Direct Service Professional for Adults

Position Summary:

The Day Habilitation Specialist develops and oversees day-to-day activities of clients in vocational, personal, social, and avocational areas, and provides opportunities for community integration.  This role also conducts family education, support, and in-service programs.  The Day Habilitation Specialist maintains appropriate paperwork, including individual habilitation and goal plans, case entries, and incident reports.  This role ensures regular communication with families/guardians or home representatives and recognizes that the highest quality of service is delivered with Hospitality, Respect, Quality, Spirituality, and Responsibility, the core values of the Agency, and maintains confidentiality of departmental records, persons, and activities.

Agency Expectations of Coworkers:

Coworkers are expected to perform their duties in such a way that enhances the dignity and quality of life of all the children and clients that we serve.  St. John of God Community Services (the Agency) is a service of The Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, a Religious Order of the Roman Catholic Church, whose mission is to serve the sick, poor, and needy people in over 50 countries worldwide.

St. John of God Community Services expects the following to be met by all coworkers:

• Understands and supports the Agency’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Understands and Respects the Catholic Identity of The Hospitaller Order of St. John of God and St. John of God Community Services.
• Adheres to Agency and departmental policies and procedures.
• Acts as a role model within and outside the Agency while maintaining information in a confidential and needs-to-know manner regarding persons served, families, staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Performs duties as the workload necessitates by demonstrating flexibility, efficient time management, and the ability to prioritize one’s workload.
• Responds appropriately to interruptions, emergencies, and various safety and evacuation drills.
• Treats attendance and punctuality as essential components of the job.
• Communicates on a timely basis with a supervisor about departmental issues and concerns affecting the safety and well-being of all.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assesses and assists clients with social and personal issues related to their goal attainment; provides instruction on issues surrounding independent living skills behavior management, community inclusion activities, et.
• Participates in daily program activities with clients and reinforce goals and objectives.
• Assists clients with basic life skills and personal hygiene.
• Properly lifts and positions clients who require the use of a wheelchair.
• Accompanies clients to and from home and various program activity sites on Agency vehicles.
• Records daily client activity in Therap for billing.
• Attends regular family education and support programs, as well as program in-services.
• Complies with standards set forth in the DDD Supports and Community Care Manuals.
• Monitors client areas for safety and ease of access.
• Complies with HCBS guidelines.
• Participates in planning and implementing cross-training/cross utilization for various department functions.       
• Observes Agency and departmental procedures concerning safety, emergencies, behavior management, and professional conduct.
• Monitors client areas for safety and ease of access.
• Participates in all Safeguarding Trainings related to the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
• Participates in departmental meetings, information sharing and in-service training.  Offers ideas for improved services and operations.
• Develops professional competencies; keeps abreast of related literature, enhances technical skills and knowledge. 
• Promotes teamwork.
• Work flexible hours as needed based on program needs. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications for the Position:

• High school diploma or equivalent.  Associates degree in related field is preferred.
• Prior background in supervision and instruction in vocational or avocational areas.
• Ability to instruct program participants in basic life math skills, such as money management.
• CPR and First Aid certification.
• Bilingual (Spanish and/or ASL) a plus.
• Required skills, knowledge, and ability to perform job.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships.
• Ability to learn new tasks quickly.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) Specifications:

The demands described herein below are representative of those that must be met by a coworker to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Proficiency Rating Legend:       

O = Occasionally – May be called upon to perform from time-to-time.

                R = Regularly – Commonly call upon to perform.

                F = Frequently – Repeatedly called upon to perform; cannot perform job without this function.

• Lifting unassisted: Up to 25 pounds, from the floor level to the at waist level. (R)
• Lifting assisted: Up to 50 pounds, from any level. (R)
• Standing/Walking: Remaining on one’s feet in an upright position or moving about a work area. (F)
• Sitting: Remaining in a normal, seated position. (O)
• Bending/Stooping: Continual, intermittent flexing of the spine; bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. (R)
• Crouching/Kneeling: Bending legs at knees; coming to rest on knees. (R)
• Crawling: Moving about a surface on hands and knees (O)
• Pushing/Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from or toward the force. (R)
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction. (R)
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, ramps, and the like, using feet and legs, and hands and arms. (O)
• Repetitive finger/hand movements: Usage or other special equipment operated. (F)
• Precise finger/hand movements: Seizing, grasping, turning, or otherwise performing precision work with hand or hands. (F)
• Close vision: Clear vision at 20 inches or less. (F)
• Distance vision: Clear vision at 20 feet or more. (F)
• Color vision: The ability to identify and distinguish colors. (F)
• Peripheral vision: To observe an area that can be seen up/down or to the left/right, while the eyes are fixed on a given point. (F)
• Depth perception: The ability to judge distance and spatial relationships. (F)
• Focus adjustment/ability: To adjust eyes to bring an object into sharp focus. (F)
• Distinguish foreground/background sounds. (R)
• Hear high/low frequencies. (R)
• Hear/process for conversation speech. (F)
• Effective articulation. (R)
• Voice Projection. (R)
• Read and write at high school level. (R)
• Taste: The ability to distinguish different flavors. (R)
• Smell: The ability to distinguish different scents. (R)
• Touch: The ability to distinguish tactually. (R)