Description

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A REWARDING AND MEANINGFUL CAREER? If so, Verland is the perfect career choice for you!

Verland is now hiring full time Program Specialist to join our CLA division (Community Living Arrangements) in the Mercer County area to assist individuals with their everyday life. The Program Specialist develops, supervises and coordinates each Individual Support Plan (ISP) for the individuals assigned; completes assessments, identifies strengths, needs, likes, interests and preferences, as well as the dislikes, for each individual. The Program specialist is the primary advocate for each individual assigned and will ensure that all medical concerns are addressed. This is a salaried, exempt position. 

Verland provides care for adults and children with intellectual, medical and /or physical disabilities. Verland is proud to serve 47 residential homes and 4 day programs in multiple locations including Allegheny, Beaver, Mercer, Fayette counties. We are a non – profit organization with over 40 years of exceptional service and support to the residents that call Verland home.

Join our compassionate, inclusive, dedicated and professional direct support team. 

We lean on our staff to support and encourage individuals with intellectual disabilities to become as independent as possible. 

The following is a list, not all-inclusive, Program Specialist of duties the is responsible for:

• Secures all necessary services to ensure all individuals’ needs are being met as specified in the individuals’ ISP.
• Completes / ensures all necessary documentation associated with the Individual Support Plans, Quarterly Reviews, ISP revisions and ISP process (I. E. invitations to meetings, development and implementation of the ISP, completing reviews, updating and revisions, accuracy of reports [to include dates and signatures] and reporting content discrepancy of the ISP to SC, as applicable, and team members) meet all State licensing requirements including 33b 1-19 regarding plan lead. 
• Supervises, monitors, evaluates and/or makes recommendations to the SC to revise a service or outcome in the ISP that is provided to the individual.
• Reports a change related to the individual’s needs to the SC, as applicable, and plan team members
• Ensures all content are included in the ISP, (protocol for social, emotional, environmental plan, protocol for restrictive procedures plans, etc). 
• Provides assessment to the SC or plan lead at least 30 days prior to the ISP meeting.
• Reviews the ISP with the individual and coordinate the services provided to meet State licensing requirements
• Provides the documentation of the ISP review to the SC, as applicable, and plan team members to meet State licensing requirements
• Informs plan team members of the option to decline the ISP review document to meet State licensing requirements
• Utilizes the Interdisciplinary Team process in all situations that will impact upon the Individual Support Plan.
• Responsible for the census.
• Monitors house funds and money relating to an individual’s needs
• Monitors Individual’s progress monthly through direct observation, reviewing, signing and dating monthly documentation of an individual’s participation and progress toward outcomes.
• Participates in training, evaluation, and discipline of assigned staff.
• Coordinates the training of DSP’s in the content of health and safety needs relevant to each individual
• Developing and implementing provider services to meet State licensing requirements (relating to provider services)
• Follows up on all concerns and document concerns, actions and progress in a timely basis.
• Must be fluent on all assigned Individual’s ISP’s.
• Provides ongoing training to assigned staff relevant to each individual on the following areas: ISP and reviews, specific therapeutic needs, health and safety needs, medication needs, diet orders, and specific house needs etc.
• Participates in 24 hours of annual in-servicing as required by governing regulations.
• Exhibits a professional attitude at all times when representing the individual and the facility and maintain an excellent working relationship with all staff and peers. 
• Schedules and attends (as needed) medical appointments, monitor medical follow-up appointment and ensure implementation of medical care.
• Maintains medication administration certification and maintain practicum observer certification by completing observations and monitoring staff/documentation relating to the medication process. Performs MAR reviews and medication checks. 
• Participates in staff orientation as assigned.
• Accesses the minimum information necessary to perform job duties and adhere to Verland’s HIPPA, Privacy and computer policies.
• Provides face to face ISP training to Program Coordinators and DSP’s.
• Acts as Certified Investigator on an on-call basis when necessary.
• Perform other related duties upon request.

CASH INCENTIVES:

• $1,000 -$1,500 Employee Referral (for successfully* referring someone to employment)
• Up to an extra $2,080 a year in lieu of Health Insurance coverage (see benefits below) 

BENEFITS:

• Minimum of 24 hours worked and employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
• Health (UPMC), Dental (Delta Dental) and Vision Insurances 
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HSA)
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• 403B – Traditional and Roth with Company Match 
• Tuition Reimbursement 
• Competitive PTO Plan 
• 8 Paid Holidays

 Join our compassionate, inclusive, dedicated and professional team. To learn more about Verland, visit our website www.Verland.org.

Requirements

Requirements

• Must possess a knowledge of current practices and regulations pertaining to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Must have effective verbal and written skills necessary to both communicate with individuals and staff and to prepare necessary written documentation.
• Must be able to effectively monitor individual programming, providing hands-on implementation and staff training.
• Must possess the ability and empathy needed to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with fellow employees, supervisory staff, Base Service Units, families of the individuals, and our co-representative.
• Must demonstrate leadership and organizational skills.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

Program Specialist must have specialized training or one year’s experience in treating or working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and must possess one of the following: 

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college and one year’s experience working directly with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities; 
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college and two years’ experience working directly with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities
•  Associate’s Degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college and four years’ experience working directly with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities or an equivalent combination of education and experience; 
• Must have all required clearances and a valid Driver’s License. 

What does C.A.R.E mean to you? Does the words Compassion, Advocacy, Responsibility, and Empathy come to mind? If any of these words describe you and what you stand for, then you are what we are looking for at Verland.

Up to 2 weeks paid training provided by Verland, to educate new hires on daily living skills, social engagement, personal hygiene skills, along with each individual’s support plan/ personal development goals that are essential to improve the daily lives of the individuals that we serve.