Community Support Professional

The Community Support Professional (CSP) is responsible for training, motivating, supervising and communicating with individuals served to achieve effective results.  The fundamental responsibility of the Instructor is to participate in an Individual Support Team (IST) to develop a Person-Centered Plan (PCP) in cooperation with each person served.  The IST may also include family, advocates, residential providers, other agencies and professionals from a variety of disciplines.  The IST is organized by the Division Coordinator and is guided by a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QDDP.)  The CSP is the principal staff responsible for implementing the PCP.  During implementation, the CSP monitors each individual’s progress toward achieving the PCP objectives.  The CSP documents and reports the results of the implementation to the IST and cooperates with the team to modify the plan as necessary.    Program services at the Connections Program focus on career development and the PCP goals have an unmistakable vocational emphasis.  PCP goals are addressed in pre-vocational and community environments that balance realistic employment expectations with accommodations for the level of readiness of each individual. 

Responsibilities and Expectations

• Instructs, demonstrates and interacts with people receiving supports to achieve a variety of goals in accordance with the PCP, for example in the areas of education, personal care, pre-vocational training, job safety and social behaviors.
• Uses sound judgment and abides by supervisor’s instructions and applicable regulatory standards in order to foster self-sufficiency and independence. Converses with and listens to people receiving services regarding personal needs, responsibilities, expectations, aspirations, privileges and personal/behavioral problems in a supportive and understanding manner. Participates with the team in developing, modifying and adapting instruction and training to meet individual needs. Interacts often and appropriately with people receiving services using both verbal and nonverbal methods (gestures, modeling, sign language, etc.) to provide information about expected behavior, duties and activities.
• Collects data as indicated in the PCP for programs such as behavior management, speech, token reinforcement, vocational and social in order to assess people’s progress.
• Be familiar with contents of Connections Handbook. Serve as a role model to people supported by adhering to all Connections Handbook guidelines and encourage their familiarity and to follow these guidelines.
• Serve as a link to community inclusion. Assist with the planning and implementation of daily activities; including those that promote social inclusion and building social capital for peoples receiving services. 
• Make immediate verbal reports of health concerns to supervisor.
• Make immediate verbal reports of accidents or incidents to supervisor in compliance with agency policy.
• Prepare and submit written assessments and performance appraisals of people served to identify areas of strength and opportunities for development.   
• Cooperate with Division Coordinator to assure coverage and daily assignments of Instructional assignments with regards to coverage for community outings and facility-based coverage.

Supervision and Consultation

• Seeks supervision and consultation needs
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance skills

Courteous and respectful towards individuals, co-workers and community

• Treats individuals with care, dignity and compassion
• Respects individual’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists individuals and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the individual’s needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with individuals and families

Administrative and Other related duties as Assigned

• Actively participates in Quality/Performance Improvement activities
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Follows AltaPointe policies & procedures
• Any other duties as assigned by supervisor or designee

High school graduate or equivalent.  Good oral and written communication skills.  Ability to perform arithmetic operations accurately. Work may require lifting heavy objects a minimum of 30 pounds.  This position has driving responsibilities, therefore must be at least 23 years of age; have a valid Alabama driver’s license; and proof of current liability insurance.

Within six (6) months of employment, effectively demonstrate the application of population specific competencies:

Ability to interpret and implement support plans and to motivate, instruct, and supervise persons with intellectual disabilities in a prevocational day program.
Knowledge of psychiatric disorders and intellectual disabilities in the adult population
Knowledge of cultural diversity
Knowledge of available community resources
Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to individuals with intellectual disabilities, as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practice
Knowledge of all applicable standards (DMH, Joint Commission, Medicaid)
Knowledge of Person Center Planning, natural supports, and the philosophy of self-determination
Knowledge of utilizing electronic incident reporting