Residential Program Specialist

The Arc's•Meadville, PA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Residential Program Specialist will manage a caseload of diverse individuals, providing them the opportunity to live their own everyday lives. This role involves coordinating schedules for residential sites and day programs, developing rapport with families and county representatives, and advocating for individuals to maximize their independence. The specialist will also provide direct service, coordinate with behavior specialists, offer emotional support, model healthy lifestyles, and identify individual strengths for community integration. Additionally, the role requires close work with county human services, updating support plans and assessments, and ensuring client confidentiality. The specialist will also supervise Direct Service Professionals and Residential Support Professionals, conduct quality assurance monitoring, and train staff on individual needs and agency procedures. Office duties include maintaining client files, approving expenses and timesheets, reporting incidents, and tracking utilization.

Requirements

Master’s Degree or above from an accredited college or university and one (1) year work experience working directly with persons with intellectual disabilities.
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university and two (2) years work experience working directly with persons with intellectual disabilities.
Associate’s Degree or sixty (60) credit hours from an accredited college or university and four (4) years work experience working directly with persons with intellectual disabilities.
Ability to apply understanding and problem-solving skills to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.
Ability to deal with problems in a constantly changing environment.
Proficient with MS Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
Excellent organizational skills.
Ability to communicate (verbally and written) professionally with individuals at all levels of the organization and external contacts.
Problem-solver.
Self-motivated.
Dependable.
Manage time efficiently.
Self-starter.
Ability to multi-task.
Regular attendance required.
Ability to maintain the integrity of highly confidential information.

Nice To Haves

Flexible schedule
Occasional driving expected

Responsibilities

Manage a caseload of diverse individuals, providing opportunities for them to live their own everyday lives.
Coordinate schedules for residential sites and assist with day program schedules.
Develop rapport with individuals’ families and county representatives to facilitate communication.
Schedule and attend team meetings to provide input on individual progress.
Assist in updating the Individual Support Plan (ISP) and annual assessments (ISP and SIS).
Advocate for individuals to maximize their independence.
Provide direct service as needed to ensure quality of program.
Search for and provide opportunities for individuals to advance their lives.
Coordinate with Behavior Specialist regarding individual behavior plan implementation.
Provide emotional support to individuals through difficult life situations.
Model and encourage a healthy lifestyle for individuals during program hours.
Assist in identifying individuals’ strengths and how they can use them in the community.
Work closely with Crawford County Human Services on all proceedings.
Inform Support Coordinators of any changes for the individuals as they arise.
Summarize and document individual client progress as required.
Ensure that all files and client interactions remain confidential.
Assist in all emergencies and carry the on-call phone during assigned times.
Supervise Direct Service Professionals and Residential Support Professionals.
Develop rapport with Direct Support Professionals and Residential Support Professionals.
Track and monitor attendance and performance and address disciplinary issues as needed.
Ensure individuals are happy with their services and conduct monthly Quality Assurance Monitoring.
Conduct monthly group home house meetings.
Teach required annual trainings and assist in maintaining training records.
Train new and existing Direct Support Professionals and Residential Support Professionals on specific individual needs and home procedures.
Monitor Direct Support Professionals and Residential Support Professionals to assess work performance and facilitate positive change.
Mentor Direct Support Professionals and Residential Support Professionals having difficulties.
Complete critical, strength-based employee evaluations to assess DSP and RSP performance.
Coordinate schedules and fill shifts as necessary and as directed by Program Manager.
Maintain all individual files and house files to meet Chapter 6400 Regulations and requirements.
Conduct self-assessment of all community homes and files at least once per year.
Ensure staff are meeting all training requirements.
Monitor monthly program-specific paperwork coming from the community homes.
Update ISPs, assessments, HRSTs, and individuals’ records as changes are made.
Organize and store individuals’ files securely.
Collect and assess monthly progress reports from DSPs and RSPs to ensure outcomes are met.
Approve mileage and business expenses of Residential and Direct Support Professionals.
Approve employees’ timesheets on an ongoing basis.
Approve Residential Support Professionals’ timesheets biweekly.
Schedule and attend office, program specialist, house, and direct care staff meetings for agency updates and to provide input on changes.
Report incidents to HCSIS in a timely manner and follow-up when appropriate.
Track utilization and client attendance.
Maintain client files for regulations and Provider Monitoring.
Perform all other duties as assigned.