Teacher Assistant

Founded in 2003, PRN for Families™ is a home-based program for families who have children or teenagers who are out of control or at imminent risk of being separated from their family.  PRN is now expanding to work with local Colorado families to provide needed services on a daily basis by adding a Day Treatment Program. Together, we serve as a dedicated team of licensed counselors, teachers, paraprofessional and support staff.

Position Purpose:

The Teachers Assistant supports the Teachers in assisting them in meeting students’ instructional needs, while providing a safe learning environment. 

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Facilitates and maintains the safety and security of the residents and other staff.

• Displays understanding of low-level interventions and the ability to manage crisis situations using Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) protocols of de-escalation.

• Implements treatment according to treatment plan and provides a supportive structured environment for residents admitted to PRN for Families

• Performs daily paperwork, i.e., forms, point sheet distribution, entering information onto the electronic medical record etc.

• Provides structure with predictable and fair limit setting, while demonstrating appropriate boundaries.

• Utilizing protocol for covering the teacher is his or her absence.  Schedules time-off and completes schedule adjustment forms within appropriate time frames.

• Maintains required training duties and completes all HR requirements.

• Attends and participates in required team meetings.

• Follows all PRN for Families Policies and Procedures, particularly, but not limited to confidentiality, dual relationships, Code of Conduct, Corporate Compliance, and physical and sexual abuse reporting.

• Obtain a Colorado Department of Education substitute teaching license if required.

• Maintains a culturally and socioeconomically sensitive environment for children/youth.

•  Facilitates cleanliness of the facility and environment.

Program Requirements:

·       Two (2) professional written references verifying your character and suitability to work with children to be filed in the personnel file.

·       Physical Exam to be performed during the six-month period preceding employment by the center.

·       CBI criminal check must be submitted to the CBI within 5 working days of starting work.  To be renewed every 5 years.

·        State TRAILS check for child abuse and neglect background checks.  Request must be made with 10 calendar days of the first day of employment.  To be renewed every 5 years.

·        Valid driver’s license and insurance required.

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

The job is considered sedentary work with most of the job duties performed while sitting.  In addition, the employee is regularly required to type, write, talk and hear.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 lbs.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, & Experience:

·       High School Diploma plus 4 years relevant experience or BA/BS plus relevant experience.

·       Knowledge of psychological, behavioral, and social systems principles, as they relate to the job.  Ability to facilitate group activity.

·       Capable of high-quality documentation.

·       Ability to teach and work with mentally ill students.  Experience in mental health or related field in impatient settings, crisis prevention, juvenile corrections, or related experience.

       Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job.  This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions associated with this ob.  While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

PRN For Families is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunity regardless of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or any other protected status according to Colorado state and federal laws.