Direct Support Professional - Instructional Assistant - Winchester

Are you beginning to think about teaching as your calling? Are you curious about behavioral health or work with kids with complex disabilities and learning challenges? Do you want to learn some classroom management chops from an experienced team that has been devoted to this population of kids for years? Do you want to learn innovative and ground-breaking approaches to crisis de-escalation? Are you more focused on comfort and growth or control and domination?

That last question was a trick question.

If you believe classrooms are to be ruled with an iron fist... if you believe that children are to be seen and 8not heard, or if you hated the movie "Dead Poet's Society" you might want to steer away from this opportunity.

An Instructional Assistant at Grafton works directly with a teacher, the education administer, a therapist, a psychiatrist, allied therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, skilled behaviorists, & etc. in what we call a "transdisciplinary team" - everyone's voice is equally important as we work with the child and their family in order to build plans that we give them their lives back.

And you will introduce these kids to possibilities that they didn't even know existed.

Click here to watch a quick video about Grafton.

Be aware, that if you come to work at Grafton you will be doing the type of work that will change you as a person. It really is so much more than a job. It's a personal mission.

Yes, you will write shift notes… but you will be able to do it in a state of the art electronic health record. Yes, you will deal with challenging behavior… but you will do it using Ukeru, a national best-practice that provides you with a trauma informed foundation that helps you diffuse the drama before it gets out of hand. Yes, you will have to be keeping kids engaged… In short, on good days you will be paid to play. Yes, not all days are good, but you will be doing something good every day. And you'll do all of this with the guidance of people who have been doing it for a long time. They know stuff that you will find invaluable.

And, most importantly, we will want you to grow with us. We recently promoted a teacher to the position of Education Administrator (Principal) in one of our regions. She started as an IA. Two of our Executives started as direct care personnel. Tuition reimbursement? Yes. Are we a 501c3 not for profit that qualifies you potential for loan forgiveness? Yes. Health benefits, retirement, dental, vision, paid time off, etc.? Of course. But most importantly, a team to grow with.

For formality's sake, here is is our dry as a bone job description:

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under general supervision, Direct Support Professionals in our Education program, participate in the direct care and plan implementation for clients, as prescribed by physician and treatment teams. They assist the Academic Teacher in implementing instructional and therapeutic activities. They may assist with writing lesson plans and preparing instructional materials to support instruction. They assists the Academic Teacher with assessing progress (analysis of data) and modifying teaching techniques to promote achievement of each assigned client's established goals. They work with clients in residences during academic breaks and holidays. In community-based programs, they provide transportation between the residence and school. They provide supervision, safety and crisis management for the client population; complete documentation of client behavior and participation in programming; adhere to the scheduled activities; role model positive, mature behavior; utilize proactive behavioral strategies to minimize client crisis and maximize success. They report to a teacher or program supervisor/ manager.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Health, Safety and Wellness of Clients

• Ensures medications are delivered accurately and on time.

• Provides for the well-being and safety of clients.

• Supports client health and hygiene.

• Utilizes infection control procedures.

• Reports serious incidents, participates in reviews and implements follow-up measures, as applicable.

Individual Plan Implementation

• Knows the SNAP (strengths, needs, abilities and preferences), goals/objectives/outcomes and treatment strategies from the current Plans (Treatment Plan, IEP, ISP) of assigned clients.

• Promotes clients' achievement of behavioral goals by implementing the behavior strategies and teaching alternative behaviors, as indicated in the Treatment Plan/IEP/ISP.

• Actively instructs assigned clients so they can achieve education/residential goals and objectives or ID Waiver outcomes.

• Collects and documents behavioral and instructional data, accurately and reliably.

• Documents services delivered, accurately and in a timely manner.

• Maintains a high level of engagement with and monitoring of clients. Implements planned activities throughout the work day.

Provides a Supportive and Solution-Focused Environment

• Builds trusting, respectful relationships with clients and helps clients do the same.

• Demonstrates knowledge about the symptoms and supports associated with diagnoses of assigned clients and a trauma-informed care approach.

• Manages behavioral crisis safely.

• Collaborates with the Treatment Team to provide continuity of support and care, by communicating and contributing to team discussions and decisions.

• Exhibits exemplary customer service with guardians, agency personnel and visitors.

Site Management - Housekeeping, Nutrition, Transportation, Finances

• Ensures a safe residence / classroom environment.

• Assures a clean and organized residence/classroom.

• Promotes good nutrition and, in group homes, assists with meal preparation.

• Provides transportation / community mobility.

• Assists with purchases and is accountable for program and client money, as applicable.

Teamwork and commitment to the mission, values and vision of Grafton

• Demonstrates knowledge of organization.

• Demonstrates the core values of personal integrity and accountability.

• Performs other duties, as assigned.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Must be 21 years of age

• Education requirements:

• High school diploma or G.E.D. & no experience working with children*

• High school diploma or G.E.D. & 6 months experience working with children

• Associate's degree and 3 months experience working with children

• Bachelor's degree in human services

• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record

• Must pass criminal background check and pre-employment drug screen

• Per the VA Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, child care staff with a high school diploma or G.E.D. with no experience working with children may not work alone, but may be employed as long as they are working directly with a qualified staff with one or more years of professional experience working with children. This option is currently only offered at our Berryville & Winchester campuses.

Experience may include supervised internships, practicums, field experience, and other volunteer or related experiences as evaluated by Grafton prior to hire. Examples of unpaid experience may include, but are not be limited to: camp counselor; after school care; caring for a child or children with special needs regardless of their relation to the candidate; babysitting or providing daycare for a child or children regardless of their relationship to the candidate; foster parenting of a child or children under the age of 18; volunteer coaching for a sports team; leading community programs, such as Girls Scouts & Boy Scouts.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrates moderate computer skills - how to log-in, how to navigate the Web for information, how to start and save a document in Microsoft WORD, and has basic keyboarding skills.

COMPENSATION

• Starting at $17.00 to $20.10/hour based on years of Direct Care experience

• Depending on hours worked you may be eligible for Grafton's shift differential that is currently being offered

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Medical, dental and vision

• Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts

• 401(k), including an employer match

• Generous Paid Time Off plan

• Education Assistance

• Life Insurance

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Short-term disability (STD)

• Long-term disability (LTD)

• As Grafton is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, you may be eligible for federal student loan forgiveness

If you have issues applying or have any questions about this position, please reach out to us at HR@Grafton.org or 540-542-0200 Ext. 6429.

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