Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP) - Arc of Iroquois County

Primary Function:

Will ensure that all activities results in opportunities for independence, personal achievement, and community involvement for people supported.

Work Schedule:

Variable schedule requiring scheduling availability appropriate to changing support needs of people supported.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Have an undergraduate degree in special education or a related human service field as specified in the definition of a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP)

Experience:

• Have a minimum of one (1) year work experience with people with intellectual disabilities or other developmental disabilities

Requirements:

• Successfully pass a criminal background check through the Illinois State Police
• Have clearance through the Illinois Department of Public Health Nurse Aid Registry and the CANTS background check through the Department of Children and Family Services
• Possess or acquire within new hire training cycle CPR/First Aid/AED certification and Rule 50 Investigative Skills training, updating as required by licensing agency.
• Possess a valid Illinois Driver's License with a clear driving record
• Provide proof of current car insurance
• Successfully complete the 40-hour Q-Training within three (3) months of employment

Ability to:

• Make sound decisions based on appropriate judgment especially in situations that pose risk to the health, safety and well-being of people supported
• Organize and process work
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills
• Physically intervene as needed during behavior outbursts/crises of people supported in order to assist in a manner adequate to ensure the personal safety, physical needs and well-being of people supported
• Understand and follow directions as given
• Speak to people supported, their families and employees clearly and acquire alternative communication skills as needed to communicate with people supported

Working Conditions:

Physical Demands/Activities:

• Provide physical assistance to people supported in areas of personal care and activities of daily living and implement appropriate physical interventions during behavior incidents to ensure their personal safety, physical needs and well-being.
• Refer to Employee Handbook regarding lifting restrictions

Vehicles:

• Utilize and operate agency vehicles as necessary for transportation needs of people supported
• Maintains/operates agency vehicles and equipment in a clean and safe manner.
• Documents and requests maintenance as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities as a qidp:

• Supervise, train and monitor staff to assure they assist people supported in all areas of personal care and activities of daily living.
• Ensure people supported are clean, neat and appropriately dressed for the occasion, activity and climate.
• Accompany and supervise people supported on community social and recreational activities while ensuring appropriate transportation is facilitated.
• Maintain cooperative and professional communications between all agencies and programs providing services to people supported.
• Complete Individual Service Plan (ISP), assessments and progress notes, seizure, injury/illness, behavior and unusual incident report forms as necessary, according to agency policies and procedures.
• Implement behavior strategies and/or collects baseline data as directed.
• Make appropriate entries regarding participants' issues, family contact and other significant information in progress notes to facilitate effective and consistent staff communication
• Ensure all written documentation offers relevant, evaluative feedback for effective utilization by the Interdisciplinary Team.
• Maintain a good working relationship with families.
• Protect the rights and well-being of the people supported from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of unnecessary risks or endangerment to their health and safety as follows:
  • Demonstrate appropriate physical and verbal interaction with people supported at all times in accordance with related policies, procedures, standards and regulations.
  • Drive defensively and carefully when transporting people supported, obey all traffic laws and eliminate all activities/practices while driving which could risk the safety of the passengers (includes cell phone use, playing loud music in the car, eating while driving, trying to read or make notes).
  • Ensure that people supported are not left unsupervised or neglected by remaining alert at all times while providing direct supervision (as prescribed by each person's service plan) whether at home, in the community or in a vehicle, and by effectively supervising their activities to avoid unnecessary risk to their safety, health and emotional well-being.
  • Comply with agency, state and federal "Mandated Reporter" requirements to follow established protocol for reporting incidents or suspicions of abuse, neglect, exploitation or injuries.
  • Cooperate fully with all agency investigations, reporting all known information relevant to the investigation, completely, truthfully and immediately, while maintaining confidentiality.
• Act as a role model for people supported and staff to promote appropriate appearance, verbal interaction, social and community behavior.
• Empower people supported and staff to promote rights, dignity, independence, self-esteem and community integration.
• Prepare appropriate reports of seizure, behavior and/or injury/illness incidents in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Complete agency training requirements as well as additional education and training to remain up to date on new information and practices.
• Ensure an understanding of concepts and principles upon which work responsibilities are based and acquire skills to perform job duties effectively, to meet the needs of people supported and ensure agency services are provided consistent with our mission and objectives.
• Participate as a team member of The Arc of Iroquois County, facilitating department cooperation and teamwork by:
  • Attending and actively participating in meetings and committees as assigned.
  • Participating in constructive problem-solving to ensure a positive, productive and harmonious work environment.
• Ensure the safety of people supported and agency staff by:
  • Assisting in adapting program/worksites for maximum use and free from safety hazards to eliminate unnecessary risks to the health, safety and well-being of people supported and employees as requested.
  • Participating in and accurately document evacuation and emergency drills and follow all agency safety directives.
  • Implementing site specific safety training to people supported and agency staff on a regular basis as needed to ensure understanding and implementation.
  • Reporting all known safety hazards and risks to a Director and making suggestions as needed to eliminate/reduce/manage safety risks and problems.
• Demonstrate an awareness of and implement policies and procedures as directed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities to this position:

• Provide leadership for The Arc of Iroquois County staff as well as children, adults and families receiving supports in Community Day Services (CDS), Home Based Services (HBS) Adult and Children's Waiver, IFSU and Respite programs.
• Maintain contact with Pre admission screen agents and ISC agents who are responsible for determining eligibility for services and monitoring services.
• Fulfill role as a QIDP for people in CDS and/or individuals with HBS funding by providing self-directed assistance (SDA)to assigned individuals by doing the following:
  • Oversee the day-to-day oversight and administration of the service plan and for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of the individual.
  • Chair annual meeting and update service plan and paperwork (which includes plan, outcome plans and Risk Assessment) as dictated by the person supported.
  • Monitor annual ISP to assure services are provided as spelled out in the ISP.
  • Participate in annual meetings and mini IDT's with staff from outside providers.
  • Assist individuals and families to obtain services they prefer.
  • Monitor of services that are provided to individual.
  • Ensure each person identifies the goals most important to them and support people receiving CDS and/or IFSU supports on their assigned caseload to achieve outcomes most important to them.
  • Support each person to reach their personal goals by writing, initiating, and revising outcome plans.
  • Facilitate any needed changes within individual area(s) to ensure instruction is individualized and focus on the preferences of the individual.
  • Document interventions with each person through monthly and/or quarterly progress notes.
• Provide professional oversight to DSPs and FSAs, answering questions about Service Plans and Outcome Plans.
• Assist staff in organizing and implementing teaching strategies to better facilitate individual outcomes for people supported.
• Complete and update service agreements, service authorizations, Employer of Record (EOR) papers, Personal Support Worker (PSW) packets, employer packets and fiscal agent paperwork as needed.
• Correctly clock in and out using MITC each shift and EVV as needed.
• Complete billing sheets and submit to Administrative Associate on the first working day of the month.
• Review submitted billing sheets for other services (PSW, direct support, supported employment, CDS, etc.) to ensure accuracy.
• Fax in or submit timecards for PSW as needed.
• Assist individuals with obtaining assessments and updating assessments as needed.
• Obtain 12 CEUs per year.
• Assist with budgets and finances for those individuals who The Arc of Iroquois County is Representative Payee.
• Maintain contact with parents/guardians
• Communicate with DSPs & FSAs on an ongoing basis
• Train staff on various teaching techniques
• Ensure guardianship has been secured for each person if necessary and that it is appropriate
• Ensure the security and confidentiality of people's records
• Ensure person supported is registered to vote if they so desire to be
• Act as a liaison between person supported and Social Security and Public Aid
• Obtain adaptive devices, i.e., wheelchair, communication devices/book, hearing aids, etc. or assist in applying for adaptive equipment/home modifications through HBS funding as requested.
• Make recommendations for needed equipment and supplies for individual homes
• Supervise staff according to Best Practices
• Ensure timely completion and review of Incident Reports
• Consistently follow agency Best Practices and standards for DHS
• Ensure Emergency Medical Information sheets are kept up-to-date for each person supported
• Ensure restrictions are reviewed by Human Rights Committee (HRC) and person supported/guardian at least annually
• Assure Quarterly BMC reviews are completed for individuals using psychotropic medications and behavior plans.
• Ensure releases are completed and signed by person supported and guardian annually
• Review and sign off on all assessments and update other assessments as needed such as ICAP, annually
• Work with professionals i.e.: Speech and Language Pathologist, OT/PT, Psychologists, etc. to implement recommendations from required assessments.
  • Possess a working knowledge of Rule 119, Rule 50 and HBS
  • Provide regular contact with staff by individual meetings.
  • Ensure best practices are taught, understood, and implemented by staff who work in both the CDS and IFSU programs.
  • Complete and review regular evaluations and disciplinary action with staff assigned
  • Educate the community about the mission of the agency
  • Coordinate work schedules among team members as assigned
  • Authorize payroll at the end of pay periods
  • Approve PTO request for staff assigned
  • Perform OIG investigative duties as trained and assigned
• Participate as a member of Community Crisis Intervention Team (CCIT) by being on-call for one (1) week every 6-7 weeks and the holiday assigned.
• Continue to learn and implement best practices in the disability field.
• Create a culture that knows and supports what people want in services
• The CDS QIDP will also perform instructional duties and provide professional oversight in an area(s) of Welles Career Center (WCC)

• Provide professional oversight to WCC DSPs, answering questions about Service Plans and Outcome Plans
• Assist staff in organizing and implementing teaching strategies to better facilitate individual outcomes for people supported
• Train staff on various teaching techniques
• Facilitate any needed changes within individual area(s) to ensure instruction is individualized and outcome focused
• Document all information collected/shared during meetings
• Monitor other training areas of WCC
  • Approve purchases under $50.00 within budget
  • Monitor AM and PM routes as needed if DSPs are unavailable
  • Make recommendations for needed equipment and supplies for individual areas
  • Monitor communication logs traveling to and from WCC
• Monitor and maintain staff and program records and provide support to these staff to ensure meaningful activities are carried out in the CDS setting.

Other Non-Essential Responsibilities:

• May participate in special projects within the agency
• May assist supervisor in orienting/training new employees
• May act as a mentor for new agency employees
• Substitute for absent employees as needed to ensure effective program operation and the well-being of people supported
• Perform all other duties as assigned by supervisor