Life Skills Trainer-DSP

About the role

Verland is seeking a Life Skills Trainer to work closely with one individual on a daily basis, primarily in a residential environment with occasional work at the Main Campus for the paid work program (Equestrian Awareness). The role involves providing direct supervision and assistance with daily living skills, facilitating life‑skills training and social behaviors, and supporting the individual’s participation in leisure/recreational activities, formal programming, hygiene, behavior management, mealtime procedures, and self‑management.

Responsibilities

• Work in collaboration with the team to develop training programs and strategies to teach new life skills and reinforce/maintain current skills in safety, safe transition, vocational, self‑help, self‑management, and leisure.
• Redirect and assist the individual with daily living skill duties, ensuring all tasks are engaging and accounted for.
• Implement and document progress in all training areas using individualized methods on a daily basis.
• Implement goals and procedural objectives based on developed programs.
• Work with the team to develop appropriate daily routines, safety routines, self‑advocacy, and judicious positive reinforcement of adaptive behaviors.
• Collaborate with the team and Psychology to develop, implement, and refine individualized programs to decrease identified challenging symptoms and behaviors.
• Provide information to Psychiatry to assist in managing psychiatric interventions and escort the individual to scheduled psychiatric appointments as needed.
• Provide information to the Memory Care Team, receive training, and implement Memory Care and ID Team recommendations.
• Maintain communication with the QORCP and House Manager to ensure consistent support and appropriate programming.
• Assist with educating peers to work with the individual during “off” times.
• Attend in‑service training sessions.
• Function at all times as the individual’s advocate.
• Attend and work with the individual when scheduled for IPP meetings and EA/ET as able.

Requirements

• Ability to constructively handle challenging behaviors of both a physical and social nature.
• Ability to work with individuals who may exhibit non‑compliant and/or inappropriate behavior.
• Patience, self‑motivation, and capability to learn skills to address non‑compliant/inappropriate behavior.
• Ability to collaborate with the Interdisciplinary team, including the Behavior Team and Memory Care Team.
• Knowledge of basic principles and techniques for training