Residential Counselor (Brain Injury)

Vinfen; Stoughton (MA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Vinfen seeks a Direct Support Professional to provide individualized and group support in a residential program for individuals with brain injuries. You will help residents develop independence, access community resources, and participate in meaningful activities.

Responsibilities include assisting with daily living, coordinating with nurses and case managers, monitoring safety, administering meds per MAP requirements, and documenting progress while promoting self-advocacy and community

Qualifications

• Knowledge of advocacy techniques and self-advocacy.
• Familiar with participatory planning and community engagement.
• Proficient in crisis intervention and safety procedures.
• Ability to work with diverse individuals in home settings.
• Strong communication, both oral and written, within teams.

Responsibilities

• Help individuals integrate into the community and build friendships.
• Assist with access to community resources and supports.
• Plan social activities promoting inclusion and well-being.
• Support self-advocacy and informed decisions by residents.
• Provide transportation and assistive technology access as needed.
• Document progress, incidents, and routine communications.
• Assist with medications per MAP requirements and policies.
• Collaborate with nurses, case managers, and staff across sites.
• Ensure safety, housekeeping, and regulatory compliance.
• Take on shift coverage as needed in other homes/programs.

Skills

Advocacy techniques

Communication styles

Self-advocacy

Participatory planning

Household management

Crisis intervention

Cultural sensitivity

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Independent work

Effective communication

Job description

Overview

Provides individual and group support to persons served in a residential program supporting individuals diagnosed with a brain injury. Teaches skills to enhance independence and quality of life. Ensures a safe, secure, and clean residential environment. Assists individuals in becoming fully integrated into their communities. Teaches skills to enhance independence and self-advocacy, and supports choices that contribute to living a good and meaningful life. Ensures a safe, secure, and clean residential environment. Assists individuals in becoming full participants in their communities, develop and maintain friendships, and strengthen family engagement and partnerships.

While your primary work location will be assigned, flexibility coverage at other sites may be required to support operational, scheduling, and staffing needs.

Responsibilities

The essential job duties/responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the information listed below:

• Assists individuals in the home in becoming fully integrated into their communities, and develop and maintain friendships.
• Assists individuals to access community-based support and resources.
• Plans recreational and social activities that promote social inclusion and the emotional well being of individuals in support of living a good life.
• Empowers and supports individuals in the home to make choices, be a self advocate, and be fully involved in making decisions in determining the directions of their supports and lives.
• Supports individuals in the home with access to assistive technology and adaptive equipment as a means to augment communication, access their communities, and generally live more independently.
• Supports individuals in securing, maintaining and growing in work, volunteer, and other community engagement opportunities.
• Supports individuals in the home to be more independent, be self-advocates, and make choices that define the direction and their vision for living a good life.
• Encourages and supports individuals and their involved families in maintaining strong partnership with staff and other interested parties.
• Provides training and support to individuals in the home. This includes rehabilitative interventions, behavioral interventions and monitoring, fire & safety regulations, appointment scheduling, money management, ADLs, grocery shopping, meal planning and cooking, household chores, use of generic resources, and other related areas.
• Performs hands-on tasks in the program, as required in order to facilitate implementation of support plans.
• Provides transportation, as necessary.
• Assesses the physical and emotional status of individuals in the home and reports changes to supervisor.
• Monitors individual funds, as needed.
• Maintains records for individuals in the home. Collects behavior and academic data and maintains progress notes. Documents all information related to incidents, programs, and routine activities in a communication log.
• Procures, stores, administers, documents, and disposes of medication for individuals consistent with MAP requirements, funding source regulations, and Company policy.
• Communicates with and provides information to interested parties such as program nurse, case managers, and Visiting Nurses Association.
• Participates in all mandated training and staff meetings as directed by the supervisor.
• Ensures compliance with all internal and external regulatory policies, procedures, and standards.
• Ensures home safety and maintenance as necessary at all times. This includes general housekeeping, snow shoveling, and trash removal.
• Complies with all corporate and divisional policies and procedures, including safe work practices, workers' compensation, universal precautions, and exposure control.
• Completes various paperwork and logs including communication logs, community membership logs, and activity schedules.
• Provides shift coverage, as necessary in other homes/programs as assigned by supervisor.
• Functions as human rights advocate. Provides physical intervention and/or First Aid in the event of behavior or medical emergency. Serves as a reporter to the Disabled Persons Protections Commission.
• Assists in developing, implementing, and documenting treatment, including ISP/PSTPs and clinical programs.
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques
• Knowledge and use of different communication styles
• Knowledge of empowerment and self-advocacy techniques
• Knowledge of participatory planning techniques
• Knowledge of required physical personal management skills
• Knowledge of required household management skills
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques
• Sensitivity to cultural, religious, racial, disability, and gender issues
• Participatory skills, collaborative skills, teaching skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Ability to adapt and communicate to a variety individuals through the use of different communication styles
• Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity
• High motivation to learn, practice new skills
• Consistency in performance
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written formats

Learn or Master the Following Areas:

• Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques
• Knowledge of empowerment and self-advocacy techniques
• Knowledge and proven ability to promote family partnerships
• Knowledge and proven ability to promote social inclusion in