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.

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.

· 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

Assist and support 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 (IEP).

Job development (Day Supports only):

· Assist with job development per each person's interests.
· Supervise and assist people served at job sites.
· Complete duties at job sites as necessary (i.e., holidays, person served absent, etc.).

Development, implementation and monitoring of Individual Program Plans (IPP):

· Attend team meetings as needed.
· Complete/assist with assessments as requested.
· Complete monthly reviews as assigned.
· Accurately and timely enter written information in the records, charts and files of people served.
· Provide/arrange transportation of people served as needed.

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.
Departmental enhancement:

· Follow established call-in and leave request procedures per department policy.
· Maintain confidentiality of information about people served, customers, records, personal practices, internal practices, co-workers and Friendship's business affairs.
· Attend departmental meetings.
· Participate in organizational activities as desired (i.e., action teams, standing committees, Mission Integration, etc.).
· Accurately and timely complete time sheets.
· Participate in reviews for accreditation and licensure.

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.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

· Eighteen (18) years of age.
· Current valid driver's license may be required.
· 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 live 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.