Life Skills Counselor

Oak Hill/Gilead • Hartford, CT

12d

About The Position

Oak Hill has been enhancing the lives of people with disabilities since 1893! We invite you to join our team of highly committed professionals. Founded in 1893 by trailblazer and visionary, Emily Wells Foster, Oak Hill has over 129 years of experience providing the highest quality services to people with varying disabilities. Oak Hill sets the standard, partnering with people with disabilities, to provide services and solutions promoting independence, education, health, and dignity.

The Life Skills Counselor works in Oak Hill programs with individuals and families within their personal homes. This person provides support to individuals with disabilities, who have the ability to acquire and use the skills necessary for increasing daily living skills and pro-social behavior and coping skills. This service is offered as a means of enhancing the lives of these individuals who reside in the community in their own or family homes and in keeping with Oak Hill’s mission. Skills Counselor works under the general supervision of a Program Supervisor/Coordinator. This position does not involve employee supervision. Life Skills Counselors will have contact with internal and external parties.

Requirements

• Bachelors Degree in Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, or closely related field and/or at least two years of experience in direct or supervisory care of individuals with disabilities/Autism or equivalent training and experience required.
• Knowledge of the needs of individuals with disabilities/Autism and the ability to plan and implement ways of meeting these needs in a community setting
• Knowledge and understanding of the concepts of Supported, Shared and Independent Living

Responsibilities

• Completes skills assessments with the individual, develops goals that encourage growth and self- reliance and implements processes to assist in meeting their needs.
• Assists the Program Supervisor/Coordinator and Behaviorist in creating and implementing habilitative programs both in the individual’s home and the community.
• Familiarizes him/herself with Oak Hill policies and procedures and Department of Developmental Services (DDS) policies and procedures related to In-Home Supports/Autism to ensure that such policies and procedures are followed.
• Familiarizes him/herself with information about the individual needing support, including meeting with family members, DDS case managers, reviewing Individual Program Plans and medical information.
• Familiarizes him/herself with the entitlement systems available to the individual and assists them in applying for and maintaining eligibility for entitlement supports.
• Provides support to the individual in the following areas: budgeting and financial planning, practical life skills, social skills and physical and emotional health, to ensure that they acquire and maintain those skills needed for functioning independently in their communities and in society.
• Coordinates services for the individual, including those services provided by other agencies, community groups or individuals, to ensure that participants make use of the community resources available to them.
• Communicates regularly with all other support persons, family members, therapists, supervisors to ensure that the needs of the individual are being met.
• Teaches individual to identify varying types of emergencies and handle them, and carries out periodic checks to ensure that those skills related to their safety are maintained.
• Teaches self-medication administration skills to those able to learn, organizes medication for those who self-medicate and monitors the process to ensure that they are following the correct schedules and procedures.
• Completes documentation in the Electronic Health Record including but not limited to: support staff arrival and departure time and goals worked on with individual before clocking out.

Benefits

• Generous Paid Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time, Plus Paid Holidays
• Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits (Oak Hill pays 50% of your medical deductible)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan (Oak Hill contributes 5% at no cost to you)
• Free and Low-Cost Life Insurance Options and Free Long-term Disability Insurance
• Excellent Professional Development Opportunities; Tuition Reimbursement; Career Pathways
• Staff Recognition and Appreciation
• Paid Training, Education, and Certification as necessary (including CPR training)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level