Address
Form of workThe Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Work for The Whole Person:
1) New Hires get 5+ weeks (224 hours) of Paid Time Off (PTO) a year - this goes up at 2 year anniversary and 5 year anniversary!
2) Unused PTO rolls over to the next year - up to 350 hours
3) Flexible hours, you know who you need to visit, we let you dictate your schedule
4) We pay 100% of the Employee's Insurance costs for: Medical, Dental, Vision, Gap Medical
Insurance, Short Term and Long Term Disability and a $20,000 Term Life Insurance Policy
5) We pay 6.37% of your gross into your Retirement Plan - 403(b)
6) 11 Legal Holidays that aren't counted toward your PTO!
7) How many places have you worked that has a "FUN Committee"?
8) TWP has set aside Professional Development fees for each employee
9) We are a $35 million Not-for-Profit with 88 Full-time and 30+ part-time Employees
10) This year, our organization celebrated 40 years in the Greater Kansas City Area
Title: Independent Living Advocate - Youth & Adult Support Specialist
Department: Youth and Adult Services
Reports to: Youth and Adult Services Manager
Status: Full-time Hourly
Hours per week: 40 (Monday - Friday)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This position is responsible for providing peer mentorship, information, referrals, advocacy, independent living skills training, peer counseling, and related services designed to help Youth and Adults with disabilities maximize their opportunities for independence.
The individual in this position will serve as a role model and mentor for people with disabilities.
This position will be working mainly out of the Kansas City, MO office but will travel to various schools in Metro Missouri and Kansas as well as Community Events throughout the KS/MO metro area.
Evening and some weekend work will be required
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Peer mentor: Assist students with disabilities involved in the justice and/or foster care systems by developing an individualized mentoring plan in which goals are identified and steps outlined for their individual success.
- Teach and model independent living skills by way of predefined and individually tailored curriculum.
- Facilitate peer support groups that address aspects of independent living.
- Provide on-site and off-site supports to Youth and Adult consumers, already on your caseload, to develop goal centered independent living plans (may include evenings and weekends).
- Complete forms and write progress notes in a timely and accurate manner, including submission into agency database, per department policy.
- Assess consumer’s current status of mental health through observation and from consumer’s self-report, as well as use of assessment tools (as needed), to determine appropriate referral to mental health support services and treatment.
- Upon request of Parents or School, participate in Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings as well as other community meetings with Youth and Adults for the purpose of increasing independence and coordinating services.
- Effectively manage caseload of consumers, maintaining contact with consumers per department standards to ensure goal progression, need for revisions, and closure of cases.
- Network with community resources and participate in community events, including representing TWP at transition fairs and workshops.
- Receive Information and Referral calls for the Kansas Office.
- Regular and predictable attendance
REQUIRED SKILLS
- A Bachelor’s degree in social services or Education or a related field is required
- A minimum of two years working with people who have disabilities
- Proficient at Microsoft Office
- Ability to travel to various offices, schools and events in the Kansas City Metro Area
PREFERRED SKILLS
- Master’s degree in social service or related field
- A minimum of two years working with IEPs in the Public School System
- Knowledgeable regarding community services.
- Personal experience with a disability
COMPETENCIES
- Ability to work independently, utilizing Manager as needed.
- Working knowledge of disabilities and disabilities-oriented issues for children and Adults.
- Ability to problem solve and develop alternate solutions to reach intended goal.
- Understanding of Special Education Classrooms and student behavior
- Effective written and oral communications skills.
- High energy level and strong interpersonal skills to work with people who have disabilities.
- Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
- Organizational skills
- Understanding of and adherence to the philosophy of Independent Living and the Disability Rights Movement
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This position spends a portion of their time in the office, but also will travel locally to visit consumers/clients, meet with service providers or attend meetings. While performing the duties of this job the employee has the potential to encounter unpredictable clients. The position has mostly an inside work environment and occasional outside work, traveling from one location to another, with exposure to weather conditions.
OTHER DUTIES
Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION
The Whole Person (TWP) is a not-for-profit that provides a proactive, challenging, fun and dynamic team environment in which to work, learn and add value to the Consumers we are privileged to serve in the Kansas City area.
To be a TWP team member you must:
- Want to serve persons with various physical and/or mental disabilities.
- Be prepared to work hard.
- Be prepared to be a part of a dynamic team environment with a supportive culture that encourages personal growth and achievement.
- Be dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service and to contributing to the fun working environment within our organization.
- Support the Mission of the Organization to “Connect people with disabilities to the resources they need by supporting independent choice and advocating for positive change in the community.”
The Whole Person provides generous benefits, including paid medical, dental, vision and Term Life Insurance, retirement 403(b) funding and liberal paid time off.
The Whole Person is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring staff members reflecting the great diversity of our community. Reasonable accommodations will be made upon request.
All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
