Residential Skills Instructor

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated and compassionate Residential Skills Instructor to join our team at Advocates. As a Residential Skills Instructor, you will play a vital role in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in their daily lives, promoting independence, and fostering a sense of community.

• Implement individualized service and behavioral plans to support individuals in achieving their goals and objectives.
• Supervise and support daily activities, providing ongoing guidance and role modeling to promote independence and self-advocacy.
• Develop and implement recreational and therapeutic services to enhance the quality of life for individuals.
• Collaborate with program leadership and clinicians to develop and implement behavior plans and treatment plans.
• Track and report data related to these plans, ensuring accurate and timely documentation.
• Participate in planning and implementation of daily activity schedules and routines.
• Support individuals in their homes and help them become active members of their communities by seeking out integrated activities.
• Assist individuals in self-advocacy, decision-making, and empowerment.
• Provide ongoing support, guidance, and role modeling for individuals.
• Assist with home maintenance and perform cleaning duties as assigned.
• Assist individuals in identifying and developing person-centered goals and plans to address concerns, wants, or needs.
• Prepare summaries of interactions and objective behavioral observations of clients at the end of shifts.
• Lift and transfer individuals as needed.
• Provide transportation as needed.
• Maintain all mandatory core certifications, including First Aid, CPR, Safety Care, MAP, and HR/DPPC.
• Implement the principles of Safety Care appropriately and other program-specific safety trainings.
• Encourage and provide opportunities for community participation and membership.
• Schedule, attend, and document appointments as assigned.
• Safeguard individuals' monetary funds.
• Report significant issues (health, behavioral, psychiatric) to the appropriate supervisor in a timely fashion.
• Document issues/incidents according to agency and division guidelines.
• Perform physical intervention in the event of a client crisis.
• Attend and actively participate in supervision, staff meetings, and trainings.
• Ensure that individuals we support are treated with dignity and respect in accordance with Advocates' Human Rights Policy and the Advocates Way.
• Perform all duties in accordance with the agency's policies and procedures.

• High School diploma or GED, with three years of working in Human Services.
• Experience implementing behavioral plans and data collecting.
• Experience with utilizing/implementing applied behavioral therapy preferred.
• Must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
• High energy level and ability to function in a team atmosphere and independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and ability to use good judgment.
• Strongly prefer that a candidate will have a demonstrated understanding of and competence in serving culturally diverse populations.
• Commitment to providing a clean, homelike environment for the individuals.
• Ability to operate agency vehicles.
• Strong computer knowledge.
• Must hold a valid driver's license. Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport individuals.

Advocates is committed to cultivating a diverse and welcoming community where everyone feels respected and valued. Advocates fosters a culture of inclusion that celebrates and promotes diversity along multiple dimensions, including race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, partnered status, age, national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, culture, and experience.

Our Team members are dedicated to engaging and empowering individuals by forming lasting relationships, collaboratively achieving personal goals, offering creative solutions to everyday and complex situations, and actively listening. We exercise independent judgment and contribute to the overall success and benefit of the Team.

Successful Team members are open-minded, eager, and compassionate, and will exercise solid, independent judgment while fostering trustworthy relationships with the individuals that we serve. We put the individual first.

Keywords: direct care, direct support, residential counselor, residential support, group home, group living environment, GLE, ADLs