Community Support Specialist

Position Type: DIRECT HIRE

Salary: $19.50/ hr

Services are provided in small groups of individuals who determine and direct the activities and services.  The scope of the activities and community experiences include: self-advocacy, job exploration and training, paid employment, mobility training, educational opportunities, social skills training, recreational activities, and volunteerism.

Essential Functions:

• Supports people in developing services designed to assure self-determination, maximum independence, and self-sufficiency in the community.
• Implements direct support services for people in community settings.
• Assists people to make choices that will assure achievement of personal goals and objectives.
• Develops contacts and collaborative arrangements with community agencies, services, businesses, and individuals as needed to meet goals and objectives.
• Communicates opportunities for community job sites to the Program Coordinator.
• Provides support for community activities and job coaching at job sites as needed.
• Provides mobility training.
• Monitors job placements and other community activities and provides support as necessary to assure success.
• Collaborates on and implements behavior management plans, as needed.
• Develops, reviews, and evaluates individual program plans.
• Serves as an advocate for the persons served.
• Provides input to management regarding the needs of program services.
• Makes progress notations, records, and reports as necessary.
• Participates in conferences and other committee meetings as required.
• Handles medical and personal care needs
• Maintains positive, professional relationships and communicates effectively with people supported, family members, staff, care providers, professionals, and the community.
• Adjusts to and implements changing daily schedules, as needed.
• Maintains vehicles used for transporting people throughout the day.

General Duties:

• Participates in staff meetings and in-service training sessions.
• Stays informed about trends and best practices in the field.
• Demonstrates respect for cultural and individual differences when interacting with the people supported, family members, and other professionals and community members.
• Maintains equipment, supplies, facility, and vehicles, as needed.
• Maintains cooperative working relationship with others.
• Manages and/or reports critical incidents, accidents, injuries, seizures, etc., appropriately.
• Ensures safe environmental conditions.
• Transports people in agency vehicles.
• Maintains current First Aid and CPR certification.
• Shares in operational duties of the facility and vehicles.
• Completes other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• A commitment to excellence in services and a high level of enthusiasm for the mission.  Demonstrated leadership and teambuilding abilities.
• Knowledge of individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Ability to develop Individual Service Plans and implement behavioral plans for people with developmental disabilities. Advocate the philosophy of self-determination and community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.
• Valid California driver’s license and good driving record. Must meet requirements involving health screening and Department of Justice clearance.
• A four (4) year college degree in a related field and two (2) years of verifiable, continuous experience providing direct care to people with developmental disabilities.  Additional experience may be substituted for education.