Para-Professional (Program Assistant)

Position Title: Para-Professional (Program Assistant)                     

Department:   Fairfield Academy                                                      Status:     Non-Exempt   

Reports To:    Principal                                                         

JOB SUMMARY

The Pare-professional is responsible for performing a wide variety of client care activities as directed by the Teacher, Principal, Clinical Director, VP of Clinical Services, Nurse, Medical Director or CEO and must function in accordance to the state law, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and applicable regulatory agencies.  The Pare-professional works as part of a multidisciplinary team provides direct care, intervention and counseling and functions as a role model of the youth attending the school.  The Pare-professional serves as a member of the treatment team, offering input to the clinical staff in the development of treatment and discharge planning; monitoring youth and families.

• Bachelor degree with a sub-certification..
• Valid Illinois Teaching Para-Professional Certification.
• An ability to pass DCFS Licensing requirements for background and fingerprinting.

• Demonstrate fair, consistent, and clear expectations with the clients.  Ability to observe, understand and use group dynamics
• Understands the purpose of discipline as a corrective experience in altering inappropriate behaviors
• Ability to demonstrate teaching and adult role modeling by displaying integrity and respect with the clients and staff.
• Demonstrate an understanding of sexually abusive behaviors by passing the competency exam within sixty days of employment.
• Effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrate knowledge of infection control, safety, confidentiality, incident reporting, personnel policies and program implementation.
• Ability to manage and adhere to therapeutic boundaries with the clients.

• Assist in facilitating students’ instruction, individually and collectively, to meet the course outcome and goals.
• Participate as a team member with teacher and all certified staff.
• Maintain availability to students in need of behavioral intervention.
• Support the educational process by Xeroxing, running errands, typing test, etc. as requested by the supervising teacher.
• Assist teacher in maintaining classroom records on each child, including: student’s IEP; behavior management plan; documentation of ongoing evaluation procedures indicating the student’s progress towards IEP goals & objectives according to the criteria stated on the IEP; support/related services (including  ‘groups’); phone contacts and meetings with parents and related personnel; important medical information to ensure the student’s safety.
• Promptly and accurately submit all required paper work and documents.
• Manage the students within the classroom and school to assure a conductive learning environment for all students.
• Promptly and accurately submit all required paper work and documents.
• Be familiar with each student’s IEP, which indicates the child’s present level of performance, objectives to meet the child’s needs, evaluation procedures and schedules for determining when objectives are met.
• Assist in creating classrooms that are attractive and motivational for students’ learning
• Follow all agency and school policies and procedures.
• Maintain school’s safety plan
• Maintain Type 39 Substitute Certification and be available for substitute assignments. (If qualified)
• Frequently review IEPs and Behavior Management Plans for students and participate in Functional Analysis documentation when necessary.
• Be certified in Pro-ACT.
• Participate in all staff meetings and in-service training sessions.
• Other duties as requested by the school’s administration.

• Employee is required to be able to work in temperature controlled environments; 80% of the time being spent indoors.
• Position may require duties to include routine or reasonable anticipated tasks or procedures where there is a degree of actual or potential exposure to blood or other infectious materials.

• Moderate physical effort required: normally seated with freedom of movement on a regular basis, handling of light materials and supplies.
• Some lifting may be required.
• Employee must be able to impart and receive detailed information through verbal and written communication
• Employee must have the ability to tolerate exposure to sexually explicit information as related to the histories of the clients served by the agency.
• Employee must have the ability to work in situations involving measurable or verifiable criteria, situations dealing with people, performing under stressful situations, and working with set limits, tolerances or standards.