Team Leader

Team Leader – Job Description

Classification

Non-exempt Hourly

Salary Grade/Level/Family/Range

$19.00/hour (80 hours a week)

Reports to

Residential Coordinator

JOB DESCRIPTION

Summary/Objective

A Team Leader provides leadership and guidance to the team of people working in the program. The position is a senior direct care staff with a primary emphasis on providing services to the people served. The position requires prioritizing, flexibility, and organization. The job requires teamwork, nutrition, rehabilitation, environment, health and safety, finances, teamwork, training, and support for other positions. The candidate must have a minimum of two years of successful direct care experience aiding people with developmental disabilities.

Essential Functions

1. WORK ETHIC: Maintain confidentiality at all levels; positive and cordial relations with fellow employees, people served, family members, guardians, case workers, and the community. The Team Leader must support the organization's vision, mission, core values and objectives.

2. INTERACTION SKILLS: Communicate verbally and in

writing in a clear, courteous, and concise manner with the people served, employees, families, state agencies, providers, etc.; and return phone calls promptly. The Team Leader must also be able to give and follow written and verbal directions accordingly. The communication and/or interactions with people supported must always be respectful and in a way the person likes to be addressed and engaged, consistent with how the staff interacts and communicates with all people. This includes meeting the person’s preferences about the name to be used, communication style, tone and volume of voice, and technique.

Such interactions/communication may need to be revised regularly during the interaction according to input or feedback from the individual. Respectful interaction and communication style and technique are important in challenging or difficult situations. Staff communication (to include non-verbal communication such as gestures or facial expressions) that concerns the people supported shall never be

conducted in the presence of the individual as if the person is not present. Furthermore, when discussions or interactions in the presence of the person supported shall always include the person, with full acknowledgment of the person’s presence, and provide an opportunity for the person to take part, regardless of the person’s interest or ability.

3. ORGANIZATION: Organize and prioritize the tasks of the job for maximum efficiency. As part of the daily routine, tasks may include preparing reports/proposals, collecting data, and scheduling appointments for the people served. Other tasks may include developing and keeping records, developing in-house training, reporting clinical data, workers' compensation first reports, and habilitation plans.

4. NUTRITION: Responsible for the oversight of proper nutritional needs of the people served and as such, will develop, implement, and oversee a planned cycle menu to be followed in the preparation of daily meals. The Team Leader will ensure that the staff and people living in the home are trained to prepare meals, including any special prescribed diets.

5. HABILITATION: Assist in developing habilitation plans, activities, work, and behavior intervention programs that support the needs of the people who live in the home.

6. ENVIRONMENT: The Team Leader will oversee and manage the cleanliness, sanitation, and overall condition of the home in compliance with building fire codes and applicable federal and state regulations. This includes maintaining the appearance of the property, having equipment meticulously kept or repaired, and ensuring that precautions are taken to protect the property from vandalism and theft. The Team Leader will train the staff in proper housekeeping procedures emphasizing sanitation and infection control.

7. HEALTH & SAFETY: Set up and follow procedures and guidelines that will ensure the health and safety of all people served, staff, and visitors. The Team Leader will aid with the implementation of an ongoing Safety Program that sets up a high priority for everyone’s safety, that provides opportunities for team participation and that follows the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and DSP-ME safety guidelines.

8. FINANCIAL: Assist in managing the financial affairs of the home which includes following approved budgets, overseeing expenditures, processing payroll, checking monthly financial reports, managing petty cash, and planning for proper maintenance of all equipment and building(s).

9. TEAMWORK: Develop team spirit and staff cooperation in the home by providing leadership, modeling, and guiding the team in taking on responsibility for the quality and quantity of their work.

10. TRAINING: The Team Leader handles team development by ensuring proper orientation, inservice and on-the-job training. Aids in developing and implementing training as needed so that the team is knowledgeable about new developments in state and federal guidelines and in agency procedures. Special emphasis is needed to assure that the team maintains a good understanding of the changing program needs of each person served. Train the team on how to appropriately discuss issues relating to people with developmental disabilities.

The Team Leader must successfully complete the Dirigo Support Professionals, LLC. required training such as:

• Introduction to Mental Retardation

• DSP-ME History

• Gentle Teaching

• Behavioral Programming

• Crisis Management

• Preventing Disease Transmission

• CPR/First Aid

• Sexual Harassment

• Rights/Reporting

11. COMPLIANCE: The Team Leader will aid the Residential Coordinator in the implementation and

compliance of DSP-ME procedures, policies, and federal / state / local regulations. These

include restriction of rights, abuse/neglect/exploitation reporting, behavioral reporting, quality

assurance reporting, home and/or program administration, recruitment, hiring, record keeping,

and employee evaluations. Ensure that copies of all applicable procedures, regulations, policies,

and guidelines are on-site and accessible and that the staff follows these standards accordingly.

12. DOCUMENTATION: The Team Leader will help to maintain current house policies and

procedures, take minutes of team meetings, and keep medical and other pertinent records of the

people served. Aids in conducting program evaluations, satisfaction surveys, Administrative

Reports and Clinical Reports as needed.

13. DRIVING & VEHICLE USE: The Team Leader is responsible for keeping a good driving

record and having a reliable vehicle of his/her own. Ensure the staff is trained in proper driving

techniques and that routine vehicle inspection and maintenance checks are completed.

14. SCHEDULING: The Team Leader handles developing employee schedules for proper

program staffing. The primary emphasis is on ensuring that the needs of the people served are

met while keeping a cohesive team environment, considering accommodating staff needs when

proper to prevent scheduling conflicts, and promoting staff retention.

15. SUPPORT FOR OTHER POSITIONS: The Team Leader will handle filling in for their staff

as needed to cover during sickness, crisis, vacations, etc. when no other staff is available.

16. OTHER: May be needed to take part on DSP-ME committees or work on a variety of

projects and produce reports at the supervisor's request. Other related duties may be added

to this job description as needed.

Characteristics of an ideal candidate

• Positive

• Responsible

• Trustworthy

• Punctual

• Self-Motivated

• Curious

Supervisory Responsibility This position directly supervises all direct support staff in a group home.

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must regularly talk or hear. The employee often must stand, walk; use fingers and hands to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 40 pounds.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work This is an hourly position 40+ hours/week

Travel Minimal travel is expected for this position and will be reimbursed at the rate of $0.42 per mile.

Required Education and Experience

1. High School Diploma

2. At least 2 years prior experience working with the IDD population.

3. Proficient at Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)

4. Current State of Maine DSP (Direct Support Professional) Certificate w/ up to date continuing

education requirements met (or will obtain within 60 days (about 2 months) of hire)

5. Current Adult First Aid/CPR Certification (or will obtain within 60 days (about 2 months) of

hire)

6. Current State of Maine CRMA License (or will obtain within 60 days (about 2 months) of hire)

7. Current Safety Care v.6 Certification (or will obtain within 60 days (about 2 months) of hire)

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Experience with KEPRO and EIS

2. Multi-Lingual (French, Somali, Portuguese, Swahili preferred)

Additional Eligibility Qualifications Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance Must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.