Handy Staff

Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City•Kansas City, MO

10d•$50,000 - $53,000

About The Position

The Handy Staff plays a central role in advancing Help@Home’s mission to ensure older adults can remain independent, safe, and comfortable in their own homes for as long as they choose. This position provides high-quality minor home repairs, accessibility modifications, and safety assessments while applying aging-in-place principles, universal design, and a client-centered approach. The Handy Staff is expected to hold, or be willing to obtain, the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation to ensure all services reflect best practices in home safety and accessibility for older adults. The Handy Staff supports the Aging Operations Manager in maintaining partner contracts through assessments, documentation, and relationship management. Working in close collaboration with call center staff and the social work team, the Handy Staff ensures that repairs and home maintenance projects are well coordinated, scheduled efficiently, and aligned with each client’s care plan. Handy Staff provide services directly in clients’ homes as scheduled by call center staff, delivering repairs and modifications with professionalism, dignity, and respect. JFS will supply all tools necessary and provide mileage reimbursement for job related travel. Through skilled work, compassionate interaction, and CAPS informed safety practices, the Handy Staff strengthens Help@Home’s mission to support healthy aging and peace of mind for older adults in the community.

Requirements

Background in construction or trade is desired but not required.
Proficiency in basic repairs is required, such as:
Electrical repairs and maintenance like lightbulbs, wiring, circuit breakers, fuses
Carpentry & General Construction: woodwork, sanding, painting, etc.
General Plumbing: clogged toilets, faucets, fix leaks, etc.
Facility Repairs: doors, doorknobs, locks, replacing windowpanes
Empathy: must have and maintain a high level of care and concern for the experiences and circumstances of our clients.
Customer Service: demonstrated desire to serve clients by focusing effort on meeting their needs, understanding their concerns, and seeking to build trust.
Communication skills: high level of function during interpersonal communications, with clients, staff and community partners alike. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate messages and listen to others' responses to convey information.
Ethical Decision Making: possess an appropriate level of ability to evaluate information and select an effective and ethical course of action.
Solutions-Oriented: a drive and ability to proactively take steps to make repairs in collaboration with the client.
Follow-through: Demonstrate a high level of ability to complete tasks in the available time for the job or to schedule for more time as needed with Call Center Staff and the Client.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual preferred.

Responsibilities

Complete a wide range of basic home maintenance tasks for older adults, including repairing doors, steps, flooring, lighting, general plumbing, drywall, and other light carpentry needs to support safe and comfortable living environments.
Install essential safety features such as grab bars, handrails, nonslip solutions, improved lighting, and other fall prevention measures that enable clients to age in place with confidence.
Evaluate client homes to identify potential hazards, recommend appropriate repairs or modifications, and prioritize work that enhances safety, accessibility, and overall wellbeing.
Engage with older adults in a respectful, patient, and clear manner, explaining repair needs, outlining work plans, and ensuring clients feel informed and comfortable throughout the process.
Complete job reports including work, materials used, time spent, safety concerns, and follow-up needs in accordance with organizational procedures and reporting requirements.
Collaborate with volunteers, contractors, and community partners when additional expertise or support is needed to complete repairs or modifications.
Adhere to all safety protocols, use tools and materials responsibly, and ensure all work meets JFS quality expectations and regulatory guidelines.
Serve as an ambassador of the JFS mission, demonstrating professionalism, empathy, and integrity in interactions with clients, families, colleagues, and community stakeholders.
Coordinate regularly with the JFS Older Adult Care Management Team and participate in interdisciplinary meetings as needed to ensure holistic support for clients’ safety and wellbeing.
Document and relay observations related to client safety, functional changes, or environmental concerns that may require follow-up from the care team.
Serve as backup support for scheduling home assessments, repair visits, and follow-up appointments when primary staff are unavailable.
Assist with outreach, education, and community workshops related to home safety, fall prevention, and aging in place.
Assist with JFS facility projects as needed such as minor paint touch ups, hanging items on walls, installing small shelves or equipment, and other jobs that are not handled by the property management team.
Other duties as assigned.