Group Leader (Queens/Brooklyn NY)

EIHAB HUMAN SERVICES•New York, NY

2d•$20 - $21•Onsite

About The Position

The Group Leader helps individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health needs reach goals, develop skills, and receive support through the Day Support Program. The role develops staff and ensures that daily activities, recreation, worksites, and community outings reflect individuals’ valued outcomes, choices, and desires. It maintains a safe, supportive, therapeutic environment that fosters growth, habilitation, meaningful activities, and independent and self-help skills. The Group Leader plans, supervises, and coordinates activities and recreation, and maintains and revises Day Program systems, including programmatic, quality assurance, training, and billing systems. The role provides leadership for recreational programming and meaningful activities, participant and community relations, volunteer activities, operations, and safety. Under direction, it oversees assigned community recreation programs, assesses needs, plans and evaluates programs, and coordinates staff. The position ensures regulatory and agency-policy compliance, supports staff training and program operations, coordinates individual schedules and services, and monitors habilitation documentation and activities. It also develops recreation and community programs, works with agency and community partners, and helps individuals participate in activities and worksites that support independence and community inclusion.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED.
Seven to ten years of work experience in OPWDD and serving the intellectually and developmentally disabled population.
Passion for and desire to collaborate with people with intellectual disabilities and other physical or mental disabilities.
Knowledge of basic human physical and psychological needs, basic health and safety precautions, simple nursing care procedures, first aid, behavior management, and personal and environmental hygiene.
Ability to write professional, objective progress and behavior reports.
Ability to use computers and other electronic equipment.
Ability to interact with individuals, community members, and treatment team members.
Ability to read and comprehend technical training manuals and follow written and oral instructions.
Ability to learn basic operation and maintenance of adaptive equipment.
Supportive, patient, and team-oriented approach.
Ability to observe, record, and report individuals' behavior, attitudes, and physical conditions effectively.
Ability to prioritize conflicting deadlines, cope with stress, adhere to deadlines, and respect line management.
Ability to read, comprehend, and follow individual safeguards and program protocols.
Ability to obtain First Aid/CPR certification and Medication Administration Training.

Nice To Haves

Associate Degree in a human service-related field, or equivalent credits, with four to six years of work experience in OPWDD and serving the intellectually and developmentally disabled population.
SCIP, AMAP, and CPR/First Aid certifications.
Familiarity with OPWDD regulations.

Responsibilities

Ensure safety compliance for individuals and Direct Support Professionals in the Day Support setting, and monitor activities for compliance with State and Federal regulations and agency and program policies.
Monitor staff planning and coordination of services that teach life skills, support independence and community participation, encourage socially appropriate behaviors, and maintain health and safety skills.
Support Site Supervisors in understanding and implementing Direct Support Professional Core Competencies.
Cover Direct Support Professional duties when positions are vacant or staff are absent.
Attend Day Habilitation and agency-wide management meetings and assist individuals in obtaining services outlined in their Day Habilitation plans.
Complete reports and ensure incidents are documented; coordinate with the Program Coordinator to identify staff needs and training requirements.
Train new hires and implement shadow-training and orientation procedures; coordinate staffing to meet regulatory ratios.
Plan, schedule, and administer new programs, clubs, groups, major events, recreation, community inclusion, worksites, and other activities with program management.
Organize and monitor activity materials and ensure scheduled events and activities are available.
Ensure individuals have lunch, meals, or snacks each day in accordance with prescribed diets, meal plans, restrictions, and documented safeguards.
Ensure each individual's Day Habilitation documentation is completed and updated.
Conduct arrival and departure observations to ensure adequate supervision and compliance with safeguards and plans; monitor interactions, activities, and responses to services.
Coordinate and provide recreational program plans with program management, and lead, schedule, and monitor staff carrying out recreation, events, and community plans.
Train and orient staff on engaging individuals, supporting satisfaction, and fostering meaningful activities.
Direct and monitor day-to-day recreation programs, classes, events, facility and equipment operations, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Ensure activity equipment is available, secured, clean, maintained, and undamaged.
Promote and publicize recreation programs, including through focus groups, video plans or productions, announcements, and promotions within the agency.
Develop programs and services and act as a liaison for Day Programs with participants, interested persons, employees, families, community members, and others.
Organize, lead, and promote recreational activities such as arts, crafts, sports, games, hobbies, and volunteering.
Assign staff to tasks, groups, and activities according to operational procedures.
Collaborate with agency personnel, community organizations, and other professionals to plan balanced recreation programs.
Provide monthly calendars of recreational, volunteer, and community events in accordance with program scheduling procedures.
Ensure activities and programming are driven by individual choice rather than program convenience; develop activities by researching trends and community requests, evaluating community needs, and monitoring program quality.
Find and maintain volunteer sites for Day Habilitation participants and monitor individuals and staff at worksites.
Document individual worksite attendance daily.
Create a safe, supportive environment where individuals can learn skills to function more independently.
Ensure individuals receive daily Habilitation Services and that habilitation documentation is completed contemporaneously.
Develop and implement each individual's monthly schedule, including recreation, volunteer activities, community outings, and in-program activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.