Independent Living Skills Instructor

SUMMARY:

Valley Center for the Blind is seeking an individual who understands and believes in the full potential of people who are blind and low vision. With the teachings of non-visual techniques, clients will learn essential techniques and tools for daily living skills, kitchen safety, and personal management.

Subscribes to and promotes Valley Center for the Blind’s mission, vision, and values. Functions as an active Contact Center team member to achieve organization and department goals.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Core competencies needed to be successful in this job include dealing with ambiguity, compassion, composure, client focus, strong written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, ethics and values, listening, self-development, and learning from experience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assess the clients’ skill level in areas of independent living skills.
• Work with client to develop goals that will enhance independence and confidence.
• Use non-visual techniques to teach personal financial administration, emergency preparedness, labeling, kitchen safety, civic responsibilities, timekeeping, personal management skills and so much more.
• Maintain a safe and fun learning environment for all clients to feel comfortable.
• Develop a personalized training plan tailored to meet a client’s needs in conjunction with VCB curriculum.
• Maintain thorough, complete, and timely ongoing record keeping of client services; including but not limited to case notes, lesson notes, evaluations, progress reports, and correspondence in the required VCB platform.
• Be knowledgeable in existing and new low vision aids.
• Keep up to date on new trends and suggest appropriate curriculum updates.
• Present client issues to VCB's Case Management team and contribute to ongoing problem solving of such issues while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
• Participate in individual case conferences and confer regularly with program staff on multi-disciplinary service team.
• Must be able to work assigned contract hours. Various shifts typically include hours during a timeframe of 8:00am to 6:00pm, and six days a week.
• Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Utilize prescribed software to document, process and/or track all customer data and follow-up.
• Contribute to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the department and the organization by performing all other duties as assigned.
• Possess working knowledge of computers, primarily Microsoft Office applications and web browsing.
• Other duties as requested or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent professional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Must be self-motivating and dependable.
• Ability to take initiative, maintain organization, and be flexible
• Excellent computer keyboard, computer basics, and Microsoft Office skills
• Works as part of a team upholding and promoting the VCB Mission and Values
• Experience with teaching using non-visual techniques
• Demonstrates an understanding of blindness and additional disabilities

SALARY RANGE:

$17.00 - $19.00/Hour

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of one-year experience in education with a background in independent living skills. Five years of general work experience and an AA degree preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to clearly communicate concepts, processes and methods to enhance learning and skill building. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write business correspondence, and effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Bi-lingual in Spanish or Hmong preferred.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects or keyboard and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee may lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Work environment may be partially remote but does require on-site in-person instruction at the assigned VCB office. The work environment may be an office setting, kitchen area, client’s home, or other locations as necessitated to effectively instruct the given subject.

SCHEDULE:

This job schedule will be dependent on instructional need and client availability. Typical hours of operation for instructors are M-F between 9am-5pm; however, occasionally instructors are required to work different hours if needed due to unique client situations.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $17.00 - $19.00 per hour

Expected hours: 25 per week

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• Have you worked with vision-impaired people?
• Can you lift or move up to 20 lbs?

Ability to Commute:

• Visalia, CA 93291 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Visalia, CA 93291: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17 - $19