Lifesharing Specialist BL Full-Time, Primarily 1st Shift w/ flexibility needed

Skills of Central PA•Altoona, PA

About The Position

Skills of Central PA (Skills) is a non-profit health and human services organization that provides services and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health challenges throughout central Pennsylvania. Skills was founded in 1960 so that people with disabilities could have paid work, gain social skills, and become more independent in the community. If you're looking for a place where you can grow your career while helping people, give Skills a closer look! We are seeking a Full-time Lifesharing Specialist in the Altoona area. This position provides oversight and support to people we support, Direct Support Professionals and the families that care for them. This position is Monday-Friday 8a-4p but does require flexibility to meet the needs of the program participants and on-call 24/7. This position requires great attention to detail with strict adherence to deadlines and timelines; Ensures that the individuals’ medical and psychiatric needs are met and accompanies or attends the individual/families to appointments as needed; Ensure implementation and evaluation of preventable treatments; Ensure timely medical examinations by maintaining a tracking record of dates due and completion; Participate in all hospital and rehabilitation admissions and discharges including planning for follow up treatments/appointments, medications and medical equipment; Obtain and/or provide training to individuals and families on diagnoses and treatments; Complete of monthly safety checks; Monitor documentation of fire drills and provide Fire Safety and Emergency Disaster Response training to every individual and family member; Ensure adequate supports in the homes for safety. This position ensures maintenance of the home the individuals live in and equipment within the home. This includes a review of the home and yard during monitoring visits for safety, cleanliness and regulatory compliance; Track completion of any issues and home repairs; Maintain a copy of building permits for home repairs, remodeling and renovations; Complete vehicle safety checks and complete forms for any needed repairs and upkeep of vehicles. Orients interested individuals, community members, birth families and other members of the Intellectual Disabilities system to the Lifesharing program; Completes the Initial Screening, Application Review/verification and Home Studies of interested community members including requesting Criminal History Checks, Driver’s License checks, I-9 verification, Child Abuse checks, Medicaid Fraud checks and other applicable screenings; Develop/maintain relationships with contracted Lifesharing families through a minimum of weekly contact, continue visits with the family on a frequency of at least one per month; Arrange for transportation to and from individual’s work locations and other locations as necessary; Provide training and monitor family compliance of training requirements and timelines; Convey changes in policies to all Lifesharing families in a timely manner; Schedule and conduct team meetings as needed; Provide direct support to individual and family as needed; Evaluate families in effectiveness of contract compliance and give support as needed; Coordinate proper disposition of employee, individual and family complaints and/or formal grievances. There is a need for detailed documentation with this position to include: Developing the annual Assessment, Lifetime Med History, Six-month Checklist and Individual Support Plan, etc.; Assure individuals, support staff and Lifesharing families participate in the Assessment, ISP, and any plans of support; Assure that all outcomes are addressed and documentation is completed; Complete monthly outcome reviews; Complete quarterly updates to the ISP; Write and monitor all plans of support when applicable; Performs the function of the Program Specialist as defined in the Chapter 6500 regulations; Ensure billing accuracy. This position must Ensures compliance of all regulations for Family Living Homes including: Reporting and filing all incidents and follow up to those requiring investigation, ensure the safety of the individual, provide victim’s assistance as needed/requested by the individual, notify birth family members and required agencies, etc.; May require Investigating incidents; Complete Licensing Inspection Instrument Scoresheet for all homes timely; Participates in annual State inspection of homes. There are financial responsibilities to the people supported that are required of this position to include: Review and verify individuals’ finances at least monthly; Obtain bids with individuals’ choices when over $1,500.00; Ensure that all individuals have access to spending money; Controls department costs; Participates in department budget preparation and ensure conformity; Analyze applicable and available financial data. Skills of Central PA prohibits hiring and employment discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, race, color, disability, ethnic or national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, pregnancy, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other bases under the law. Skills is an equal opportunity service provider and employer.

Requirements

A life sharing specialist shall have one of the following groups of qualifications: A master’s degree or above from an accredited college or university and 1 year of work experience working directly with persons with an int ellectual disability or autism.
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and 2 years of work experience working directly with persons with an intellectual disability or autism.
An associate degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university and 4 years of work experience working directly with persons with an intellectual disability or autism.
Implementation of Positive Approaches
Completion of CPR/First Aid within 6 months of employment
Ability to learn to use applicable software programs
Ability to maintain regular and consistent attendance at work
Must have a valid driver's license and maintain a safe driving record
Must be detail orientated and meet deadlines and timelines

Responsibilities

Provide oversight and support to people we support, Direct Support Professionals and the families that care for them.
Ensures that the individuals’ medical and psychiatric needs are met and accompanies or attends the individual/families to appointments as needed
Ensure implementation and evaluation of preventable treatments
Ensure timely medical examinations by maintaining a tracking record of dates due and completion
Participate in all hospital and rehabilitation admissions and discharges including planning for follow up treatments/appointments, medications and medical equipment
Obtain and/or provide training to individuals and families on diagnoses and treatments
Complete of monthly safety checks
Monitor documentation of fire drills and provide Fire Safety and Emergency Disaster Response training to every individual and family member
Ensure adequate supports in the homes for safety
Ensures maintenance of the home the individuals live in and equipment within the home
Track completion of any issues and home repairs
Maintain a copy of building permits for home repairs, remodeling and renovations
Complete vehicle safety checks and complete forms for any needed repairs and upkeep of vehicles
Orients interested individuals, community members, birth families and other members of the Intellectual Disabilities system to the Lifesharing program
Completes the Initial Screening, Application Review/verification and Home Studies of interested community members including requesting Criminal History Checks, Driver’s License checks, I-9 verification, Child Abuse checks, Medicaid Fraud checks and other applicable screenings
Develop/maintain relationships with contracted Lifesharing families through a minimum of weekly contact, continue visits with the family on a frequency of at least one per month
Arrange for transportation to and from individual’s work locations and other locations as necessary
Provide training and monitor family compliance of training requirements and timelines
Convey changes in policies to all Lifesharing families in a timely manner
Schedule and conduct team meetings as needed
Provide direct support to individual and family as needed
Evaluate families in effectiveness of contract compliance and give support as needed
Coordinate proper disposition of employee, individual and family complaints and/or formal grievances
Developing the annual Assessment, Lifetime Med History, Six-month Checklist and Individual Support Plan, etc.
Assure individuals, support staff and Lifesharing families participate in the Assessment, ISP, and any plans of support
Assure that all outcomes are addressed and documentation is completed
Complete monthly outcome reviews
Complete quarterly updates to the ISP
Write and monitor all plans of support when applicable
Performs the function of the Program Specialist as defined in the Chapter 6500 regulations
Ensure billing accuracy
Reporting and filing all incidents and follow up to those requiring investigation, ensure the safety of the individual, provide victim’s assistance as needed/requested by the individual, notify birth family members and required agencies, etc.
May require Investigating incidents
Complete Licensing Inspection Instrument Scoresheet for all homes timely
Participates in annual State inspection of homes
Review and verify individuals’ finances at least monthly
Obtain bids with individuals’ choices when over $1,500.00
Ensure that all individuals have access to spending money
Controls department costs
Participates in department budget preparation and ensure conformity
Analyze applicable and available financial data