Vocational Support Associate

JOB TITLE: Vocational Support Associate

LOCATION: Charles County

SALARY: $18.50 per hour

STATUS: M/W/F, 8 am to 2 pm, T/TH, 10 am to 4 pm

The Arc Southern Maryland is currently hiring part-time Vocational Support Associates. A VSA provides onsite instruction, support and encouragement to people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. 

Generally, the VSA works as a member of a team with the following objectives:
Person-centered planning and individualized implementation of goals for individuals receiving supports from the team
Deals with crisis situations
Assures that all duties required by the employment site of the person(s) receiving this support are met through either the person or the employee, as necessary.

You are a good fit if you have the following experience, education, and skills:

• 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED equivalent

• A valid driving license (We cannot accept driver permit or provisional license)

• Can pass a criminal background check mandated by the State of Maryland

• A good driving record with no more than 2 points on the license

• A reliable vehicle to be used in transporting individuals we serve

• Enjoy assisting people and hands on support

  
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 
Employment, Volunteer and Recreational Skills & Supports:
Assists individual(s) to meet his or her employment goals, by teaching skills, providing supports, and building on individual strengths and capabilities.
Supports individual(s) in the development of friendships and other relationships in employment, volunteer and recreational settings.
Provides on-site skill instructions and overall job training while encouraging development of natural support systems.
Maintains frequent and positive contacts with employers, family members, or other important people in the lives of people served.
Provides information, on behalf of the person receiving supports, to various community, business, civic organizations and community service providers (e.g., doctors, social services, etc.) in a professional manner.
Assures compliance with applicable regulations, (i.e., MOSHA, DDA, health fire).
Develops Task Analyses, as necessary.
Assists employment, recreational, volunteer and apprenticeship sites in the development of adaptive methods, as necessary.
The VSA assures that activities in all locations comply with guidelines established by the agency, Federal government and the State of Maryland.

Provides or assists with personal care, as necessary.

Medication Administration:
Assists with and/or dispenses medication (as certified), or other prescribed medical treatments, as necessary.

Community and Service Networking:
Assists with the development of perspective employer relationships.
Assists in the identification of needs for the individual(s) for community supports, working with the individual(s) informal support system and /or initiating community connections.

Participant Empowerment:
Assists individual(s) to plan, make informed choices, follow through on responsibilities and speak on his/her/their on behalf.

Communication:
Uses effective, sensitive communication skills to build rapport and channels of communication by recognizing and adapting to the range of individual(s) communication styles.
Learns and uses terminology appropriately, explaining as necessary to ensure individual(s) understanding.

Facilitation of Services:
Maintains collaborative professional relationships with individual(s) and all support team members (including family/friends), follows ethical standards of practice (e.g., confidentiality, informed consent, etc.), and recognizes his or her own personal limitations.
Assists and/or facilitates the implementation of an individualized plan to achieve specific outcomes derived from individual(s) preferences, needs and interests.

Advocacy:
Facilitates, assists, and/or represents individual(s) when there are barriers to his or her support needs.
Interacts with and educates employers, and community members when relevant to individual's needs or supports.

Crisis Intervention:
Identifies crisis situations, evaluates or defuses the situation, and contacts necessary supports.
Continues to monitor crisis situations, discusses the incident with authorized staff and individual(s), adjusts supports and the environment, and complies with regulations for reporting.
Implements behavior plan(s) as necessary and as indicated in the plan.

Documentation:
Maintains accurate records and submits records to appropriate sources in a timely fashion.
Maintains standards of confidentiality and ethical practice.

Organization Participation:
Complies with all agency guidelines, procedures and practices.
Incorporates sensitivity to cultural, religious, racial, disability and gender issues into daily practices and interactions.

Education, Training & Self-Development: 
Attends, completes and passes all required training, initially and ongoing.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Accomplishes all tasks as appropriately assigned or requested.
Demonstrates appropriate role model behavior at all times.
Attends and participates in staff and team meetings.
Contributes to program evaluations by responding to surveys and interviews or participating in discussion groups.
Accepts and employs the agency’s core values.
 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Graduation from accredited high school or GED.
2 years of competitive employment.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS (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 occasionally required to stand; walk; sit for long periods of time; use hands to hold, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is generally not exposed to weather conditions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Required to work evenings and weekend, when scheduled.

The Arc Southern Maryland is a drug-free employer. All offers of employment will be contingent on a successful background check. The Arc Southern Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, religious and or political beliefs. We recruit, employ, retain, compensate, train, promote, discipline, terminate and treat all employees and job applicants based solely on qualification, performance, and competence.