Independent Living Coach - Youth & Adults (PT Days/Evenings)

MRC Industries • Kalamazoo, MI

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Youth and Adult Independent Living Supports Coach provides community living support services to youth ages 5–18 and adults. The coach instructs and assists individuals in meeting service-plan goals and building independent living skills, including meal preparation, healthy eating, medication management, shopping, safety skills, activities of daily living, and community engagement. The role supports a safe, clean environment and ensures individuals are treated with dignity and respect and offered choices whenever possible.

The coach participates in developing and evaluating goals, activities, and programs through staff and service team meetings; documents activities and progress; and follows individual objectives, behavior plans, and program procedures. The position may include supervising medication and health-related needs, transporting individuals to appointments and activities, facilitating groups or one-to-one interactions, handling personal funds, responding to emergencies, and protecting individuals’ rights and confidentiality. Work hours are primarily after school, with hiring based on availability for days, evenings (until 8 p.m.), and weekends. The role involves regular travel in the local community and work in residential and community settings, potentially outdoors in all weather conditions.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Problem-solving skills and judgment sufficient to recognize and initiate appropriate responses to emergency and non-emergency situations independently.
• Reading, writing, and verbal skills sufficient to document client goals and objectives.
• Human relations skills sufficient to interact effectively with a wide range of people.
• Ability to work unsupervised.
• Successful criminal-record, driving, and recipient-rights screenings.
• Valid Michigan driver’s license, good driving record, and access to a licensed, insured vehicle for work use.
• Ability to squat, reach, lift, push, pull, bend, stoop, and kneel.
• Physical ability to assist clients with lifting and transferring, personal care, and physical intervention when necessary.
• May occasionally need to lift up to 35 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Education and/or experience working with individuals with disabilities and/or mental illness.
• Experience with behavioral health.

Responsibilities

• Instruct and assist individuals with service-plan goals, objectives, and community living support programs.
• Follow individual objectives, behavior plans, and interventions.
• Participate in evaluating and developing goals, activities, and programs through staff and service team meetings.
• Provide training in independent living skills.
• Document daily activities, progress notes, incident reports, and other required paperwork within established time frames.
• Supervise medication administration and monitor health treatments, medication side effects, and health problems.
• Transport and supervise individuals during community appointments and activities while following traffic laws.
• Run scheduled groups and provide meaningful one-to-one interaction to encourage independence and community inclusion.
• Disburse individuals’ personal funds and accurately record transactions.
• Intervene when individuals display inappropriate behaviors and use approved intervention techniques when required.
• Take responsibility for individuals’ health and safety, including maintaining a clean and safe environment, screening home visitors, conducting scheduled drills, supervising activities, knowing individuals’ general whereabouts, and following safety guidelines.
• Shop for food as assigned, involving clients as appropriate.
• Communicate effectively and respectfully with clients and staff.
• Protect client confidentiality and ensure appropriate releases of information are in the case record before providing identifying information.
• Ensure rules are followed and violations are documented and reported as necessary.
• Coordinate emergency responses with on-call staff, case management, or other emergency providers, and inform a supervisor or on-call contact as appropriate.
• Protect the rights of individuals served in accordance with the Michigan Mental Health Code and agency policy.
• Support culturally competent, recovery-based practices, person-centered planning, and a trauma-informed culture.
• Complete and maintain required training and certificates according to schedule guidelines.
• Perform other miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Benefits

• $500 sign-on bonus for eligible new employees hired into the Community Living Supports (CLS) Coach position, paid in two $250 installments after 30 and 90 days of continuous employment, subject to eligibility conditions.
• Mileage reimbursement at the Federal Rate.
• Shift differential for evening and weekend shifts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED