Community Habilitation Specialist

YAI • New York, NY

7d • Onsite

About The Position

This role performs all duties of a Direct Support Professional (DSP) 1, ensuring the overall supervision, protection, and care of individuals. The specialist assists individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities while upholding their personal rights and facilitating activities that provide social capital and connections to the community. The position ensures health, wellness, and safety by providing appropriate supervision in various settings, supporting individuals with varying levels of need according to their individualized service and behavior support plans, and demonstrating OPWDD Core Competencies. The specialist takes the lead during crisis situations, effectively deescalating issues and directing DSP 1s while adhering to policies and regulations. They ensure the implementation of person-centered, individualized plans, including protective oversight and Behavior Support Plans (BSPs), and model and train DSP 1s on these plans. Professionalism is maintained through strong allegiance to persons supported, proactive completion of duties with limited direction, and a positive, supportive demeanor. The role involves maintaining a clean, safe, and organized therapeutic environment, utilizing safe handling procedures, and implementing infection control protocols. Responsibilities include assisting with personal care, ADLs, medication administration, skill development, advocacy, communication, and facilitating ethical decision-making. The specialist also supervises and prepares meals, transports individuals to various appointments and activities, and assists with purchases and financial management. They utilize specialized clinical knowledge to provide effective supports and serve as a role model. The role involves implementing Behavior Support Plans, collecting and summarizing data on behavior, and reporting any changes or concerns to the clinical and leadership teams. They report maintenance and safety concerns and serve as a member of a highly effective team, providing feedback and communicating programmatic needs. Communication with circles of support, including families and external providers, is essential. The specialist completes and maintains all necessary trainings and certifications, reviews communication logs, and enters data into electronic health records. They complete and maintain all required paperwork and documentation for compliance and billing. Foundational teaching skills are utilized, and active participation in team meetings is expected. Approved YAI and OPWDD training techniques are used to respond to challenging behaviors, and the specialist may provide training to less experienced staff. Coverage for other direct support staff may be required, including at other locations. Compliance with all Federal, State, Local, and regulatory agency requirements, including HIPAA, is mandatory. The role may involve assisting with administrative tasks, participating in the implementation of changes, preparing monthly summaries, participating in life plan meetings, and potentially operating a YAI motor vehicle.

Requirements

• Two (2) years of experience as a DSP 1 in a YAI program.
• Must hold foundational certifications for current service setting: Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention – Revised (SCIP-R), CPR (issued by American Red Cross or American Heart Association) and YAI-issued Approved Medication Administration Personnel (AMAP) certification for residential assignments or Day Services Model Mentorship Training.
• Must maintain foundational certifications for applicable service setting.
• Satisfactory equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training.
• All newly hired employees must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have at least three (3) years of direct support professional experience with the I/DD population.
• Must obtain (and maintain) required YAI certifications based on setting within six (6) months of appointment.
• Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; use hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; assisting with lifting/moving individuals of any weight with assistance of mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Behavior Support Plan if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff.
• Strong written and oral communication skills including the ability to appropriately document services provided for billing and tracking purposes and to effectively communicate information regarding individuals supported across various levels and with external providers or circles of support.
• Enthusiasm for working with people with I/DD, willingness to take initiative and ability to demonstrate positivity, patience and empathy and compassion in all interactions.
• Knowledge of the specific needs of individuals supported in the program, including a solid understanding of clinical rationales.
• Ability and willingness to assist with and teach others a variety of supports and ADLs, including regular exposure to and handling of various bodily fluids with limited direction and in accordance with documented plans.
• Proficiency with computers and electronic systems including email, utilizing Workday and/or related systems (DA, etc.) to complete tasks.
• Must hold and maintain additional certifications as required by program assignment and persons supported (for example: Choking – Return Demonstration, Diabetes Care, Tube Feeding, etc.).
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships in alignment with YAI’s mission and vision.
• Ability to remain calm, act assertively and display professional competence and good judgment in stressful situations, including with challenging individuals or behaviors and work in a high energy, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work beyond regularly scheduled hours/shift and/or to report to work as scheduled on holidays, in inclement weather or during other emergencies to maintain minimum coverage requirements of program, unless otherwise authorized.
• For assignments that require transporting persons supported by vehicle, must hold or obtain and maintain valid Driver’s License and Van certification (based on position/location/program).

Nice To Haves

• HS diploma or its educational equivalent

Responsibilities

• Performs all duties of DSP 1, ensuring overall supervision, protection, and care of individuals.
• Assists individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities, while upholding their personal rights and facilitating activities that provide social capital and connections to the community.
• Ensures health, wellness, and safety by providing appropriate supervision in various settings.
• Supports individuals with varying levels of need, in accordance with individualized service and behavior support plans.
• Takes the lead during crisis situations, effectively deescalating situations and directing DSP 1s.
• Ensures implementation of person-centered, individualized plans, including protective oversight and Behavior Support Plans (BSPs).
• Models professionalism, maintains a strong allegiance to persons supported, and completes regular duties with limited direction.
• Maintains a clean, safe, and organized therapeutic environment.
• Utilizes safe and appropriate handling procedures and implements infection control protocols.
• Assists with personal care and activities of daily living (ADLs), including intimate care and personal hygiene.
• Ensures medication is administered as prescribed.
• Teaches/develops skills.
• Supports person-centered advocacy with individuals and for individuals with I/DD.
• Assists in communication, self-expression, and resolving disputes amongst individuals.
• Facilitates ethical decision making.
• Supervises and/or plans and prepares balanced meals and snacks in accordance with dietary restrictions.
• Transports and escorts individuals on recreational activities, medical appointments, home visits, volunteer and/or employment sites.
• Assists individuals with making purchases and safeguarding personal allowance funds.
• Understands and uses specialized clinical knowledge of person-specific needs to provide effective supports and inform activities and training.
• Implements Behavior Support Plan as written by Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS).
• Collects, records, and summarizes data on individuals’ observable behavior.
• Observes and reports any changes in behavior, or other signs and symptoms, to clinical and/or leadership team.
• Reports maintenance, upkeep, and safety concerns to Program Supervisor or appropriate designee.
• Serves as a member of a highly effective team, providing feedback and communicating programmatic needs.
• Appropriately communicates concerns and/or issues relating to team dynamics and situations with persons supported to supervisor, clinical staff, and/or other leadership.
• Communicates with circles of support, including families and external providers, to provide updates and/or obtain information.
• Completes and maintains all necessary trainings and certifications.
• Reviews communication logs daily and makes entries of events, progress notes, services, and/or information.
• Collects and enters data as part of daily operations using an electronic health record.
• Reviews and completes all other required paperwork and documentation.
• Uses foundational teaching skills (Explain, Model, Observe and Evaluate [EMOE], task analysis, essential skills, supports and modifications, etc.) and progressive teaching.
• Attends and actively participates in team meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary team (IDT).
• Utilizes/demonstrates approved YAI and OPWDD training techniques to respond timely and appropriately to challenging and/or self-injurious behavior.
• Provides coverage for other direct support staff as requested, which may include assisting at another YAI or off-site location.
• Complies with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including HIPAA.
• May perform, assist with, and/or guide less experienced staff with a variety of administrative tasks.
• May participate in the implementation of changes, providing feedback, training, and/or instructing others.
• May assist with or prepare monthlies for persons supported by reviewing and accurately summarizing progress data.
• May participate in life plan meetings for persons supported and development of treatment plans.
• May participate in and/or guide less experienced staff with writing services and safeguards, establishing goals and informing updates to life and/or staff action plans.
• May be required to operate YAI motor vehicle to transport individuals.
• Performs all other duties, as assigned.

Benefits

• Consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED