Program Aide - Philadelphia, PA

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of experience working directly with persons with disabilities, or a Master's degree from an accredited college or university and one (1) year of experience working directly with persons with disabilities.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of current practices and techniques of casework.

Knowledge of policies and procedures of Merakey/ AVS, in general, and the Social Services Dept. policies and procedures, in particular.

Knowledge of the specific regulations for the individuals programs, including but not limited to: Older Adult Living Centers, 6400, 6500, 6600 and 2380 regulations.

Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with individuals, families, professional consultants, outside agencies and other employees.

Ability to plan and organize work and prepare adequate records and reports.

Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally.

Ability to conduct staffings and other interdisciplinary team meetings.

Ability to develop and maintain an appropriate IPP/ISP for each individual.

Ability to maintain all necessary documentation.

Ability to make quality decisions concerning individuals' welfare.

Basic knowledge of programs, practices and techniques related to the developmentally disabled.

Ability to maintain a professional appearance, poise and composure at all times and in varied situations.

Ability to manage clients' funds.

This is a professional position whose duties include the monitoring of the Individual Program Plan (IPP) and/or Individual Support Plan (ISP) to ensure that it is integrated and coordinated to best meet the individuals' needs, and to provide casework and direct services to the individuals as part of a specific caseload. The QIDP/PS is the person responsible for serving as the primary advocate for the individual and for ensuring that monitoring functions are completed appropriately. The QIDP will also act as the Program Specialist (PS). A QIDP's assignment may be a defined caseload. This may encompass traveling to, and the responsibility for, a defined number of homes in the Community, Single Family Residence Program, Community Living Program or be assigned to a larger facility. Additionally, the QIDP is required to travel to any day program for the individual. The QIDP is the liaison between the facility, individuals' families and outside agencies. Supervision is provided by the Social Services Director or her designee. This position may also serve as a Plan Lead. An accepted abbreviated title is QIDP/PS.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

• Team leader and advocate for the individual.
• Coordination, completion, and review of the assessments.
• Providing the assessment as required for the development of the ISP/IPP, the updates or revision.
• Participating in the development of the ISP, including annual updates and revision of the ISP.
• Attending ISP/IDT meetings.
• Reviewing the ISP, annual updates and revision for content accuracy and reporting any content discrepancy to the Support Coordinator (SC) as applicable and plan team members.
• Implementing the ISP as written.
• Supervising, monitoring and evaluating services provided and the delivery of each Individual Program Plan (IPP) and/or Individual Support Plan (ISP).
• Reviewing, signing and dating the monthly documentation of an individual's participation and progress toward outcomes as applicable.
• Reporting a change related to the individual need to the Supports Coordinator (SC), as applicable and plan team members.
• Reviewing the ISP with the individual and documenting the review.
• Providing the documentation of the ISP review to the SC, as applicable, and the plan team members as needed.
• Informing plan team members of the option to decline the ISP review documentation.
• Recommending a revision to a service or outcome in the ISP as needed.
• Developing and implementing provider services.
• Integration of the various aspects of the facility's programs into the individual's IPP/ISP.
• Coordinating and development of the services for review and implementation of the IPPs/ISPs.
• Coordination of training and development for individuals.
• Development of planned program activities.
• Schedules and conducts all necessary staffings and meetings, including interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Ensures the implementation of the IPPs/ISPs and program activities as written.
• Ensures that each individual's active treatment program is integrated, coordinated and monitored on an ongoing basis.
• Maintains current files and records for each individual, including Social Services Casenotes.
• Documents periodic IDT/ISP reviews, as necessary, recording each individual's progress at least quarterly.
• Responsible to conduct an evening/residential observation for each ICF individual at least quarterly. One program observation per individual per quarter is also required.
• Review goal plans to determine that they include measurable goals (methods or approach) and verifies through reviews of individual's records, that plans are being followed and modified, as necessary.
• Initiates communications with outside agencies and maintains necessary documentation.
• Maintains confidentiality of all Social Services Records.
• Actively participates in staff development and in-service programs.
• Provides in-service training for appropriate staff.
• Receives and orients new admissions, insuring that all necessary documents are available and proper Merakey/ Allegheny Valley School procedures for admission have been followed.
• Meets regularly with Supervisor.
• Reports/communicates current status/needs of individual on the caseload to the Social Services Supervisor/Director.

Benefits

Merakey offers medical, dental - vision insurance plans, competitive compensation plans and more!

• DailyPay
• Work/Life Balance
• Flexible Schedules
• Cell Phone Discount Plans
• Employee Referral Bonuses
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Care.com Membership

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Click here to watch a video about Merakey. Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!