Evergreen Supported Living

Living Skills Specialist

Living Skills Specialists are required to be active staff members in a residential program that works as a team to provide quality care and as much independence as possible to adults with Developmental Disabilities.

Living Skills Specialists are required to support and train Evergreen’s clients on an ongoing basis with basic living skills such as personal hygiene, apartment maintenance, and the skills necessary to be an active participant in the community.

Living Skills Specialists must conduct themselves professionally and ethically by always remembering and respecting the rights, preferences and confidentiality of Evergreen’s clients.

Living Skills Specialists take direction from the Executive Directors and the Program Coordinators of Evergreen. Evergreen has an ‘open-door’ policy and each member of the team is encouraged to share any input or concerns that they feel are important.

Living Skills Specialists are required to assist the clients with working towards the goals in the Individualized Instruction and Service Plan (IISP). These plans have been conceived and agreed upon by the client, their families, their Program Coordinators, and their DDD Case Manager.

Living Skills Specialists are required to assist clients with attending community and social gatherings and all other activities related to IISP goals, or the pursuit of their individual interests.

Living Skills Specialists are required to maintain timely and accurate documentation related to the care and support of the clients that they are assigned to work with.

Living Skills Specialists are required to regularly update themselves on all aspects of client care by reading the daily Staff Log at the start of each shift, reading the Monthly Reports in each clients’ Program Book, attending the weekly Staff Meetings, and if unable to attend the meeting then read the notes of the meetings, reading all notes left for them on the staff Message Board, reading the dry erase board with information about what is occurring during the current day, and reading all other information pertaining to clients (IISP’s, Person Centered Plans, Positive Behavior Support Plans) as they are updated.

Living Skills Specialists are required to read the Policies and Procedures Manual during their training period and must understand and adhere to these policies. Evergreen management will inform staff as policies change or as new policies are created.

Living Skills Specialists must consider themselves to be role models for Evergreen’s clients and, when out in public, ambassadors of the agency. Professionalism is required in language, actions, dress and appearance at all times.

Living Skills Specialists are required to maintain safe and healthy interpersonal boundaries with Evergreen’s clients and their families at all times.

Living Skills Specialists are required to:

Pass a Washington State Background Check
Be able to lift at least 50 lbs.
Be insurable on the agency auto insurance policy
Possess at least a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
Be certified as a Nursing Assistant-Registered (NAR)
Possess current certifications in CPR and First Aid
Have taken a certified HIV/AIDS class.

Specific Job Requirements

Assisting the client with obtaining quality health care by:

Taking the client to appointments as delegated by the Program Coordinators or Directors.
Ensuring that the appropriate paperwork is completed at the appointment and delivered to the Program Coordinators, then communicating any information about the appointment to the Program Coordinator so that necessary follow-up can be completed.
Training and supporting the client in following all doctors orders and recommendations by health care professionals.

Assisting the clients with attaining their IISP goals by:

Being aware of what the IISP goals are in order to take advantage of all opportunities to attain them.
Accepting delegation from the Directors and Program Coordinators to do anything that needs to be done to attain the goals.
Documenting any progress made on the goals in the charting section of the client’s Program Book on an ongoing basis.

Assisting the clients with maintaining their home, health, and safety needs by:

Training and supporting clients with the administration of all medications prescribed by a health care professional including pills, topicals, eye drops, ear drops, suppositories, etc..
Providing training and support with bathing, oral hygiene, and fingernail care.
Providing transportation, training and support with weekly grocery shopping and banking.
Adhering to the budgets planned by the Program Coordinators.
Training and support with daily menu planning and training and support with meal preparation and cooking in their homes.
Training and support with ongoing cleaning of their apartments including: keeping dishes clean, floors mopped and vacuumed, bathrooms clean and sanitary, clothing laundered, etc..

Assisting and supporting the clients with meeting their employment goals by:

Providing transportation to the place of employment or ensuring that the client is transported via WTA, and maintaining communication with WTA.
Training and supporting the clients in budgeting their time so as to arrive at work on time and looking and feeling their best.
Facilitating communication between the employer and the client’s Program Coordinator.

Assisting the clients with maintaining healthy family and community relationships by:

Advocating for the clients in all situations where the client cannot advocate for themselves.
Training and supporting the clients with appropriate methods of communication with their families, friends and other contacts.
Facilitating communication between clients’ families and Program Coordinators as needed.
Providing transportation to and support at community events of the clients’ choice including church or religious services.

Completing all documentation required by the agency including:

Review of shift in the daily Staff Log.
All chores and personal care done with each client every day on the appropriate forms.
All chores and personal care done with each client every day on the appropriate forms.
Any progress on IISP goals in the charting section of the Program Book.
All documentation related to the administration of medications as required by our Delegating Nurse.
Completing Incident Reports if and when they are necessary.
Using time cards to record the beginning and end of each shift worked.