Job Requirements
Location: Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 15 hours/week
Language: English
Program: Adaptive Skills Training
As an Adapted Skills Trainer at JNCS: You help individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities live quality lives with dignity, independence, and choice. On an average day, DSPs support people to build relationships, live safely in their own homes, and accomplish their personal, educational, and career goals.
DSPs are more than just caregivers: Unlike a caregiver, DSPs encourage people to do things themselves, not do things for them. Ultimately, your goal is to empower people to live independently so they can live happier, more fulfilled lives.
Responsibilities:
- Implement individualized adaptive skills training plans developed
- Provide direct, hands-on instruction in identified skill areas, including:
- Safety skills and community navigation
- Hygiene, dressing, and grooming routines
- Toileting and feeding skills (including picky eating and sensory-based food issues)
- Housekeeping and home management
- Food purchasing and meal preparation
- Technology access and use
- Communication and social functioning
- Choice-making and self-advocacy
- Assist individuals with challenges as directed by the supervising professional
- Deliver services in the individual’s home, workplace, and/or community settings, as authorized.
- Promote generalization of skills across settings, people, and situations
- Apply evidence-based instructional strategies aligned with consumer needs and IPP goals.
Documentation/Compliance:
- Adhere to JNCS’s mission, values, and all DDS/Regional Center compliance requirements.
- Maintain service records which include daily notes, progress data, and incident documentation, in compliance with JNCS policies and Regional Center standards.
- Submit session documentation within required timeframes to support billing under the assigned Regional Center authorization (service code 605).
- Complete Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) requirements for all in-home service delivery sessions.
- Support progress report preparation for Semi-Annual reviews by providing consistent, measurable data on the individuals' goals.
- Maintain regular communication with the supervising Adaptive Skills Training Professional regarding Individual progress, barriers, and plan adjustments.
- Collaborate with Service Coordinators, family members, and other care team members to ensure consistency of support across environments.
- Participate in IPP meetings and training sessions as requested
Key Responsibilities:
- Implement the individual’s Support Plan as developed.
- Provide support and supervision commensurate with the assigned individual’s identified support needs.
- Provide the necessary accommodations to support an individual with various challenges (behavioral, physical, communication, etc.) within their home and community.
- Support the individual to establish a daily/weekly schedule of activities.
- Assist the individual to participate in age appropriate, culturally normative activities within the individual’s home and community to promote meaningful participation, a sense of belonging, and membership.
- Provide feedback and intervention as specified in the Individual Support Plan.
- Act as a mentor and role model for socially acceptable and culturally valued ways to interact and support each other to be successful.
- Participate hands-on in all activities.
- Document the individual’s progress towards identified outcome indicators through data collection and anecdotal notes.
- Maintain ongoing meetings with the Supervisor at a minimum of once each month.
- Assist and support the person to maintain their own personal safety and well-being.
- Introduce the assigned individual to new activities and people within the context of the Support Plan.
- Provide information to family members about the unique needs of the individual to assist in the building of a more cohesive family unit.
- Understand cultural and family dynamics as they interplay with developing and meeting instructional milestones.
- Utilize appropriate non-invasive, non-intrusive methods of support.
- Cooperatively develop with the supervisor an Individualized Training Plan to further personal growth and skill development required to support individuals with complex support needs.
- Complete all documentation comprehensively in accordance with the supervisor's requirements.
- Submit all required documentation in accordance with specified timelines.
- Attend all scheduled meetings.
- Comply with all policies and procedures of the organization and public locations of activities.
- Other responsibilities as assigned
Qualifications:
- Education and Experience: Adaptive Skills-605 services require, a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, human services, or a related field required.
- Knowledge of appropriate, non-invasive behavioral supports.
- Knowledge of Applied Behavior Analysis preferred but not required.
- Valid Driver’s License, working vehicle and proof of insurance.
- Exhibit knowledge of Positive Behavioral Supports, Person Centered Planning and the understanding that all behavior is communicating an unmet need.
- Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively.
- Strong customer, quality and results presentation.
- Ability to interact effectively at all levels and across diverse cultures.
- Ability to be an effective team member.
- Excellent working knowledge of technology including Smartphone Apps.
- Excellent communication skills both oral and written.
- Outstanding time management skills.
- Ability to proactively plan.
- Excellent conflict resolution skills.
- Highly reliable transportation with valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance.
- Minimum 1 year experience with developmental disabilities
- Knowledge of appropriate, non-invasive behavioral supports
- Knowledge of Positive Behavior Supports, Person-Centered Planning, and the understanding that all behavior is communicating an unmet need
- Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively
Preferred Qualifications:
- Direct Support Professionals must have a bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, counseling, nursing, social work, applied behavior analysis, behavioral medicine, speech and language, rehabilitation, marriage and family therapy, or a comparable degree in a human services field
- Experience working with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities (personal or professional) preferred but not required.
- Depending on position, may require a valid drivers license, reliable transportation & current auto insurance.
Benefits:
- Retirement plan with company matching
- Paid CPR & First Aid Training
- Childcare Assistance Reimbursement
- Pet Insurance and much more!
About us: Jay Nolan Community Services is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to provide individualized support to children, teens, and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities so that they may live, work and thrive in their own homes and in their community. We are an inclusive, supportive, and community-oriented workplace.
Jay Nolan Community Services is a Certified™ Great Place to Work! Learn more about what our employees have to say about us: https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/7091642
Jay Nolan Community Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
