Challenge Unlimited Inc

Alton, IL

The nonprofit corporation was originally founded as Specialized Services, Inc., (now Challenge Unlimited) formed by concerned parents of children with disabilities. The parents wanted their adult children to participate in some form of productive activity and hopefully gain vocational experiences that would lead to employment. 

Specialized Services, Inc., opened its doors to provide services to six individuals. It was initially funded by contributions from parents, concerned citizens, and local businesses. With a growing need, Specialized Services secured a grant from the Department of Mental Health and grew rapidly to 50 participants. A new building was purchased to provide additional services to individuals with disabilities.

The agency began providing production services as a subcontracted business solution for local companies. Individuals with a disability were able to work according to each person’s abilities under a special minimum wage certificate.

Tom Moehn is hired as President and CEO with a vision for community integration. 

Specialized Services, Inc., with a renewed vision to develop human potential through work related opportunities grows to become a social enterprise with the expansion of its production services and the launch of the custodial services line of business employing individuals with disabilities. 

Residential Services of Madison County, an Affiliate Organization, was formed with a single group home. The State of Illinois requested that the agency take over a large residential facility in Troy, IL. That facility was downsized and ICF-DD and CILA homes were built to provide 12 homes for approximately 100 residents. This company is now known as Residential Options, Inc.

Through a partnership with NISH, the company expanded its social business model to provide Facility Management Services to the Federal Government. The first contract was at Scott Air Force Base. 

Specialized Services rebrands and becomes Challenge Unlimited, Inc.

Alpha Industries was formed as an affiliate organization of Challenge Unlimited. The nonprofit organization was created to broaden production service contracts while creating work related opportunities for individuals with economic, cognitive, social and educational disadvantages. 

President & CEO, Tom Moehn, retires after 46 years of service impacting thousands of lives.

Challenge Unlimited hires Charlotte Hammond as President and CEO to further expand and increase the footprint for inclusion and integration in the community for people with a disability.

Challenge Unlimited receives 2013 St. Louis Regional Chamber Arcus Award for Achievement in Economic Inclusion.

Challenge Unlimited expands its footprint to Ohio, South Carolina, Indiana, and Texas.

Job Specifications

Location

Alton, IL

Salary

24.45 - 24.45 HOUR

Published

6 days ago

Type

Full Time

Career Level

Mid Level

College Degree

Bachelor's Degree

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Community Day Services Manager/ QIDP


We are seeking a Community Day Services Manager/QIDP  at Challenge Unlimited, Inc., in Alton, IL.

Would you like to be a part of helping individuals with disabilities work, live, and participate in the community? Challenge Unlimited, Inc. is the perfect place for you to work. Come join our team! Challenge Unlimited, Inc., has over 60 years of experience serving individuals with disabilities while earning a reputation as a trusted business partner to private commercial companies and federal and state government agencies.

  • Pay Rate: $24.45 per hour + Great Benefits
  • Shifts: Full-time/ 8:00am-4:00pm, Monday- Friday flexible to job demands  Occasional (<5%) evenings/ weekends.
  • Location: Alton, Illinois

Position Summary
Challenge Unlimited is seeking a Community Day Services Manager/QIDP to provide case management and person-centered services for individuals with disabilities. This role develops and implements individualized service plans, monitors progress toward goals, ensures regulatory compliance, and supports clients in achieving greater independence through community integration, vocational activities, and skill development.

Key Responsibilities 
  • Promote person-centered services while providing high quality care in a community-based setting for individuals with disabilites with  a high rate of client satisfaction. Communicate with clients regarding the progress toward goals and program success which can include assisting the clients with vocational, personal, social, guardianship or advocacy needs. Coordinate additional assistance from staff, client family members or guardians, residential providers and other service providers as needed. Assist, as assigned, but not limited to program needs such as lunch duty, med pass, bus calls, and bus monitor duties. 
  • Develop person centered client programming, evaluate progress, and maintain supporting documentation. Establish implementation strategies, goals and objectives with clients and applicable family/guardians/residential provider etc. Write new person-centered plans and update existing plans. Monitor progress and document behaviors, incidents, and service activity. Review staff documentation and file all plans, reports and forms in case files and Quantum per procedures. Educate clients, family/guardians/providers and other service providers regarding maintaining benefits as applicable. Ensure all documentation is maintained according to regulatory specifications. 
  • Supervise the provision of facility based and community-based services, training and integration opportunities. Assist with the development of integration opportunities for clients as determined through the person-centered plan. Assist in coordinating the assignment of appropriate work, training or activities for clients and ensure that proper training, supervision, and transportation, if needed is provided. 
  • Supplement staff efforts, or fill in for absent  staff as needed, by assisting with all client needs. Transport clients as needed for community integrated outings, employment or ot her appointments using a company vehicle or personal insured vehicle. 
  • Assist with hiring, training, and empowering of team members to effectively oversee their areas of responsibility. Encourage effective outcomes and accountability. Communicate job expectations. Evaluate team for continual improvement, efficiency, and effectiveness as assigned. Initiate, coordinate, and enforce systems, policies and procedures. Mentor and develop the team members through training, problem resolution, and performance evaluation. Communicate regularly with staff on client updates, and workplace changes. Build and support an effective Company culture that embodies our Company values to achieve optimum performance levels and achieve goals and objectives .
Qualifications 
  • Education: Bachelors degree in a human services-related field required (Psychology, Sociology, Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Communicative  Disorders, Recreation Therapy, Criminal Justice/Criminology, Physical Therapist, Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist)  or a Registered Nurse 
  • Experience: 1+ years of experience with people with Developmental Disabilities. Must be approved by IL Department of Human Services to meet Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional requirement. 
  • Certifications/Licenses: CPR, 1st Aid, Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), QIDP and Direct Support Person (DSP) training provided by the company must be successfully completed within the first 4 months to be certified and annually thereafter for CPR, 1st Aid and CPI to maintain the position.  
  • Computers: Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook. 
  • Background Checks: Must pass various State and Federal registry checks, Criminal Background check, DCFS Abuse and Neglect Tracking System Check. 
  • Driving: Must have a Valid Drivers License. Use of personal insured vehicle for Company related travel is required.  May occasionally drive Company vehicle to transport clients for community work or activities or for meetings. Must pass driving history check and Company policy criteria, maintain valid driver’s license, auto insurance and be 21 or older to drive company vehicle on Company business
Benefits 
  • Life Insurance 
  • Medical with Rx & Vision 
  • Dental 
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability 
  • Supplemental Term Life 
  • Paid time off for Holidays, Vacation, Personal and Sick Days 
  • Funeral Leave 
  • 401K 
  • Mileage Reimbursement. 
Physical Demands  
  • Sitting: Occasionally sitting in the normal course of office-sedentary type work. 
  • Standing: Frequently standing, walking, bending, squatting, reaching, and twisting in the normal course of office-sedentary type work and for training workers.  
  • Hearing, Speaking: Frequently listening to and speaking with managers, staff, and clients to communicate about requests, training needs and other concerns.
  • Seeing: Continually visually alert to monitor, to read and write or type documents, observe employee and client interactions, and communicate with all
  • Handling: Frequently using hands in writing and typing, and general office work. 
  • Movement: Kneeling required to perform CPR practice sessions, complete skills testing and use as required. Occasionally bending, reaching, and twisting; occasionally climbing stairs and/or ladders squatting; occasionally pushing/ pulling a rolling pallet jack loaded with product.
  • Lifting: May need to lift or carry up to 50 lbs. to assist a client to their feet from a lying or sitting position, to help with walking or for the Client to change positions.

EOE Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.