Equine Specialist/Residential Associate

Description

JOB TITLE: Residential Associate/Equine Specialist for Lakeview Heights

FLSA: Non Exempt (0 FTE - On Call) Equine position will have set hours agreed upon with Supervisor

LOCATION: Lakeview Heights SRTF

SUPEVISOR: Facility Assistant Administrator

PAY GRADE: B5 ($18.65 - $25.77 hourly, depending on experience)

Do you have a heart for helping others and experience caring for Equine? We encourage you to apply and have a hand in helping provide our residents with Equine Therapy that has been proven to be a major tool in improving Mental Health. Our Lakeview Heights residential facility is located in Heppner, OR overlooking the beautiful, serene Willow Creek Dam.

 Please apply online: https://ccswebsite.org/employment/ 

DESCRIPTION

Equine Specialist 

The Equine Specialist position is responsible for providing care and oversight to the horses on-site at LVH as well as working closely with our QMHP to provide equine-assisted therapy using the EAGALA Model. Equine-assisted therapy is provided 1-2 times/week for the residents of LVH. Additionally, for several weeks during the spring, summer, and fall, equine-assisted therapy is provided for youth who are receiving services through CCS outpatient offices. The equine specialist must have a minimum of 6,000 hours (3 years) of hands-on experience with horses. No mental health background is required.   

Residential Associate 

Provides services and supports for clients that help the residents develop appropriate skills to increase or maintain their level of functioning. These services may include the mental health services, rehabilitation services, social services, personal services, medical, dental and other health care services, educational services, financial management services, legal services, vocational services, transportation, recreational and leisure activities, and other services required to meet a resident’s needs as defined in the guidelines of their personal care plan. This person works directly with residents to promote recovery.    

SUPERVISION

Supervision Received  

The Assistant Administrator is the immediate supervision and provides supervision of the Residential Associate. However, given the nature of the business, the Facility Administrator will often provide direct supervision, primarily in the absence of the Assistant Administrator.   

Supervision Exercised  

Position does not supervise or assign work  

RESPONSIBILITIES

This position provides residential care that means the provision of room, board, care and services 

that assist the resident with ADL’s. This includes 24-hour supervision; being aware of the 

residents’ general whereabouts; monitoring the activities of the resident while on the premises of 

the SRTF to ensure their health, safety and welfare.

This position will or may:

Reads log and other client support documents as needed upon reporting to work and to make all 

appropriate entries during and before the conclusion of the shift.

Stays awake and alert throughout the shift.

Assists residents in personal self-management activities including eating, toileting, bathing, 

personal hygiene and grooming, cleaning, community access, personal spending, socialization, 

recreation, skill acquisition, and self-expression.

Transfers residents to and from wheelchairs, beds, chairs, toilets, etc. Using the training and 

guidelines provided for such activities. Pushing clients in wheelchairs is also required.

Administers prescribed medications, following physician’s orders and nurse policies for all 

medications and/or procedures, and documents on medical charts and count sheets according to 

established procedures.

Supervises and/or assists in the preparation of meals and assists with the feeding of residents 

according to menus and dining plans.

Conducts evacuation/fire drills as assigned.

Orients, trains, and works with the residents to perform in an appropriate, safe, and independent, 

recovery oriented manner within the guidelines of the residents personal care plan (PCP) or 

individual support plan (ISP).

Receives SRTF trainings prior to giving care; passes and maintains certification in CPR.

Participates in the inventory, ordering and/or purchasing of client or program supplies, including 

food or medications, as assigned.

Maintains clean, sanitary and safe conditions, for example, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, window 

washing, etc., both routinely, and as needed. Reports all safety

hazards.

Provides timely and accurate documentation as required per OAR’s and Community Counseling Solutions 

policies and procedures.

Reports any suspected violations or clients rights or abuse of a client by another client or a 

staff member according to policies and OAR’s regarding mandatory reporting. Such reporting is 

required for, but is not limited to, suspected incidents of physical assault, neglect of care, 

sexual exploitation of financial exploitation, which may also include borrowing or removing 

property from the home.

Attends staff meetings and training sessions as scheduled.

Follows the policies and procedures of Community Counseling Solutions.

Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

QUALFICATIONS

The ability to interact and relate to residents, staff, managers and others with respect and 

dignity. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; comprehend laws, 

administrative rules and regulations and agency policies, and develop and maintain effective 

working relationships with peers, supervisors and other professionals. Ability to deal with 

clients experiencing crisis situations.

Education and Experience

This position must have a high school diploma or equivalent, be able to pass a criminal history 

background check, and have a current drivers license.

The ideal candidate will have three years combination of training or experience in psychology, 

counseling, or a related field. This could be college coursework in psychology, social work or 

related social sciences, experience in a social service setting; or any satisfactory equivalent 

combination of experience (professional and/or personal) and training which demonstrates the 

ability to perform the above-described duties.

Other Skills and Abilities

The position requires the handling of highly confidential information. Must adhere to rules and 

laws pertaining to client confidentiality.

Must posses, or have the ability to possess functional knowledge of business English and medical 

terminology.

Must have good spelling and basic mathematical skills.

Must have the ability to learn assigned tasks readily and to adhere to general office procedures.

Good organizational and time management skills are essential. Must have in depth knowledge of 

standard office equipment.

Must possess the ability to represent the interest of the customer and the agency in a favorable 

light in the community.

Must have the ability to work well with teams and other groups of individuals.

Must be able to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats. Must have the ability to 

present and exchange information internally across teams and co-workers, and externally with 

customers and the public.

Must hold a valid drivers license and be insurable or carry insurance for client service purposes 

and for travel between business offices, the community, and to attend required meetings and/or 

trainings. Must pass all criminal history check requirements as required by ORS 181.536-181.537 

and in accordance with OAR 410-007-0200 through 410-007- 0380.

PHYISCAL DEMANDS

This position requires an individual to be regularly available for work as scheduled. Position 

requires professional and personal skills to cope with stress associated with work involving a high 

degree of mental, emotional and physical demands. This position also requires the ability to bend, 

stoop, push and pull on an ongoing basis. This position may require an individual to lift and 

transfer clients using a two-person lifting technique. This position may involve working overtime, 

weekends, evening or overnight awake shifts.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform the essential 

functions of this position. Must be willing to work a flexible work schedule; depending on 

community and resident needs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in an office/home environment as well as in the community. The noise level in 

the office environment is usually moderate, but occasionally one may be exposed to loud noises.  

The noise in the community, including the homes of customers, is often difficult to predict.   

Occasional out of area travel and overnight stays will be required for attendance at meetings 

and/trainings.

However, the employee also will be required to work in the community. Handicap access may not be 

available at all places where this position must go. There are some situations where this position 

may be required to respond to environments where a client is in crisis. The environments in these 

situations are difficult to predict and may be in uneven terrain.

This position exposes the employee to the everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety 

precautions typical of such places as an office or home environment.

Community Counseling Solutions

IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER