Bilingual(Spanish) Program Specialist ($20.30-$21.5)

Person-centered Focus:
The Program Specialist performs a wide variety of person-centered supports and services with a strong emphasis on personal choice to individuals with developmental disabilities. These supports and services involve advocating for, encouraging, guiding and teaching individuals in expressing personal choice, developing daily living skills and habits, taking care of their personal needs, assuring community integration, ensuring for their health and safety, and maintaining a healthy, safe home environment. The supports and services performed depend upon the specific abilities of the individuals being served and the nature of the setting where the activities are performed.

At The Arc personal choice means:
C - Collaborating with the individual to meet their goals
H - Having a Humanistic perspective and approach
O - Using your keen Observation skills to guide and mentor
I - Inclusion in the community by actively getting out and involved
C - Community/Citizenship involvement
E - Enhancing the life of the individual

Key Competencies Required:
Advocacy (Encouraging and supporting people in expressing their choices, dreams, goals and rights)
Communication (Actively listening to the person we support based on their preferred method of communicating, and collaborating with their natural supports and community)
Relationship building (Creating opportunities for people to build friendships, make connections and develop meaningful relationships in an inclusive environment)

Position Summary:
Under the supervision of the Sr. Program Specialist, the Program Specialist is responsible for developing meaningful community connections for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. He/she will accomplish this by developing resources in the community in which they live where they can participate in community inclusive recreational and leisure activities of their choosing. The Program Specialist will support individuals to reach their highest level of independence through community connections and activities; treat them with respect; and honor individual rights. He/she will provide the support necessary for the persons we support to achieve their desired lifestyles and increase levels of independence, productivity, and social/physical inclusion into the community. This includes: developing and assisting with the person-centered planning process, supervise the implementation of daily program activities and community experiences. Complete necessary daily documentation, as well as follow-up documentation.

Essential Functions:

Preparation for Change:
Working with individuals by planning and prepping for change in advance
Expose individuals to activities that they have expressed an interest in by actively listening to the individuals desires and preferences
Identify and teach skills necessary to be successful in the community
Identify and provide supports to enhance success
Generate and review individual plans (IPs), insuring interest are documented accordingly

Community Integration and Participation:

Assist staff and people supported in identifying, planning and individualizing appropriate community experiences, based on their interests and needs, to aid in the development and implementation of community activity calendars
Implement Person-Centered Plan to support goals as related to community involvement, program activities, volunteer opportunities and other employment preparedness skills
Accompany people to certain inclusive community activities, ensuring choice, engagement and safety, while advocating as necessary to achieve inclusion and to ensure connection is made
Teach community living skills, e.g. money management, shopping, and appropriate interactions in the community
Ensure the completion of necessary documentation (trip reports, mileage logs, monthly community report, incident reports, etc.)
Adhere to agency policies and procedures concerning community outings. • Work with the Sr. Program Specialist to monitor community outings and expense accounts.
Develop productive professional relationships with residential providers, family members, service coordination staff and community members
Assist people to develop positive work habits, skills, and relationships
Serve as a role model for people with and without disabilities Personal and Health care: • Assist and engage individuals in activities of daily living
Supervise individuals 110% of the time
Interact with individuals in a respectful, age appropriate manner
Assist with personal and health care needs in the facility and in the community
Assure that individuals are well groomed
Be alert for seizures, illness, injury, and medication side effects and respond appropriately
Create a safe environment for individuals, self and colleagues
Report any health and safety issues or hazards relating to equipment, vehicles, and facility to appropriate management personnel
Follow safe and appropriate operation of equipment and vehicles
Accurately and thoroughly administer medication, always remembering to conduct a three-way check
Ensures all incidents are reported and documented in the Electronic Health Record System in a timely manner, according to all policies and procedures
Ensure safety and provide emergency and evacuation planning, practice, and implementation
Respond to medical emergencies and administer minor first aid in accordance with approved practices
Work all scheduled shifts per the Arc of PG County and department policy and procedures

Communication and Documentation:

Ensure completion of all necessary documentation including participation in activities, medication administration, and implementation of behavior programs, etc. and accurately in the Electronic Health Record System
Actively attend and participate in Regular and Mandatory Staff Meetings, trainings, Town Hall Meetings, in-services and workshops as required in a timely manner
Read, understand, and support policies as outlined in the Personnel Policy Manual
Cooperate with the Arc of Prince George's County, the Developmental Disabilities Administration (ODA) and the Office of Healthcare Quality (OHCQ) in all inspections and/or investigations
Support agency's mission and philosophy
Demonstrate and promote teamwork, cooperative communication, collaborative problem-solving, and responsible decision-making with team members
Support team members and people we support to create time in their everyday lives, including work, to acknowledge and celebrate their successes
Participate in annual PCP meetings and Intermediate Team Meetings (ITM) as scheduled
In conjunction with the Interdisciplinary Team, participate in developing self-directed, person-centered IP goals and inclusive community experiences for individuals
Demonstrates a thorough knowledge and implementation of individual's PCP and Behavior Plan
Effectively responds to and manages challenging behavior in compliance with the individual's

Behavior Plan Managerial Duties:

Ensures appropriate staffing supports are maintained at all times, at all locations, daily
Will ensure staff work same hours as the individuals that volunteer and/or are employed in the program, per their assigned work location.
Instruct individuals in employment related skills such as positive work attitude, staying on task, proper communication skills, and appropriate social interactions
Serves as a community liaison to all outside agencies and persons involved with our individuals
Assures all staff communications are conducted in a professional and timely manner
Address and refer to individuals respectfully and protect their fundamental rights
Ensures staff provide high quality on-site job/volunteer training. This training is oriented towards the individual eventually being placed in a volunteer opportunity or in competitive employment in the community

Program Planning and Operations:

Provide feedback and other relevant input for the development of Person-Centered Plan and Behavior Plans
Develop Individual Person-Centered Plan as required
Responsible for the proper implementation and documentation of PCP and Behavior Plans (BPs).
Complete and appropriately file Quarterly Reports.
Engage in sensory stimulation activities with all participants when not on outings.
Maintain confidentiality.
Assist with safe storage and return of participants’ personal items.
Assist with keeping program areas, changing rooms, and lunchroom clean and organized.
Organize and protect program supplies and equipment from damage. Help keep areas fully stocked.
Foster productive relationships with families, care givers, and professional personnel of The Arc and other agencies
Assure that all BP are developed, implemented, approved and presented to the Standing Committee as required
Train staff on behavioral plans
Assures that data is actually taken and completed

General:
Ensures and reviews daily attendance reports for individuals are completed in the Electronic Health Updated 2021 Record System
Completes all regulatory required reports within the proper time frames
Ensures that proper documentation is maintained for PCPs in the Electronic Health Record System, ensures its daily completion and reviews it for accuracy
Reports to work at the designated time
Uses time effectively to complete routine paperwork

Supervision:
Participates in the interview process of the assigned staff
Provide direct supervision to assigned staff
Completes the Annual Performance Evaluation process of assigned staff
Complete all training, certifications and personnel requirements within specified time frames.
Train assigned staff on Individual Plans (IPs) and Behavior Plans (BPs)
Ensures staff’s completion of all trainings, certifications and personnel requirements within specified time frames

Mental, Physical, and Visual Demands:

This position requires extensive use of a computer. This position may require heavy lifting over 25lbs. May require two- person lift/transfer. Working Conditions: Work in the facility program area. May be required to drive an agency vehicle for outings and be exposed to all types of hazardous weather and/or heavy traffic and temperatures while assisting the individuals in the community. This position may require prolonged standing from 4-8 hours depending on the individual’s day.

Comments:
This position description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions, and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a person so classified. Other functions or duties may be assigned and management retains the right to add to, or change the duties of this position at any time.