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Summary: The Associate Director, Cultural Arts is responsible for supporting the mission of SpArc Services while assisting the director in the day-to-day oversight of the Cultural Arts program.

 

Position Responsibilities

Programming, Curriculum, and Participation

  1. Create age-appropriate arts-related curriculum and activities collaboratively with director, for the program participants on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. The activities will foster engagement, choice and personal development and promote development and education in all arts-related and pre-vocational experiences
  2. Assist the Program Coordinator in planning community outings and increasing number of outings per day/number of participants attending outings, and assisting in helping the participants in getting out in the morning.
  3. Assist director on developing plans and goals for the department
  4. Lead group classes, outings, experiences as needed
  5. Assist in preparation for, and implementation of Annual Art Show, as well as various other art shows, music events, etc. throughout the year
  6. Communicate re-distribution of staff and participants daily and as needed
  7. Provide training and supervision in Activities of Daily Living, dressing, eating, personal hygiene, cleaning, etc., and promote participation and independence in all these areas. Provide personal care to participants as needed.
  8. Ensure all interactions reflect an understanding of people with disabilities, maximize participant choice and treat all participants with personal dignity.
  9. Anticipate possible problems or challenges and work to prevent unnecessary conflict.  Problem solve issues regarding participant situations, with or without assistance.
  10. Provide crisis intervention as necessary to support participants.  Uses the least restrictive emergency procedure when necessary to protect the individual from injuring self or others. Follows intervention policies and regulations. Ensure that unusual incident standards are understood and followed.
  11. Immediately bring to the attention of director and program specialist any concerns about participants or staff.
  12. Positively and professionally represent SpArc Services at all times.
  13. Develop trusting professional relationships with families and support staff while maintaining professional boundaries between families, other support staff and individuals served.

Administrative/Time Keeping

  1. Check Set-Works entries daily to maintain accuracy of time/attendance, and completion of goals
  2. Check to ensure accuracy of attendance sheets and 1:1 time cards and submit as appropriate. Submit attendance sheets to director every Monday morning
  3. Assist director in ensuring compliance of regulations and policies
  4. Maintain up to date ISP binders on each floor, communicate with program specialists as needed; maintain inventory of incident reports, seizure reports, attendance forms, etc.
  5. Know and follow regulations and agency policy in all areas including confidentiality, attendance, unusual incidents, documentation, abuse, restrictive procedures, and all matters pertaining to medication administration and documentation and medical issues.  Promptly asking supervisor to clarify any areas of concern.
  6. Communicate need of inventory/supplies to director
  7. Ensure all documents and participant records are accurate and submitted timely as per agency policy and procedures and regulations.  Accurately completes time cards according to regulatory and program standards.
  8. Participate in skill development and professional growth opportunities.

Employee Relations

  1. Ensure that program area’s floor staff are completing necessary tasks including daily reports, incident reports, attendance sheets, and cleaning the program area.
  2. Participate in hiring and interviewing sessions alongside or as a representative of director
  3. Provide on the job training for staff as needed; assign staff to attend required training and maintain training logs
  4. Conduct independently, or alongside director, 30 and 60-day check ins with new staff; Co-write and co-conduct 90 day evaluations
  5. Assist with writing and delivering annual performance evaluations
  6. Monitor activities and conduct of DSPs, including contracted staff, and intervene as necessary.  Immediately coach and respond to situations and report issues, especially ongoing concerns to director
  7. Coordinate appropriate training for each new staff; teach them Setworks, coordinate time to finish required trainings, and assign them to DSPs to shadow, etc. during the first 60-90 days.

Qualifications

  1. Bachelor’s Degree in related field.  Minimum of 3 years experience or training certification in working with people with disabilities in a health care or social services setting or in the arts. 
  2. Minimum of 2 years experience with managing multiple staff members.
  3. Clear criminal record and child abuse history, complete medical and drug screen (paid for by SpArc Philadelphia).
  4. Demonstrated competence in varied art mediums and knowledge of how to use the arts as an engagement strategy for people with disabilities.
  5. Effective verbal and written communication skills including communicating with people from diverse backgrounds and varied abilities.
  6. Demonstrates self-direction, independence, excellent communication and management skills, excellent time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail including prioritization
  7. Ability to handle multiple projects and details simultaneously, work well under pressure and flexibility to respond to changing priorities, unplanned events or emergencies
  8. Understands the needs of participants and adjusts behavior accordingly.  Able to demonstrate compassion, empathy, and positive attitude while supporting independence.
  9. Able to provide crisis intervention, including de-escalation of behavior.
  10. Demonstrates the organization’s core competencies and solid customer service skills.
  11. Effective word processing skills using Microsoft Office products.
  12. Ability to translate regulations into practice.  Must understand the importance of effective record keeping.
  13. Ability to form effective partnerships with all stakeholders, including family, caregivers and funders.
  14. Must be willing to obtain medication administration certification.

Physical Environment/Working Conditions
Open classroom type space.  May be required to lift and/or physically support participants independently or with other staff.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

To apply for this position, please submit your cover letter and resume to HR@sparcphilly.org. Please include the position title in the subject line of your email.

 

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