CAREGIVER LEAD

State of Arizona; Coolidge (AZ); On-site; USD 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ASRS retirement

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick leave

Parental leave

Wellness plans

Job summary

The Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), seeks a Caregiver Lead to coach, mentor and provide direct support to individuals with developmental disabilities in ICFs and group homes. You will lead daily activities, ensure safety, document data, and participate in training while coordinating transportation and medication administration.

Prerequisites include a high school diploma, valid driver's license, background checks, and the ability to work

Qualifications

• Knowledge of member rights and safety.
• Experience with medication administration processes.
• Familiarity with Person Centered Service Plans.
• Ability to collect and document data.
• Strong problem solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Engage members in recreational activities and community programs.
• Assist with Activities of Daily Living and meals.
• Document progress and implement PCSP strategies.
• Care for medications and supervision per orders.
• Coordinate transportation and safety during activities.

Skills

Basic member rights

Medication administration

PCSP processes

Data collection

Problem solving

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Your Partner For A Stronger Arizona. DES works with families, community organizations, advocates and state and federal partners to realize our collective vision: A thriving Arizona. DES serves more than 3 million Arizonans. Our Mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life.

CAREGIVER LEAD

Job Location:

Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) 2800 North Highway 87, Coolidge, Arizona 85128

AM Shift: 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM

PM Shift: 2:30 PM - 11:00 PM

Posting Details:

Salary: $42,935.98

Grade: 16

Closing Date: October 24, 2026

Job Summary:

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov or click on the link here to view Our DES video. Come join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a Caregiver Lead. This position requires an individual to coach, teach, mentor and provide direct support to members who have Developmental Disabilities (i.e., autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability or epilepsy) ranging from mild to profound. The majority of services are designed to meet personal needs of members in Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF) and group home settings. DDD provides individuals with developmental disabilities, and their families, services and supports that are flexible, high quality, and member driven. These services provide individuals with opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities of independent decision-making and engagement in the community.

Applicants for this position cannot be licensed or certified by the DDD Office of Licensing Certification and Regulation, cannot have a principal interest in or have a spouse or close family with principal interest in a DDD Qualified Vendor Agreement, and cannot be employed or subcontracted by a DDD Qualified Vendor.

Job Duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Encourages and involves members with developmental disabilities in recreational activities available at home or in the community during their leisure time and ensures they become active and involved. Intervenes using least restrictive means at earliest moment using prevention & support or redirects member's behavior using his/her behavior building plan to help decrease the inappropriate behaviors of the member. Provides transportation to the members as needed. Drives a vehicle, operates a lift, puts on seat belts for members and ties down wheelchairs. Transports members to their day/work programs, to medical appointments and activities in the community.
• Assists members with developmental disabilities with Activities of Daily Living. Encourages members to participate in the meal-time process as much as possible. Ensures the members meet their nutritional requirements and engages/interacts with the members during meal time routine. Completes assigned housekeeping duties. Assists with basic care and hygiene, (incontinence care). Teaches the members how to bathe, groom and dress with as much independence as possible.
• Communicates (verbal and/or sign language), reads, writes and follows directions. Implements and writes Person Centered Service Plan (PCSP) programs and strategies, collects and records data. Provides continuous active treatment to the members as well as knowledge of the members' abilities and needs.
• Orders, logs, dispenses, administers and stores medications of members according to doctor's orders upon successful completion of the appropriate 16-hour medication technician or medication administration course. In the absence of a supervisor, works as lead or in-charge person; assists in on-site training of new employees and ensures reports are completed and submitted within the required timeliness.
• Responds to members emergency situations by calling for assistance and providing emergency treatment until medical help arrives; completes incident reports and notifies the guardian of the member's emergency situation. Coordinates evacuation plan and applies the necessary steps and safety procedures to follow with minimum disruption and injury to the member.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge in:

• Basic member rights
• Medication administration
• Person Centered Service Plan process
• Data collection and documentation
• Problem solving techniques

Skills In:

• Communication, both verbal and non verbal (sign language)
• Training and teaching, including planning activities designed to meet specific needs of individual members
• Problem solving, Organization and interactions with others
• Providing routine medical treatment, (e.g., taking temperatures, applying dressings, etc.)
• Proper sanitation techniques to eliminate cross contamination

Ability to:

• Give and follow directions, Understand and teach daily living skills
• Care to and act compassionately while maintaining member's rights
• Remain calm and composed during emergency situations
• Attend staff training and apply the basic principles of program training and data collection designed to meet the specific needs of members
• Collect data in accordance with Federal, State, and Agency standards and Person Centered Service Plan (PCSP), Learn state rules, policies, and regulations

Selective Preference(s):

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Applicant must be 21 years of age to apply
• The ability to read and write in English
• The ability to work weekends, holidays, overtime, and change work locations, when necessary
• Will possess a High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) diploma

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver's License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver's license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to Driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operated a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) (R2-10-201.11).
• Employee shall have a valid Level One fingerprint clearance card issued pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute 41-1968 in order to work with children and vulnerable adults.
• Candidates for this position shall be subject to a search of both the Department of Child Safety Central Registry pursuant to A.R.S. 8-804 and the Adult Protective Services Registry pursuant to A.R.S. 46-459.
• Successfully pass background and reference check; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the Agency's ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page.

Retirement:

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

Contact Us:

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact us Johanna Valdiviezo at 480-919-6798 or [e-mail].

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 480-919-6798 or [e-mail]. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.