Human Services Worker jobs in Altoona, PA

Position Purpose and General Summary:

The purpose of this position is to provide quality care to individuals with disabilities; treat them with respect and dignity; and to assist the individuals with activities of daily living activities (ADLs) while using positive approaches. This position is responsible for ensuring the safety of the individuals while preparing food, administering medications, and providing transportation. This position will assist in helping the individuals to become members of their community to ensure a quality lifestyle.
*Please note: This position requires a valid PA driver's license and staff must have a vehicle at the job site at all times. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide the individuals with protection from abuse and neglect by not participating in any behavior that is abusive or neglectful and reporting all incidents of abuse and neglect by someone else to the Program Specialist, Compliance, or Vice President.

Encourage personal skill development through showing, teaching, and talking.

Promote self-confidence and self-esteem within the individuals and act as a positive role model.

Provide opportunities for new experience and get the individuals involved in the community.

Encourage and assist individuals in making choices and decisions in all areas of their lives.

Maintain focus on the individuals throughout the entire shift and maintain the level of supervision as stated in the individual support plan. Remain in an upright position while resting (feet must be on the ground). Staff are required to remain awake throughout the entire shift.

Build positive relationships with the individuals to enable you to offer support, guidance, and direction and encourage them and offer support to them to build positive relationships with others.

Encourage, teach, and assist individuals with planning and completing activities of daily living, such as, household work, community, and personal responsibilities (including but not limited to: shopping, cleaning, laundry, financial responsibility, doctor appointments, etc…) and ensure that they are completed by the individual or yourself.

Verbally deescalate individuals and apply the Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) techniques in order to restrain individuals, as needed.

Work as a team and offer support, respect, and feedback to co-workers (i.e. peer evaluations).

Provide clear, concise, and honest verbal and written communication with others.

Attend staff meetings, actively participate, and contribute professionally.

Participate in the development of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) and Behavior Support Plans (BSPs) (if required), implement recommendations stated on the ISPs and BSPs, and evaluate the individuals' progress on a daily basis.

Approach team members directly and privately to resolve issues as they arrive; if not resolved, follow the chain of command to ensure issues are resolved adequately.

Be respectful of the workplace physical structure; keep it clean, safe, sanitary, and secure for the individuals.

Perform all required household duties (such as, cooking, doing laundry, vacuuming, dusting, scrubbing kitchen and bathrooms, snow/ice removal, lawn care, etc..).

Provide transportation for the individuals, must have access to a vehicle and a valid PA driver's license, complete mileage reimbursement sheets, and complete necessary documentation associated with transportation of the individuals.

Ensure completion of company vehicle inspections and keep the company vehicles clean (inside and out).

Report any needs for maintenance on the house or vehicle to the maintenance department.

Perform job duties in accordance with the company's health and safety policies and report any and all hazards or violations to the Vice President.

Keep harmful substances locked up and out of reach of the individuals in accordance with their support plan.

Administer medications correctly, follow proper protocol, and immediately report any medication errors to the Medical Coordinator.

Be aware of the individuals' medical needs and ensuring all doctor appointments are attended (unless the individual exercises their right to refuse) and documented. Report any missed appointments to the Medical Coordinator, immediately.

Document information given by the doctor and read, and follow through with all doctor's orders.

Be responsible for the individuals' safety in all situations; ensure appropriate medical attention is sought when necessary and notify the appropriate individuals.

Train individuals in emergency evacuation procedures and accurately complete and submit the required documentation.

Complete shift duties as required; initial when complete.

Complete all required documentation including, but not limited to: daily logs, goal data sheets, calendars, menus, outing schedules, fund requests, medication administration records (MARs), health care charts, doctor appointment summary forms, antecedent/behavior/consequence (ABC) forms (as necessary), time sheets, and any additional required documentation. Submit documentation to the office in a timely manner.

Correctly and immediately document individuals' funds, petty cash, grocery monies, etc.

Maintain all personal matters regarding the individuals, their families, and team members as confidential.

Be knowledgeable about policies and procedures and implement them accordingly.

Report any suspected wrong doing.

Additional duties, as assigned.