SENIOR COTTAGE TRAINING TECHNICIAN

Definition

Under direction of a Cottage Training Supervisor or other supervisor in an institution for the developmentally disabled in the Department of Human Services, takes the lead over Cottage Training Technicians or Human Services Assistants; reports on patient's/resident's behavior and treatment related issues of a non-medical nature between shifts; mentors individual residents under the incumbent's care and implements assigned physical care, recreation, resident self-help, social training, and other programs of a paraprofessional nature, does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Takes the lead over and provides guidance and instruction to Cottage Training Technicians and Human Services Assistants.
• Provides for the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of patients/residents.
• Facilitates information between shifts for the purpose of communicating patient/resident-treatment related issues of a non-medical nature to Human Services Technicians or Human Services Assistants.
• Performs and provides guidance to staff involved in bathing, dressing, and providing other grooming assistance required by patients/residents for their appropriate personal hygiene.
• Provides assistance to nursing staff with routine treatments, distributes medications, and assists in changing dressings as directed.
• Participates and provides guidance to staff involved in a resident training program designed to develop the individual's potential in the areas of self-help and social development.
• Participates in outdoor and indoor recreation activities with patients/residents.
• Identifies and takes measures to eliminate actual and potential hazards for the safety of patients/residents.
• Observes whether patients/residents are properly dressed.
• Maintains order among patients/residents and in the cottage; refers behavior and disciplinary problems to the supervisor.
• Monitors the escorting and escorts patients/residents to treatment facilities, religious services, recreation work areas, and other areas in the institution as required.
• Checks patients/residents during the night to determine whether medical or other attention is required; reports unusual conditions to supervisory personnel.
• Lifts patients/residents on and off beds and stretchers. Conducts inspections of assigned areas.
• Helps to establish standards of cleanliness and personal habits, and carries out these standards through instructing residents.
• Reports serious or chronic problems to the administrative supervisor.
• May participate in performing cottage housekeeping activities.
• Prepares reports and maintains records.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units.

Requirements

<b>TRAINING</b>

Appointees must complete two (2) approved training courses in mentoring and leadership before the conclusion of the working test period. Approved training may be obtained from a bargaining unit representative, the Human Resource Development Institute (HRDI), outside vendor, the Department of Human Services or the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs.

Experience

One (1) year of experience in the direct care of children and/or adults in an institutional setting or hospital.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the problems involved in the non-professional, custodial care of individuals confined to institutions for the developmentally disabled.
• Knowledge of the physical, mental, and emotional needs of developmentally disabled persons and of the methods required to provide for their needs.
• Knowledge of the housekeeping, fire, safety and sanitation problems likely to be encountered in a cottage for developmentally disabled individuals.
• Knowledge of the techniques used to mentor and train individuals with varying degrees of developmental disabilities and physical handicaps.
• Ability to properly lift and handle patients/residents with physical handicaps as needed.
• Ability to provide guidance and instruction to staff.
• Ability to mentor cottage patients/residents.
• Ability to communicate information to and from various sources.
• Ability to perform non-professional nursing and other special care prescribed for individual patients/residents.
• Ability to take the lead over staff.
• Ability to participate in outdoor and indoor recreation activities.
• Ability to bathe, dress, and provide other grooming assistance to patients/residents and to monitor staff performing these tasks.
• Ability to feed patients/residents with feeding problems.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those interested or involved in the work of the unit.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.