DSP- (Job Coach) M-F 8am-3:30pm $19.25 per hour!

The Arc of the Farmington Valley, Inc., more commonly known as Favarh, was founded in 1958 by eight local families who all wanted a better life for their children with intellectual disabilities. A small school was created in the basement of a local church because children with intellectual disabilities were not accepted into public schools at that time.

Today, Favarh (pronounced "FAY-var") is a local chapter of the Arc, the world's largest community-based organization for people with intellectual, physical and developmental disabilities. Favarh supports more than 350 adolescents, young adults, adults, seniors and families throughout the Greater Farmington Valley area and beyond.

We have more than 330 employees making us the largest employer in Canton. Our more than 100 active volunteers work in our Thrift Shop, participate in our Unified Sports Teams, participate in our creative arts and unified activities, and participate in fundraising efforts. Many of our employees freely choose to volunteer in one or more of these areas demonstrating the level of commitment and dedication to the mission and purpose of the agency. Some of our employees even started out as volunteers and some of our former employees continue to volunteer after they move on.

Our mission is To Help Each Person Achieve Their Personal Best as we encourage and support a greater level of independence and personal satisfaction for each person that we support.

Summary

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is responsible for implementing procedures and individual programs that will enhance opportunities for participants of a Favarh Employment Services Program to reach his/her highest level of independence. The DSP reports directly to the Employment Services Manager and Assistant Manager.

As a DSP for Favarh's Employment Services, you are an ambassador to the community. Representing our clients and showing our community how we are here to make a difference. There are two potential programs that run our of our Canton, CT central office.

• Group Supported Employment

  The person who qualifies for work in a group setting is supported by a direct support professional. Favarh provides community businesses with a crew of four people to do a variety of jobs including but not limited to packaging, assembly, manufacturing, shredding, janitorial, clerical, processing, and delivering.

• Independent Employment

  The person who qualifies for independent employment would work with a job coach to create a resume, job search, train, and support the person in an appropriate competitive job. Once employed, the job coach would make regular visits to check in the with person and their employer.

• Serves as an ambassador for Favarh to the community with our clients. Performing in the presences of clients, their families, and the Favarh community. Employee appearance and behavior should only be perceived by others as appropriate, professional, and serve as an example for others to follow.
• Meet Favarh’s expectations for quality and production of work.
• Follow program/worksite rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Maintain and ensure confidentiality of participants at all times.
• Maintain a safe and hazard-free and clean environment.
• Communicate information between management, staff of business/community, and Agency regarding program sites.
• Observe and maintain all Favarh safety rules for program sites and vehicles used during the day.

• Follows procedures in a manner that respects the human and civil rights of individual participants and staff.
• Reviews shift with outgoing staff, review logs, and personal mailbox.
• Completes communication, behavior, and other individual logs on a daily basis.
• Instructs participants in the completion of daily/weekly chores and ensures their completion as necessary.
• Performs housekeeping/clerical duties as assigned.
• Ensures that participants are neatly groomed.
• Ensures that participants are appropriately dressed for the occasion, such as: weather, community work, age appropriateness, etcetera.
• Suggests, supervises, and documents social/community activities for participants during leisure periods.
• Provides transportation for participants and follows Favarh Van Driver policies and procedures.

• May administer medication to participants as required by the Favarh’s policies and procedures and DDS regulations.

• Provides immediate individual counseling to participants (when appropriate) for minor behavior problems, referring more serious problems to the Employment Services Manager and Assistant Manager.
• Implements behavioral programs and proper documentation as specified by the Behavior Specialist.
• Implements restraint procedures according to the Physical Management Training (PMT) procedure.
• Remains on duty until adequate supervision is secured for all participants.
• Attends, participates in, and initiates opportunities to go to agency sponsored meetings and trainings as assigned by the Employment Services Manager and Director.

• Fulfill all Direct Support Professional (DSP) responsibilities at all Employment Services program sites as needed or assigned.
• Develop and maintain good public relations and publicity by demonstrating to community citizens, organizations, employers, employees, participants, families, and community groups the purpose and needs of Employment Services Programs and Favarh.
• Demonstrate good interpersonal skills that enhance communication between participants, staff, and amongst coworkers.
• Demonstrate professional etiquette, behavior, and performance when representing Favarh.
• Encouraged to provide suggestions to Manager to improve program effectiveness.
• Assist and develop vocational and/or volunteer opportunities for participants.
• Responsible for thoroughly completing and timely submitting all program documentation responsibilities of the program site as directed by supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience & Education:

• A minimum High School Diploma or GED, must be 21 or older
• A minimum of one year of experience working in the field of Health, Education, Rehabilitation and/or Residential Services is required.
• PMT, CPT, First Aid and Medication Administration Certification (all training provided onsite)
• Ability to proficiently navigate through organizational web-based client documentation software system-Therap.
• Possess CT Drivers license for 3 years with a clean driving record to qualify to be a Ride Share background verification

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.