Summary:
The House Counselor provides leadership and serves as a mentor to a team of direct support professionals in assigned residential program(s). The House Counselor supports the mission of Benedictine Adult Services by monitoring the quality of support provided by assigned direct care professionals in the program, ensuring implementation of person-centered plans and policies, maintenance of a clean and orderly home environment, and submission of required paperwork. As the lead staff in the home, the House Counselor is integral to the development and promotion of independent living skills for each person supported. The House Counselor supports each person to live in the community of their choice with the same rights and responsibilities of other people living in the community.
Essential Duties/ Responsibilities:
- Promote and communicate Benedictine’s mission and core values with all employees throughout adult services and the organization
- Understand and model the CMS Community Settings Rule for direct support professionals to assure all supports are provided in accordance with the rule.
- Serve as primary in home liaison with families, guardians, Group Home Manager, nurse, administration, and other internal and external partners, sharing information as appropriate.
- Provide direct support and medication management to group home residents, modeling appropriate service delivery in accordance with each person’s specific support needs and person-centered plan.
- Support Group Home Manager to develop weekly and monthly schedule assuring appropriate level of direct support staff are in home to maintain health and safety.
- Assist individuals supported with personal financial management, including managing accounts, paying monthly bills, routine purchasing, and ensure accurate accounting and reporting of individual accounts according to agency policy and procedure.
- Develop and maintain household task list. Ensure that all are completed on a daily basis by staff and that a high standard of housekeeping is maintained at all times.
- Support people supported to develop weekly and monthly menus in accordance with dietary guidelines, purchase necessary groceries, and support healthy meal choices.
- Promote people supported in self-advocacy in areas important to the person.
- Facilitate personal relationships for each person supported with family, community members, natural supports, and with adult relationships
- Report health and safety concerns in the home and vehicle to management.
- Facilitate community engagement and involvement through development of activity calendar, researching new and novel activities, and providing or arranging transportation
- Manage household accounts according to agency policy and procedure.
- Act as an integral member of the person-centered planning team through attendance at meetings, goal development, documentation of implementation, and review of progress.
- Complete and submit documentation of food logs, daily logs, monthly recreational form, fire drills, financial reports, attendance reports and medication charts on monthly schedule.
- Complete daily documentation in Therap.
- Assure completion of fire and emergency drills according to assigned schedule.
- Assure appropriate medication management through reviewing and ordering medications (including PRN medications), purging of expired and discontinued medications, and checking in cycle fill medications monthly.
Other Duties/Responsibilities:
- Consistently report to work on time as scheduled, prepared to perform assigned duties and responsibilities during entire scheduled work period/shift.
- Consult with supervisor for approval on health, house maintenance and financial issues. Ensure Benedictine and Adult Programs policies and procedures are followed.
- Partner with Group Home Manager to conduct monthly house meeting.
- Attend agency meetings as required.
- Consistently represent Benedictine in a professional manner with all internal and external stakeholders.
- Complete and ensure completion of all mandatory trainings and maintain job-specific certifications.
- Cooperate with Benedictine administration and in-state/out-of-state agencies in any inspection or investigation.
- Assist with other duties assigned.
Job Qualifications:
- High School Diploma and/or GED required
- Two years relevant experience required
- Certified Medication Technician or willing and able to acquire certification within 90 days of employment
- Schedule flexibility required.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Able to effectively respond to stressful situations and competing priorities
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills required.
- Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Minimum of 18 years old.
- Able to provide proof of eligibility to work in US upon offer.
- Pass pre-employment drug screen.
- Pass pre-employment criminal background checks through CJIS as stated in Family Law Article 5-561, and pass pre-employment CPS check.
- Must have current and valid driver’s license in good standing and must have a driving record that would permit coverage under Benedictine driver’s insurance.
- Must be a strong advocate of the Benedictine mission to help children and adults with developmental disabilities achieve their greatest potential, and be motivated to contribute to the mission with pride and integrity.
Physical Requirements:
- Able to lift or push 50 lbs.
- Able to see clearly with ability to adjust focus.
- Able to walk or stand for extended periods of time.
- Possess functional range of motion in all legs, arms, hands and fingers.
- Physically able to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl.
- Able to speak and hear clearly.
- Able to wear personal protective equipment recommended for universal precautions.