POSITION SUMMARY: (Essential Functions of Position)

The Lead Habilitation Counselor is responsible for providing direct habilitative services to individuals receiving support, fostering their growth, independence, and overall well-being. This position involves assessing individuals' needs, developing, and implementing personalized habilitative goals and objectives, and executing interventions and teaching procedures tailored to each individual's unique preferences and support needs. The Lead Habilitation Counselor is responsible for coordinating, planning, scheduling and implementing programs and activities in assigned Day Habilitation, Pre-vocational and/or Community Habilitation programs. Responsible for providing direct supports and instructional services to people based on their interests and desires. Implements programs that may include a variety of training, teaching procedures and interventions. The Lead Habilitation Counselor plays a crucial role in providing instruction and support to Community Specialists, ensuring the effective implementation of habilitative services and adherence to established protocols. The Lead Habilitation Counselor is responsible for developing, implementing, and documenting the delivery of habilitative goals and objectives, as well as implementing and documenting the delivery of behavior support plans, while observing and assisting Community Specialists in implementing teaching procedures necessary to achieve individuals' objectives. Responsible to ensure appropriate habilitative services are delivered by direct support professional staff both at the program site as well as in the community. In addition to their hands-on involvement in direct service provision, the Lead Habilitation Counselor assumes a leadership position within the program, serving as a positive role model for Community Specialists, providing support, guidance and feedback, and maintaining open communication with program supervisors and the Director. The Lead Habilitation Counselor completes formal observations of Community Specialists and provides critical input into the performance reviews. The Lead Habilitation Counselor is also responsible for documenting and verifying service delivery, ensuring accurate daily billing, and writing monthly progress notes, all while upholding the highest standards of individualized and ethical care.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Education: BA/BS required. Degree must be in one of the following areas: Counseling, Psychology, Sociology or related field. No waiver will be permitted for these requirements.

Minimum Experience: A minimum of one year of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities preferred.

Other:

• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Must have a valid and clean driver’s license for at least two years and successfully complete and maintain The Arc Rockland driver authorization.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (KSAs): To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skill and or ability required.

• Strong commitment to The Arc Rockland mission and values and to working with individuals with IDD and their families. Promotes the Agency’s mission and policies at all times.
• Demonstrates commitment and a positive approach to the job and uses time effectively to ensure maximum productivity.
• Ability to read, write and speak English. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Inform supervisor and other team members of relevant issues in a timely manner.
• Ability to learn and implement principles of positive behavior support and behavior management
• Background in curriculum development and familiarity with principles and practices of planning, teaching, evaluation and supervision of people with IDD.
• Learns and follows the agencies policies and procedures and attends mandatory in-service programs given by the agency. Must be able to maintain the strictest confidentiality.
• Responsible for full understanding of emergency / evacuation procedures.
• Adapts to new or unusual situations or changes without affecting performance.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Works cooperatively with team members, supervisors, and all other agency personnel.
• Proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Attentive to the work environment and provides appropriate intervention as needed.
• Strong communication and customer service skills and the ability to maintain confidentiality. Maintains confidentiality of organizational and individual information.
• Respectful of the rights and feelings of others and maintains a demeanor appropriate to a work environment.
• Reports to work and leaves work on time as scheduled.
• Accepts and efficiently performs job tasks, duties, and assignments as instructed.
• Ability to prioritize assignments and delegate responsibility. Ability to teach and coach others.
• Demonstrates concern and courtesy to staff and visitors.
• Must successfully complete within six months of hire date and then maintain, certification for required training in Medication Administration (AMAP), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, and Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention – Revised (SCIP-R), as required.
• Must successfully complete training on gastrointestinal nourishment assistance, ie. caring for G tubes, as applicable.
• Must successfully complete and maintain The Arc Rockland driver authorization.
• Must possess computer skills, ability to learn how to utilize the electronic health record and to complete virtual training requirements on electronic learning management system.