Senior Inclusion Support

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Driven by the needs of residents, DHSP’s extensive services and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged children to homeless families, from non-profit organizations to local employers.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Senior Inclusion Support will provide direct support in adapting and modifying programming to meet the needs of a specific child who requires substantial support and/or accommodations in Out-Of-School Time (OST) placements. The Senior Inclusion Support will be supervised directly by the site supervisor in each program with support and guidance provided by the Inclusion Initiative of DHSP. DHSP offers a range of safe and engaging OST programming to Cambridge children, youth, and teens.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work to support and create relationships with all children and adults in the program in relation to the student directly receiving support.
• Work as a team with other members of the staff to create and maintain a positive, inclusive environment for the children and youth in the program.
• Maintain consistent communication with site supervisors, program staff, as well as the Inclusion Initiative.
• Maintain regular communication with the parents/guardians of the child/youth.
• In conjunction with the Inclusion Specialists, develop and implement accommodations to meet the needs of the identified student.
• Implement designated support plans/strategies that address behavioral, social, and or emotional needs. This may include behavior plans, sensory breaks, positive reinforcement systems, social stories, or other identified plans.
• Assist children, as necessary, with physical needs including feeding, toileting, lifting, and mobility.
• Assist children with assistive technology devices which may include communication devices.
• Assist children with orthopedic devices needed for sitting, walking, or standing.
• Attend program meetings, trainings and professional development activities.
• Other related duties, as assigned.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience:

• At least 1 year of experience working with children who have identified needs or disabilities.
• An associate’s degree or higher in Education, Child Development, Psychology, Social Work, or a similar field preferred.
• Experience working in educational settings, community-based programs, clinical settings, or similar settings that provide youth programming.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrate basic clinical/diagnostic understanding of children’s needs.
• Basic knowledge of childhood growth and development.
• Have a basic understanding of concepts related to Applied Behavioral Analysis, Social Emotional Learning, and Sensory Regulation Skills.
• Having patience and understanding when working with students who exhibit challenges with learning, behavior, or communication.
• Ability to adapt programming to meet the individual needs of the student being supported.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• The City of Cambridge’s workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, WORKING CONDITIONS, WORK FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOMODATIONS:

• The noise level in the work environment is moderate to very loud. The work environment includes classroom and outdoor playgrounds and occasional field trips.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, walk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to run, during play or responding to an emergency.
• Employees are frequently required to engage with children on the floor and at their eye level. Employees are frequently required to use their hands and arms to handle and manipulate objects as well as reach. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move a child.
• Vision abilities are required for supervision of children.
• Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.