Access Services is hiring a Program Specialist for our Community Homes program. Our group homes offer supportive housing for adults with intellectual disabilities that creates a family style living environment to meet each person's physical, emotional, spiritual, medical and social needs. We have the ability to provide all levels of care within each home from intensive needs such as help with bathing, dressing, medication and more to very independent, supervisory care where our attentive direct support professionals (DSPs) are there to ensure safety and social engagement.
The Program Specialist is responsible for coordination of services, communication of service needs, and documentation of service delivery for an identified caseload of individuals. In doing this, they ensure services are delivered in accordance with each individual's plan and that relevant agency and regulatory guidelines are met. The Program Specialist serves as the agency lead at the Individual Service Plan (ISP) meetings. This work will be done in close collaboration with house supervisors, behavior specialists, and county service coordinators.
Functions Of The Program Specialist
- Coordinate services to individuals in their caseload including, but not limited to,
- Developing and implementing services for each individual according to his/her ISP; and that are age appropriate, focused on acquiring or maintaining functional skills and which provide opportunities for community participation.
- Reviewing outcomes or goals and making recommendations for changes.
- Coordinate and complete annual functional assessments for each individual in their caseload.
- Adhere to regulatory requirements for communicating the results of the initial assessment and any revisions to the individual and the team.
- Attend meetings for, and participate in, the development of the ISP, annual updates, and revisions for individuals in their caseload.
- Review, implement, monitor, and evaluate the ISP for individuals in his/her caseload, and for communicating discrepancies to the Supports Coordinator and team.
- Handle Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST).
- Complete monthly and quarterly reports for individuals in caseload.
- Responsible for review of the ISP, quarterly reviews, and any revisions with the individual and provide documentation of the review to the Director.
- Attend monitoring visits with the Supports Coordinator.
- Monitor completion of all required agencies and regulatory documentation and communicate issues and problems in a timely manner.
- Perform other responsibilities or duties as assigned or requested.
- Attend county, regional, and state meetings as assigned.
Requirements
Incumbent must meet all qualifying and ongoing job criteria including background checks, physical examination results, and clearances.
Education:
An associate degree or 60 credit hours from accredited college or university and four (4) years of experience working directly with individuals with intellectual disability or autism is required.
Or:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with two (2) years of work experience working directly with individuals with an intellectual disability or autism preferred.
Or:
Master's degree or above form an accredited college or university and one (1) year of work experience working directly with individuals with an intellectual disability or autism preferred.
Certification: Current certification in Medication Administration or ability to obtain one within six months of hire required, provided by Access Services.
Driving Requirements:
- Two years of driving experience in the US with a valid driver's license (not including time with a permit)
- Before time of hire, candidate must be listed as a driver on a valid auto insurance policy
This position requires the ability to travel during the course of a normal workday. Therefore, employees will need to drive their personal vehicle and/or an agency-owned vehicle to meet these expectations. Employee is expected to meet eligibility criteria outlined in our Motor Vehicle Policy and successfully pass the agency's substance abuse screening at any time during employment.
Experience:
Required work experience in combination with education:
Four (4) years of work experience working directly with persons with intellectual disabilities or autism in combination with Associate's degree or 60 credit hours;
Two (2) years of work experience working directly with persons with intellectual disabilities or autism in combination with Bachelor's degree;
One (1) year work experience working directly with persons with intellectual disabilities or autism in combination with Master's degree or above.
Note: According to the state regulations, "work experience working directly with persons with intellectual disabilities or autism" means that the program specialist's work experience must include consistent, face-to-face interactions with individuals. Work experience that did not include such interaction (such as administrative work) may not be counted, even if the work was related to indirect support of such individuals.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficient interpersonal relationships skills.
- Knowledge of licensing regulations.
- Ability to meet deadlines and perform repetitive documentation tasks on a timely basis.
- Ability to work independently and seek supervisory help when needed.
- Proficiency in, or ability to learn and use, workplace applications, platforms and technologies Microsoft Office Suite, time and attendance system, Electronic Healthcare Record system, smart phones and tablets.
- Ability to navigate network drives and basic hardware use and troubleshooting.
Essential Working Conditions/Physical Demands: Work in program sites and the community routinely providing direct care and/or support with individual(s). Stand, sit or run by self, or to provide proper care and supervision with an individual. Able to move and stay with an individual to keep them safe, both in home environment and community, both at near and far distances, even when an individual may struggle to meet identified expectations. Able to assist an individual who has fallen, regardless of weight or size. Walk, climb stairs by self, or to provide direct care and/or support. Work in a standard office environment. Utilize desktop computer equipment on a daily basis. Able to lift or move items associated with sedentary work and light work (exert up to 20 lbs.) Travel to offsite locations and regional office locations if necessary.
Benefits
Compensation and Schedule:
The salary for this role starts at $44,000/year with increases based on education and experience.
This is a 40 hour/week hourly position, Monday-Friday 8:30AM-4:30PM.
Our office is located in Bethlehem, PA. This role qualifies for hybrid remote work, subject to the Access Services Hybrid Remote Work Policy and supervisor approval. Decisions regarding hybrid remote work will be based on individual performance, program requirements, and the overall needs of Access Services.
Our Comprehensive Benefits Package Includes:
- Mileage reimbursement and paid travel time between worksites
- Discounts on various services, gyms & retail shopping; Referral bonuses,
- Employee Assistance Program
- 20 days of PTO; 9 paid holidays
- 401K with company match, 100% company paid life/disability insurance
- Health/Vision/Dental insurance; Health Savings Account with company contribution
- Tuition Reimbursement
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be constructed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required and do not restrict management's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.
Access Services is an equal opportunity employer.
