Program Director

Job Description

Job Description

The Arc of Iroquois County, a non-profit social services organization in Watseka, Illinois, provides comprehensive services and support to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are currently seeking an enthusiastic, innovative and positive individual to lead our Community Day Service (CDS) programs into the future.

Our CDS program, located at the Welles Career Center, delivers individually tailored pre-employment training. These programs are structured to offer a variety of experiences that assist individuals in developing necessary life skills, fostering informed decision-making and increasing their independence. Community integration is a significant aspect of the overall program design. Furthermore, The Arc operates a Greenhouse , where individuals are actively involved in the planting, watering, maintaining and selling of all flowers and vegetables. We also facilitate a supported employment program, which secures jobs for individuals with the community.

Every employee at The Arc of Iroquois County is responsible for demonstrating a strong commitment to our mission of supporting adults with disabilities, their families and the community. This commitment extends to understanding and following the organization's Best Practices and Employee Code of Ethics , as well as actively participating in and endorsing our events and activities.

Primary Function:

Will ensure that all activities results in opportunities for independence, personal achievement, and community involvement for people supported in a manner that facilitates cross-team collaboration, cooperation and service integration across the agency.

Work Schedule:

Variable schedule requiring scheduling availability appropriate to changing support needs of people supported.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Have an undergraduate degree in special education or a related human service field as specified in the definition of a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP)
• Commensurate Experience will be considered

Experience:

• Have a minimum of two (2) year work experience with people with intellectual disabilities or other developmental disabilities
• Exhibit professional ethics with strong leadership skills as documented by three (3) references and demonstrated on a consistent basis
• Have the ability to deal effectively with the general public (employers, advocacy and community awareness)

Requirements:

• Successfully pass a criminal background check through the Illinois State Police
• Have clearance through the Illinois Department of Public Health Nurse Aid Registry and the CANTS background check through the Department of Children and Family Services
• Possess or acquire within new hire training cycle CPR/First Aid/AED certification and Rule 50 Investigative Skills training, updating as required by licensing agency.
• Possess a valid Illinois Driver's License with a clear driving record
• Provide proof of current car insurance
• Successfully complete the 40-hour Q-Training within three (3) months of employment

Ability to:

• Maintain mental capacity and reasoning ability which allows you to:
  • Make sound decisions based on appropriate judgment especially in situations that pose risk to the health, safety and well-being of people supported
  • Organize and process work
  • Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills
• Intervene as needed during behavior incidents in order to assist in a manner adequate to ensure the personal safety, physical needs and well-being of people supported
• Understand and follow directions as given
• Speak to people supported, their families and employees clearly and acquire alternative communication skills as needed to communicate with people supported
• Maintain an effective working relationship with people supported, families, staff, colleagues, community service agencies and The Arc's Board of Directors
• Attend Board Meeting as required to review best practices/changes or other topics as needed
• Ongoing contact with Independent Service Coordination Agency and outside providers as well as Illinois Department of Human Services
• Conduct tours/speaking engagements as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities as a Program Director in a Day Training Setting:

• Supervises, trains, assists people supported in all areas of personal care and activities of daily living, which may require physical assistance in such ways as lifting/transferring, bathing, toileting and assistance with other components of personal hygiene as well as making appropriate physical interventions during behavioral outbursts.
• Ensure people supported are clean, neat and appropriately dressed for the occasion, activity and climate.
• Implements programming requirements defined in the Service Plan (SP) and in behavior program.
• Accompanies and supervises people supported on community social and recreational activities while ensuring appropriate transportation is facilitated.
• Completes SP, assessments and progress notes, medication data sheets, seizure, injury/illness, behavior and unusual incident report forms as necessary, according to agency policies and procedures.
• Implements behavior programs and/or collects baseline data as directed.
• Makes appropriate entries regarding participants' issues, family contact and other significant information in progress notes and communication log to facilitate effective and consistent staff communication
• Ensures that all written documentation offers relevant, evaluative feedback for effective utilization by the Interdisciplinary Team.
• Maintains cooperative and professional communications between all agencies and programs providing services to people supported.
• Maintains a good working relationship with families.
• Protect the rights and well-being of the people supported from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of unnecessary risks or endangerment to their health and safety.
• Acts as a role model for people supported to promote appropriate appearance, verbal interaction, social and community behavior.
• Empower people supported to promote rights, dignity, independence, self-esteem and community integration.
• Participate as an active member of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT)/Community Support Team (CST)
• Utilize community resources and services to achieve skill acquisition, service plan goals and maximum community integration for people supported.
• Completes agency training requirements as well as additional education and training to remain up to date on new information and practices.
• Ensure an understanding of concepts and principles upon which work responsibilities are based and acquire skills to perform job duties effectively, to meet the needs of people supported and ensure agency services are provided consistent with our mission and objectives.
• Participates as a team member of The Arc of Iroquois County, facilitating department cooperation and teamwork.
• Ensure the safety of people supported and agency staff.
• Demonstrate an awareness of and implement policies and procedures as directed.

Other Essential Responsibilities Specific to this Position:

• The DEO will support people receiving Community Day Services to achieve outcomes most important to them.
  • Maintain current records/logs, ensure the security and confidentiality of people's records, and review/revise procedures annually.
    • Program Attendance
    • Incident Reports
    • Person Supported and Staff files
    • Operating Files – emergency procedures, quality assurance, and correspondence
  • Monitor Enrollment
    • Ensure people supported are free from abuse and neglect
    • Maintain current roster of program participants
    • Develop program schedules
    • Consider admissions and discharges for Community Day Programs
    • Keep abreast of funding mechanisms as they relate to CDS and ISEP
    • Ensure attendance at Educational Plan meetings in local schools to transition future services
• Ensure DOL regulations are maintained
  • Ensure payroll changes are made as needed
• Ensure Day Program facilities and equipment are maintained in a safe and sanitary condition.
  • Conduct regular emergency drills
  • Annual building inspections with State Fire Marshall
  • Annual inventory of equipment and materials
  • Monthly, quarterly, and annual environmental checklists
• Arrange transportation for people supported receiving Day Services
  • Coordinate services through Show Bus
  • Coordinate Arc routes and drivers using agency vehicles
  • Ensure proper safety measures are followed
• The DEO is responsible for maintaining adequate staffing levels and competency based training programs so that outcomes for the people we support will be met
  • Authorize payroll at end of pay period
  • Review and approve PTO requests
  • Complete and review evaluations with staff
  • Ensure orientation and ongoing training for all DT staff and maintain records to document training
  • Present and/or arrange and track all trainings mandated by DHS for DT
  • Supervise staff according to Best Practices
  • Provide regular contact with staff through team and individual meetings
• The DEO will manage the seasonal duties and operations of The Greenhouse
  • Facilitate all ordering of plants, soil, and supplies
  • Oversee all advertising including the mailing list
  • Ensure all plants are properly taken care of
  • Ensure greenhouse is kept clean and safe
  • Facilitate the work schedule for the various seasons
• Must have a working knowledge of certification standards (Rule 119 and Rule 50) to guide the day-to-day operations of the program. Will be responsible for facilitating an annual review and completing registration forms for licensing agencies.
  • The Arc Affiliation Agreement
  • Department of Human Services
  • IL/US Department of Labor
• The DEO will take a leadership position in the implementation of the Quality Assurance Plan by:
  • Serve as a member of the Agency Management Team/Best Practice Committee
  • Serve on the Behavior Management Committee, monitoring Quality Assurance
  • Serve on agency committees as requested
• The DEO is responsible for overseeing the Supported Employment Program, working with the Employment Supervisor to ensure the jobs secured meet criteria set forth by the Executive Director and Director of Finance and Information Systems.
• Assist Executive Director in the fiscal management of all vocational programs.
  • Participate in budgeting process
  • On-going monitoring of income and expenses – consulting with ED/DFIS as needed
  • Approve purchases under $500.00 within budget
  • Recommend educational materials, supplies, and equipment for the Day Programs and Supported Employment

Other Non-Essential Responsibilities:

• May participate in special projects within the agency
• May assist supervisor in orienting/training new employees
• May act as a mentor for new agency employees
• Substitute for absent employees as needed to ensure effective program operation and the well-being of people supported
• Perform all other duties as assigned by supervisor

See the attached Job Description for a full description of the job responsibilities.