Happiness Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Independent Living Skills Trainer (ILST)

Location: Happiness House - Community Based

Salary: $28 per each billable hour

Employment: Part Time/Itinerant position (20 hours per week) with potential to grow to Full Time. Monday through Friday- variable days and hours based on participant needs. Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Required Education and Experience:

1. Knowledge of community resources and means of accessing services.
2. NYS driver’s license.
3. Experience working with individuals with traumatic brain injury providing functionally based assessments and independent living skills training preferred.
4. Basic reasoning and writing skills.
5. Must meet one of the following requirements:
   • Licensed Master Social Worker (licensed by the New York State Education Department pursuant to Article 154 of the New York State Education Law); or
   • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (licensed by the New York State Education Department pursuant to Article 154 of the New York State Education Law); or
   • Individual with a Doctorate or Master of Social Work; Section VI – Waiver Services Page 58 June 2025 4. Individual with a Doctorate or Master of Psychology; or
   • Licensed Physical Therapist (licensed by the New York State Education Department pursuant to Article 136 of the New York State Education Law); or
   • Registered Professional Nurse (registered by the New York State Education Department pursuant to Article 139 of the New York State Education Law); or
   • Certified Teacher of Students with Disabilities (certified by the New York State Education Department); or
   • Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (certified by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification); or
   • Licensed Speech Pathologist (licensed by the New York State Education Department pursuant to Article 159 of the New York State Education Law); or
   • Licensed Occupational Therapist (registered by the New York State Education Department pursuant to Article 156 of the New York State Education Law); or
   • Individual with a Master of Gerontology;

AND

• Must also have, at a minimum, one (1) year of experience completing functional based assessments of Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, developing comprehensive treatment plans, and teaching individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury to be more functionally independent; or
• Be an individual with a Bachelor’s degree and three (3) years of experience completing functional based assessments of Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, developing comprehensive treatment plans, and teaching individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury to be more functionally independent; or
• Be an individual with an Associate’s degree and five (5) years of experience completing functional based assessments of Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, developing a comprehensive treatment plan, and teaching individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury to be more functionally independent.

Competency Requirements

1. Communication Proficiency
2. Customer/Individual Focus
3. Ethical Practice
4. Self-motivation and initiative skills

Responsibilities include:

1. 1. Imparts agency philosophy of “Equal Opportunity, Independence and Realization of Individual Potential” to clients, families, program staff and community resources.
   2. Maintains confidentiality of information relating to individuals and their families in accordance with agency policy.
   3. Provides training to program participants to help them acquire skills, which will enable these individuals to function in more independent living situations.
   4. Provide functional assessments of wide variety of life skills and provide appropriate feedback to program participants with regard to strengths, areas to develop and barriers to independence.
   5. Work collaboratively with Service Coordinators to manage the care of the consumers on your caseload. This includes but is not limited to: advocating for consumer, accessing affordable safe housing, and promote team approach to service delivery.
   6. Use creative problem solving to help participants to overcome barriers to independence.
   7. Develop appropriate service plan goals and objectives to help consumers reach their goals.
   8. Advocate for person centered planning for program participants.
   9. Provides assistance and training to program participants to help them develop necessary problem-solving skills, which will help them to better function in their community living situation.
   10. Accompany program participants to locations in the community to help them learn how to access and utilize community resources, including health and safety resources.
   11. Assists program participants with accessing recreational and social activities, thus enabling them to utilize their leisure time appropriately.
   12. Act as a role model for program participants by interacting with people in a manner which will assist these individuals in developing behaviors necessary for successful community living.
   13. Assist with implementation of behavior modification plans as needed.
   14. Participate in case conferences upon request.
   15. Maintain necessary records and case notes as requested.
   16. Submit monthly reports to Supervisor of Home Services on time and according to established guidelines.
   17. Promote communication with the team (Service Coordinator, Day Program, Clinical Staff, HCCS, CIC, PBIS, consumer, and those natural support who the consumer chooses to include) regarding individual consumer’s concerns relative to treatment plan, medical and/or safety issues.
   18. Coordinate and provide training and consultation to designated staff for the purpose of goal implementation.
   19. Adheres to Agency’s policies and procedures as well as department guidelines.
   20. Participates in conferences, workshops, and in-service training to enhance job skills and personal growth and development.
   21. Performs other duties at the discretion of the Program Director or his/her designee.

Other Duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibility: None.

Work Environment: This job operates in the community and in participants homes.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit, stand; walk; bend; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds and occasionally push or pull items up to 300 pounds.

Travel: Travel is primarily local during the business day.

EEO Statement: The agencies are equal opportunity employers. We do not discriminate against employees or applicants in the hiring, promotion, compensation, placement, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence or any other term or condition of employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender orientation/identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran, domestic violence victim status, prior arrest and conviction records or any other protected category in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.