Residential Counselor (Brain Injury)

Responsibilities

• Assists individuals in the home in becoming fully integrated into their communities and develop and maintain friendships.
• Assists individuals to access community-based support and resources.
• Plans recreational and social activities that promote social inclusion and the emotional well-being of individuals in support of living a good life.
• Empowers and supports individuals in the home to make choices, be a self-advocate, and be fully involved in making decisions in determining the directions of their supports and lives.
• Supports individuals in the home with access to assistive technology and adaptive equipment as a means to augment communication, access their communities, and generally live more independently.
• Supports individuals in securing, maintaining and growing in work, volunteer, and other community engagement opportunities.
• Supports individuals in the home to be more independent, be self-advocates, and make choices that define the direction and their vision for living a good life.
• Encourages and supports individuals and their involved families in maintaining strong partnership with staff and other interested parties.
• Provides training and support to individuals in the home. This includes rehabilitative interventions, behavioral interventions and monitoring, fire & safety regulations, appointment scheduling, money management, ADLs, grocery shopping, meal planning and cooking, household chores, use of generic resources, and other related areas.
• Performs hands-on tasks in the program, as required in order to facilitate implementation of support plans.
• Provides transportation, as necessary.
• Assesses the physical and emotional status of individuals in the home and reports changes to supervisor.
• Monitors individual funds, as needed.
• Maintains records for individuals in the home. Collects behavior and academic data and maintains progress notes. Documents all information related to incidents, programs, and routine activities in a communication log.
• Procures, stores, administers, documents, and disposes of medication for individuals consistent with MAP requirements, funding source regulations, and Company policy.
• Communicates with and provides information to interested parties such as program nurse, case managers, and Visiting Nurses Association.
• Participates in all mandated training and staff meetings as directed by the supervisor.
• Ensures compliance with all internal and external regulatory policies, procedures, and standards.
• Ensures home safety and maintenance as necessary at all times. This includes general housekeeping, snow shoveling, and trash removal.
• Complies with all corporate and divisional policies and procedures, including safe work practices, workers’ compensation, universal precautions, and exposure control.
• Completes various paperwork and logs including communication logs, community membership logs, and activity schedules.
• Provides shift coverage, as necessary in other homes/programs as assigned by supervisor.
• Functions as human rights advocate. Provides physical intervention and/or First Aid in the event of behavior or medical emergency. Serves as a reporter to the Disabled Persons Protections Commission.
• Assists in developing, implementing, and documenting treatment, including ISP/PSTPs and clinical programs.
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques
• Knowledge and use of different communication styles
• Knowledge of empowerment and self-advocacy techniques
• Knowledge of participatory planning techniques
• Knowledge of required physical personal management skills
• Knowledge of required household management skills
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques
• Sensitivity to cultural, religious, racial, disability, and gender issues
• Participatory skills, collaborative skills, teaching skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Ability to adapt and communicate to a variety individuals through the use of different communication styles
• Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity
• High motivation to learn, practice new skills
• Consistency in performance
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written formats

Learn or Master the Following Areas

• Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques
• Knowledge of empowerment and self-advocacy techniques
• Knowledge and proven ability to promote family partnerships
• Knowledge and proven ability to promote social inclusion in a way that supports individual choices
• Knowledge and proven ability to promote ability to implement PBS treatment programs
• Knowledge of participatory planning techniques
• Knowledge of required physical personal management skills
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques