THRIVE Day Program Assistant

Posted 7 days ago

northwest special recreation associationWheeling (IL)

Social and Human Service Assistants Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities

SENIORITY

Mid

SALARY

$18.00 - $23.00 Hourly

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About the role

Thrive Day Program Assistant Salary Range $18.00 - $23.00 Hourly Position Type Part Time IJob Purpose The Program Assistant is responsible for directly supporting and engaging adults with disabilities in a year-round recreation program setting. This position assists in the implementation of daily activities, promotes participant involvement, and helps ensure a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. The Program Assistant provides hands-on support with social, recreational, and life-enrichment activities while encouraging independence, positive peer interactions, and community inclusion. Through active participation, supervision, and encouragement, this role contributes to meaningful experiences that enhance the quality of life for program participants.

Essential Job Functions:

Supervise participants in an Adult Day Program setting to ensure group safety, support positive behavior, and promote appropriate engagement in activities.
Carry out assigned tasks in accordance with provided guidance and expectations.
Act as an advocate for participants by providing disability awareness information and highlighting each individual's abilities and shared qualities while minimizing emphasis on differences.
Actively engage and participate in program activities and tasks while assisting with participant involvement in recreational activities and providing accommodations as needed.
Support and encourage participants in developing meaningful social connections and friendships with peers within the program.
Communicate with participants during the program in their preferred communication style.
Attend to participants' personal care needs including toileting, feeding, changing, and G-tubes, etc.
Actively communicate and collaborate with supervisors and coworkers, contributing ideas and demonstrating creativity and enthusiasm when implementing activities.
Foster, develop and maintain positive, professional relationships with participants, parents, employees, partner agency personnel, and community contacts.
If transportation is offered, responsibilities include monitoring and addressing medical, safety and behavioral needs of participants on the vehicle. Clearly communicate any concerns to the driver in a timely fashion
Greet parents/guardians, participants, employees and volunteers upon arrival and departure.
Monitor participant's belongings including bags, lunch boxes, etc.
Other duties needed to help drive our vision, fulfill our mission, and abide by NWSRA's Core Values.

Physical Demands: The Adult Day Program Assistant must, with or without reasonable accommodation, be able to perform the following functions: Frequently stand, bend, stoop, kneel, walk, sit, rotate, or feel; reach with arms and hands. Ability to communicate verbally and to hear and visually observe surroundings, participants, and staff both near and far which are necessary to perform job duties safely. Gather, load, transport and set-up equipment and supplies. Ability to safely lift and transfer a minimum of 75 lbs. per load; or up to 40 lbs. of force constantly to move objects. Ability to safely assist participants with physical transfers, including transferring individuals to and from wheelchairs, toilets, tables, and other surfaces, using proper body mechanics and approved techniques. Ability to lift, support, and reposition participants as necessary to ensure participant safety and comfort, with or without the use of assistive devices. Ability to push and pull wheelchairs or mobility equipment and maneuver participants safely within the environment.

Working Conditions: This job operates in a wide variety of environments. The noise level can range from quiet to loud. When working indoors conditions can include different types of lighting, temperatures, and noises. When working outdoors you may be exposed to different types of weather conditions, heat, humidity, frigid, windy, and wet conditions along with a variety of insects. You may encounter various exposures such as pool chemicals, cleaning chemicals, infectious diseases and a variety of elements when driving and programming for the Associations programs or Foundation events.

Qualifications: Minimum of 18 years of age required. Possess an interest or experience working with children and adults with disabilities. Demonstrate dependability, promptness, flexibility, and punctuality. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate with parents/guardians and participants. Ability to perform duties under stressful situations with supervision. Demonstrate ability to assist in the implementation of meaningful activities for all ability levels. Exhibit enthusiasm and passion in recreation programming. Willingness to learn, accept feedback and fresh perspectives while keeping a positive and collaborative team focused attitude. Ability to attend all orientations, meetings and trainings required by NWSRA and maintain training certifications.

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