Independent Living Skills

The William George Agency for Childrens Services•Freeville, NY

2d•$22 - $26•Onsite

About The Position

The Independent Living Skills Specialist assists with development and documentation of the Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP), maintains the Independent Living Skills Management Systems (ILMS) database, and helps ensure compliance with New York State Independent Living Skills mandates. The role is part of Residential Services and reports to the Cottage Manager. The William George Agency for Children’s Services is a private, not-for-profit residential treatment center licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Its 650-acre campus is located nine miles northeast of Ithaca in New York’s Finger Lakes region. The Agency serves youth ages 12 to 21 and their families, with programs addressing significant mental health issues, behavioral difficulties, and substance abuse issues.

Requirements

High school diploma; a copy is required upon initial hire.
Teaching experience.
Valid New York State driver’s license; a copy is required upon initial hire.
Yearly physical, required within one month after the initial hire date.
Ability to work with a diverse population across cultural, socioeconomic, developmental, and sexual identities, and willingness and ability to build healthy, supportive relationships that acknowledge individual identities and encourage personal growth.
Successfully complete all required background checks: NYS Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR); Multi-State Sex Offender Registry (SOR); NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) fingerprinting; NYS Justice Center Staff Exclusion List (SEL); NYS OMIG Medicaid Exclusion List; out-of-state child abuse register inquiry for any state of residence within the past five years, if applicable; NYS License Event Notification Service (LENS); and Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Successfully complete Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).
Work 40 hours per week and remain flexible to meet program needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience with an ILS curriculum.
Bachelor’s degree; a copy is required upon initial hire.

Responsibilities

Assist in developing the campus ILSP, including creating required assessment tools for ILS assessments.
Track ongoing ILSP activity on campus and maintain records of services administered to residents.
Develop data collection techniques for the ILMS database, maintain database records, and update information as needed.
Assist Behavioral Health Clinicians with ILSP documentation.
Provide Independent Living Skills instructional classes for eligible groups of children.
Update ILS information and service plans at unit meetings and update files.
Represent Agency employment opportunities to residents off campus, including interviews, follow-up, and program understanding.
Take residents on ILSP field trips and lead field trips aligned with the program’s goals.
Develop appropriate off-campus employment experiences for residents and cultivate potential local employers familiar with the program, as approved and directed by the Director of Residential Services.
Arrange ILS training for residents in designated areas.
Establish weekly ILS groups during program hours, as deemed appropriate by the school and/or employment office, or after 3:00 PM on weekdays.
Serve as a liaison and resource person with ILSP resource programs and agencies.
Review program resources, assess their usefulness, and circulate an updated list of available resources to Agency staff.
Cultivate off-campus service agencies as part of ILS classwork.
Stay informed about changes to the Agency’s ILS program to help ensure compliance with New York State mandates.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Residential Services.
Follow Agency safety standards, practices, and policies, including reviewing the safety policy and attending required safety training.
Follow the rules, regulations, policies, and philosophy of The William George Agency and the Office of Children and Family Services.