At Little Friends, What We Do Matters!
At Little Friends, we empower individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities to thrive in their community. Our programs and staff provide lifelong opportunities for growth, so the individuals we serve can work, learn, play, and experience the joy of life’s everyday moments. We can only achieve this through the hard work and dedication of our staff. We’re committed to creating an environment that enhances employees’ lives by making time spent at work meaningful and fulfilling. Little Friends is an equal opportunity employer committed to service excellence. We offer competitive wages, extensive paid training, and an excellent benefits package to qualifying employees – including vacation, paid sick leave, medical/dental/life insurance, retirement savings, and more.
Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 3:30 pm with flexibility due to driving responsibility
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Must be able to speak English clearly and fluently to communicate with staff, customers, and individuals; must also be able to write in clear, concise, grammatically correct English that is free of spelling errors.
2. Must respond appropriately to individuals experiencing behavioral issues. This position requires sufficient strength, agility, and sensory acuity to remain aware of behavioral emergencies and to implement confrontation avoidance, escape-evasion, and emergency transport procedures effectively for adults weighing 150 lbs. or more based on the agency-approved Ukeru and Positive Behavioral Supports training
3. Must act in a professional manner that reflects positively on herself or himself and Little Friends/Spectrum. This includes demonstrating a high commitment to customer service and customer satisfaction for all internal and external customers of Spectrum and Little Friends.
4. Is aware of, follows, and ensures that staff members follow the policies and procedures of Little Friends and Spectrum Vocational Services.
5. Is required to complete all training and re-certifications as per Little Friends, Spectrum Vocational Services as well as the Department of Human Services
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Hires, trains, and supervises DSPs and an Instructor. This includes (but is not limited to) giving staff ongoing feedback on performance and instituting disciplinary measures up to and or including termination.
2. Acts as a resource to all trainers regarding problematic instructional situations
3. Attends conferences, meetings, and visits to other programs and effectively relays relevant information to staff.
4. Become familiar with materials used for instructing individuals and the methods used to implement training programs
5. Works cooperatively with the Program Managers to assist Trainers in developing the Implementation Strategy for individuals.
6. Ensuring that appropriate, individualized, high-quality support services are delivered to all individuals served
7. Ensuring there are adequate levels of staff support for those individuals on their caseloads.
8. Ensuring that reports/Implementation Strategies are completed, signed, and filed according to DHS regulations and turned in to the appropriate clerical staff person.
9. Ensuring that annual release packets are completed and filed for all individuals on caseload.
10. Making appropriate referrals to clinical staff and consultants to ensure the best possible service provision for their assigned individuals.
11. Coordinating non-production group and individual programming for individuals, including activities and training related to recreation, social skills development, independent living skills, pre-vocational skills, etc.
12. Coordinating and actively participating in the design of curricula for classes and activities related to various subjects, including but not limited to documentation of activities, time and materials needed, and community resources available.
13. Ensuring that a weekly schedule is prepared, detailing planned activities, and individuals involved, and making sure that all staff members are aware of the schedule and their responsibilities.
14. Provides vocational counseling and advocacy services to individuals on caseload as appropriate
15. Cooperatively works with Program Managers/QIDPs to oversee the programming areas
16. Takes an active role in production to ensure that staff follows proper procedures and individuals are given as much opportunity to work as possible.
17. When necessary, provide direct-contact individual services wherever assigned to prevent interruption of services in the event of staff shortages. This requires the ability to complete tasks required of programming areas and DSPs
18. Coordinates health services with residential nursing staff as the need arises
19. Utilize available agency transportation resources for community activities.
20. Participates in regularly scheduled Meetings (Staff, Admin, Management Team, others as needed)
21. Serves on the Quality Assurance Committee of Spectrum.
22. Participate in strategic planning sessions for the Division.
OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED
1. Serves on other teams and standing committees of Spectrum, as assigned.
2. Other duties as assigned by Program Managers, Director of Programs and Services, or Division Vice President
WAGE TRANSPARENCY NOTIFICATION
Little Friends, Inc., in compliance with House Bill 3129 regarding Pay Transparency, is committed to providing salary and benefits information for all open positions. Please note that all disclosed compensation rates for this role will be determined based on required qualifications, experience, education, skill, training, certifications, and seniority.
Little Friends, Inc. also has the right to offer candidates appropriate compensation rates, determined by the employer, commensurate with the applicant’s qualifications, experience, education, skill, training, certifications, or seniority
Salary: $48,000
Benefits:
Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance
Life Insurance
401K
Vacation
Paid Sick Time
Paid Leave Time
Excellent EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
- Bachelors or master’s degree in special education, psychology, or related field with at least one year of experience working with people with developmental disabilities
- Experience in a residential setting and prior supervisory experience is preferred, though not essential.
- Must have a valid Illinois driver’s license, dependable transportation, and maintain required automobile insurance as well as a good driving record
- Must be able to speak, write, and read English fluently
- Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 lbs. as needed and physically able to assist with lifting/assisting individuals