’s license.
- Access to a licensed vehicle and proof of motor vehicle liability insurance may be required.
- Meet the requirements of a background check.
- Completion of a health clearance within the first 40 hours of orientation for new employees.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Lifting and/or moving people/supplies weighing 50-100 pounds using proper lifting procedures may be required. This may include repetitive lifting and/or moving.
- Ability to operate a variety of different sized vehicles may be required.
- Driving in all weather conditions and safe operation of a vehicle is expected, including the use of seat belts.
- May be exposed to common household cleaning chemicals.
- May be exposed to blood and bodily fluids. (See Safety Manual for exposure risk.)
- Providing physical assistance to people served. Duties may include, but are not limited to, lifting, assisting at meals, toileting, transferring to and from wheelchairs, beds, etc.
- Physical intervention with people with challenging behaviors may be required.
WORK ENVIRONMENTS
We realize that Friendship, Inc. exists primarily for the benefit of those served and, whenever necessary, personal satisfaction will be held second to that. This may mean, from time to time, willingly accepting extra assignments, additional hours, temporary position transfers, a change in vacation plans, etc. in order to meet the needs of those we serve.
- Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR)
Four or more people living in a group situation and receive 24-hour staffing levels. Each person receives a continuous active treatment program that includes training, health services and other related services to help the person achieve as much self-determination and independence as possible. - Minimally Supervised Living Arrangement (MSLA)
People live in their own homes/apartments with a roommate and share 24-hour staffing levels with another home/apartment setting that is close by. Each person receives a continuous active treatment program that includes training, health services and other related services to help the person achieve as much self-determination and independence as possible. - Family and Community Living (ISLA, Respite, Family Support)
- ISLA (Individualized Supported Living Arrangement): Supports people who choose to live independently in apartments or their own homes. People may receive as little as five hours of support per week or as much as 24 hours per day.
- Respite and Family Support: Supports families with children who have special needs and continue to live in the family home.
- Vocational Services (Adult Day and Day Supports)
- Adult Day: Supports people who want to focus on recreation and leisure activities versus employment.
- Day Supports: Supports people who want to increase their vocational skills and prepare for having a job in the community. This is accomplished through community job sites and in-house contracts.
- Supported Employment/Extended Services (SEP/ES)
- Supported Employment: Focuses on the placement of a person into a competitive, community-based job of their choice with on-the-job training.
- Extended Services: Once a person has obtained some independence on the job, this service provides ongoing supports to both the employer and the employee to insure continued success.
