Life Skills Mentor

Description

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Student Responsibilities:

• Engage with adults on the autism spectrum in a way that promotes dignity and improved quality of life
• Actively participate in professional development and extracurricular activities
• Proactively manage student behavior according to shared expectations of the program director
• Prepare lesson plans
• Lead activities including yoga, gardening, art projects, and daily walks
• Provide assistance and training to adults on the autism spectrum with meals, hygiene, activities
• Create a fun learning environment

School Responsibilities:

• Model the school’s values and core beliefs
• Set and work toward ambitious behavioral and vocational goals
• Use feedback from supervision to improve mentorship practices
• Meet weekly with team members to discuss current plans, barriers to progress, and potential solutions for increasing progress and guaranteeing treatment integrity
• Deliver community-based instruction and workplace oversight
• Collect and use observational data
• Engage families and community members in the learning process
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to implement and reinforce all components of a consistently positive, creative and solutions-oriented school culture

COMPETENCIES:

A. Problem Solving/Decision Making – Able to assess needs and consider course of action to best meet those needs

B. Monitoring – Able to monitor participant progress and respond to unmet needs; able to monitor provider service provision and billing practices and to ensure accuracy

C. Planning – Establish effective objectives, priorities, and implement plans; anticipate obstacles and consider alternatives

D. Coordination – Make adjustments in casework to coordinate efforts with other agencies to ensure consistency and adequate follow-up

E. Action Orientation – Take initiative rather than passively accepting; takes action and attempts to influence events to achieve goals

F. Work Commitment – Willingly commit extra effort and time to get a job done; identified with organization goals; exhibit excellent time management abilities

G. Oral and Written Communication Skills – Ability to exhibit appropriate use of grammar and spelling in written communication, exhibit5 appropriate use of grammar in oral communication, ensure oral and written communication is professional

H. Building Relationships – Able to establish rapport with provider agencies and staff, Easterseals administrative and other program staff

I. Team Playing – Work cooperatively with other Easterseals Support Coordinators/Supervisors

J. Mission Advocacy – Able to identify with project and Easterseals objectives; adequately, constructively and directly communicate these objectives

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree; preferred but not mandatory in Human or Social
• A commitment to fulfill the school’s mission and vision
• A passion for helping children and adults with learning differences
• Experience working with children and/or adults with autism
• Familiarity with Applied Behavior Analysis
• The desire to be part of a true Professional Learning Community
• Flexibility, patience, perception and empathy
• A “Can-Do” attitude
• Show respect and courtesy to students, parents, and colleagues
• Accept feedback from supervisors in a polite and constructive manner
• Communicate effectively to students, parents, and colleagues
• Maintain confidential information about students and their families
• Act as a positive role model and representative of Chartwell both at Chartwell and in the community
• A strong desire to increase instructional efficacy by receiving and implementing feedback
• An unwavering commitment to help each of our young learners excel behaviorally, academically, emotionally and socially

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS with or without accommodation:

• The employee is regularly required to operate a computer and communicate with others on the phone and in person
• The employee is frequently required to walk, sit, use hands and lift /move lightweight items
• Ability to move independently within the facility and the community
• Ability to care for student in caring and professional manor

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed in a normal working office setting that is environmentally controlled and out in the field