Independent Living Instructor - Oakland Area

Inspired Living Inc.; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Mileage reimbursement

Monthly phone stipend

401(k) with match

Paid sick leave

Bonus review

Employee perks and discounts

Job summary

Inspired Living Inc. in California seeks an ILS Instructor to work one-on-one with a small group of clients, teaching practical independence skills. Sessions occur in clients’ homes or in the community, often in blocks of several hours. You’ll tailor activities to each client and document progress.

You will travel to client locations, manage your own schedule, and escalate issues to the ILS Manager as needed. This part-time role emphasizes skill-building over caregiving with flexible blocks.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least six months of paid or volunteer experience supporting people with disabilities, or comparable human services experience.
• Ability to communicate clearly in English, spoken and written.
• Spanish proficiency preferred; required for some client assignments.
• Valid California driver's license, a reliable vehicle, and current registration and insurance.
• CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain it before your first client session.

Responsibilities

• Teach one-on-one sessions, showing and guiding clients to practice skills.
• Document every session and submit timesheets on time.
• Travel to client homes and community locations and manage your schedule.
• Communicate promptly with the ILS Manager about changes or safety concerns.
• Work independently with clients; no on-site supervisor during sessions.

Skills

English proficiency

Spanish preferred

Driver's license

CPR & First Aid

Communication

Independent work

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Location: This position serves clients throughout Alameda County. The role is not limited to Oakland.

Day Schedule — sessions are generally scheduled between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

• Services are provided one-to-one on a weekly schedule, generally between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Days and session length are based on each client's needs, and hours can vary. Availability across the week helps us match you with clients.

About the role

Inspired Living provides Independent Living Services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, building the skills that support independence. As an ILS Instructor, you are assigned a small number of clients and work with each of them one-on-one, teaching the skills they have chosen to work on. Sessions are individual rather than group based. The exception is occasional company client events, where staff and clients come together.

This is a teaching role, not a caregiving or companion role. You are not there to do things for the client. You are there to show them how, practice with them, and step back as they take it on themselves. Skill building is incremental. Instructors often teach and practice the same skill across many sessions before a client performs it independently.

Where you work and what you teach

Sessions take place in the client's home or out in the community, typically in blocks of several hours.

Skill areas commonly include:

• Cooking, meal planning, grocery shopping, and food safety
  
• Budgeting, banking, paying bills, and managing benefits
  
• Household routines, cleaning, and laundry
  
• Personal hygiene and health routines, including scheduling and attending medical appointments
  
• Using public transportation and getting around the community
  
• Communication, self-advocacy, and problem solving
  
• Building and maintaining safe relationships

Community outings are part of the work when they serve a goal: practicing a bus route, doing the week's shopping, going to the bank.

What the job asks of you

• Work independently. No supervisor is on site with you. You manage the session, your time, and your own judgment in the moment. You escalat(e) to your ILS Manager when something is outside your scope.
• Document every session. Service notes and timesheets must be accurate and submitted on time.
• Show up consistently. Consistency and routine are central to the service. Clients depend on scheduled sessions taking place as planned.
• Drive. You travel to clients and transport them during sessions when authorized to do so.
• Communicate promptly. Schedule changes, client concerns, safety issues, and incidents go to your ILS Manager right away.

Schedule and hours

Part-time. You must be available for at least three four-hour blocks per week, on at least three separate days, between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

You have input into which blocks you take, and schedules are set around client availability. Assigned hours depend on current client assignments and can change when a client's needs, goals, or availability change. Hours are not guaranteed.

What you need

• High school diploma or GED
• At least six months of paid or volunteer experience supporting people with disabilities, or comparable human services experience
• Ability to communicate clearly in English, spoken and written
• Spanish proficiency preferred; required for some client assignments
• Valid California driver's license, a reliable vehicle, and current registration and insurance
• CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain it before your first client session

Employment offers are contingent on completion of a background check.

Essential functions

• Travel by vehicle to client homes and community locations, typically up to 30 minutes each way and occasionally longer depending on the assignment
• Operate a vehicle and transport clients safely
• Stand and walk for extended periods during sessions, including in homes, stores, transit, and other community settings
• Occasionally lift or carry up to 25 pounds, such as groceries, laundry, or supplies
• Read, write, and complete electronic documentation
• Communicate by phone, text, and email

If you need an accommodation to perform these functions or during the hiring process, let us know.

Compensation and benefits

• Mileage reimbursement in accordance with company policy
• Monthly phone stipend
• 401(k) with company match, subject to plan terms and eligibility
• Paid sick leave as provided under California law
• Discretionary bonus review twice per year; bonuses are not guaranteed and eligibility and amount are subject to company review and approval
• Employee perks and discounts

About us

Inspired Living provides Independent Living Services across California. We believe adults with developmental disabilities should be supported to make their own decisions, build their own skills, and live the lives they choose. Our instructors are the people who make that real, one session at a time.

Inspired Living is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Employment with Inspired Living is at-will.