Community Integration Specialist - Exceptional Childrens Foundation

Title:  Community Integration Specialist
Reports to:  Program Manager
Department:  725 -Community Fusion
Location:  Various community locations
FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt
Compensation: $17.75 - $19.00 /hour 
Program Hours:  Monday – Friday, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm
Supervisory Responsibility:  NONE

Position Summary
The Community Integration Specialist will provide direct supervision, training and evaluation of participants' preferred community-based activity. The Specialist will work with a group of participants to integrate them into the community and enhance their quality of life as a valued member of society.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
 

• Provide supervision and serve as job coach to program participants while facilitating their full inclusion in the volunteer placement, recreation, and employment sites of their choosing. Play an integral part in participant community integration into the surrounding communities while enhancing their quality of life. Provide behavioral intervention to participants through appropriate methods as designated through NCI Training and overall goals. Integrating participants with a 1-2 ratio in person-centered community activities including exploring community resources based on participant choice, job exploring, productive recreational activities as indicated in curriculum and managing contacts to cultivate, grow and in maintaining each relationship. Healthy lifestyle will be supported by community agency partnerships, both in-house and in the community. Will assist participants to become self-advocates and independent through self-determination.

• Use public transportation or ECF vehicles to transport participants to volunteer commitments, community activities and events. Maintain vehicle logs, perform regular maintenance checks, and report issues immediately to the program manager.

• Provide supervision, training, and evaluation of participants' choice of volunteer and community-based activities. Teach new skills identified in the participants' Individual Program Plan (IPP) including but not limited to self-help, communication, gross and fine motor, vocational, pre-employment, cognitive, social-emotional skills and in identifying and accessing important community resources. Assist in the development of motivational techniques and in improving work skills of participants.

• Establish, coordinate, and implement person-centered community activities with guidance and support from the case management team. Maintain participant documentation to include but not limited to daily, monthly, and quarterly evaluations as directed by case manager. Document unusual incidents through case notes/SIR reporting.

• Attend in-service trainings and staff meetings.

 
Other Duties

•  Comply with ECF’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program.  Ensure safe use and operation of tools and/or equipment
• Comply with ECF policies and procedures, including mandated reporting requirements
• Regular and reliable attendance is required for this position
• Assist participants as needed with personal hygiene including toileting, illness, and incidents of incontinence
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
 
Education/Licenses/Certifications:  
High School diploma or equivalent.

Experience:
Minimal one year working with individuals with special needs.

Knowledge/Abilities/Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with participants to provide direction and understand their needs.
• Detail oriented with excellent document skills.
• Patience and compassion to work with individuals with a variety of special needs.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to drive ECF van. 

Requirements

• Valid California Class C Driver's License, reliable transportation, evidence of car insurance, and insurable driving record.
• Pass a DOJ background investigation.
• Provide evidence of a negative TB test initially and every three years thereafter.
• Pass a pre-employment physical.
• Obtain NCI, First Aid and CPR certification within the first 3 months of employment and maintain as required.

 
Work Environment
This is a program for adults who have varying degrees of learning, behavioral, emotional, and developmental disabilities. Employee may encounter consumers who are in crisis, exhibiting emotional/psychological distress or behaving in an aggressive manner.  Work will be performed primarily in the field. Environment may include frequent interruptions, loud noise, odors, varying indoor temperature, and drafts.  Outdoor temperature and weather will vary.

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job.

• Mobility to work in a program setting or in the community using mobile devices.
• Require the use of hands to produce records and/or documentation in manual or electronic format.
• Vision to read printed materials and computer screen.
• Hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 60 pounds with assistance.
• Required to travel to various sites within Los Angeles County.
• Ability to implement NCI, First Aid and CPR.
• Ability to stand for most of the work shift and lift 20 pounds unassisted.