Community Integration Specialist at Advocates in Fitchburg, MA

Minimum Education Required

High School Diploma/GED

Overview

Starting Rate: $24.00/hour

Schedule: Tuesdays 3-5 hours

Promote the values, dreams and potential of individuals with developmental disabilities through education and meaningful activities.

Who We Are

At Advocates, we provide comprehensive services for people facing developmental, mental health, or other life challenges.

We’re a nonprofit, mission-driven organization with a person-centered approach, empowering the individuals we support to make choices, build independence, and live full, meaningful lives. Our work is rooted in respect, compassion, and inclusion, and we envision a world where individual differences are appreciated and celebrated.

At Advocates, we value the ideas, experiences, and contributions of employees and are committed to fostering a supportive, welcoming culture where everyone can grow and thrive.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and commitment to, agency mission and values.
• Ability to develop meaningful community schedule focusing on individual’s choices and preference.
• Work one on one for a minimum of a 3 hours shift with the client in their local community.
• Ability to think creatively to engage the client and help each person try new opportunities.
• Ability to source volunteer opportunities.
• Help clients with their schedule flexibility, effective communication and skill development.
• Pick client up from their home and work with them on their pre-determined goals and objectives while accessing the community.
• Perform other reasonably related duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Problem Solving- identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.

• Respect –shows respect for self, coworkers and the individuals supported.

• Interpersonal Skills- maintains confidentiality, remains open to others’ ideas and exhibits willingness to try new things.

• Oral communication- speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations demonstrates group presentation skills.

• Written Communication- is able to read and write information to communicate.

• Planning/organizing- prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently and develops realistic action plans.

• Quality control- demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and monitors own work to ensure quality.

• Adaptability- adapts to changes in the work environment and deals with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.

• Dependability- is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve performance.

• Safety and security- actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures, and uses equipment and materials properly.

Qualifications

• Associates degree preferred.
• At least 1 year experience working with individuals with disabilities/autism.
• Medical experience preferred.
• Valid driver’s license along with an acceptable driving status.
• Use of a reliable vehicle, which seats two passengers.
• Additional specific experience may be required.

Advocates is committed to cultivating a diverse and welcoming community where everyone feels respected and valued. Advocates fosters a culture of inclusion that celebrates and promotes diversity along multiple dimensions, including race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, partnered status, age, national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, culture, and experience.