Job Description

DIVISION: Community Living

REPORTS TO: Community Living Program Manager

SUPERVISES: None

EXEMPTION STATUS: Non-Exempt

The Shift Supervisor (SS) is the lead staff member on shift within a Community Living home and serves as the Program Manager’s on-site extension. While the Shift Supervisor does not hold formal supervisory authority for employment decisions, they provide daily oversight, training, coaching, and direction to Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to ensure safe, consistent, and high-quality services.

Shift Supervisors play a critical role in maintaining daily structure, accountability, and continuity of care. They model expectations, ensure required tasks are completed, support client engagement, and escalate concerns to the Program Manager. This role is essential to the smooth operation of the home. This is a safety-sensitive position. Shift Supervisors must be able to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, including maintaining continuous alertness, providing direct supervision, driving individuals served as required, and administering medications as trained.

Shift Supervisors implement supports using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), working in close collaboration with Behavioral Clinicians to carry out evidence-based interventions, skill-building programs, and behavior support strategies with fidelity.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Dignity First

· Models respectful, trauma-informed interactions with individuals served

· Ensures DSPs maintain professional conduct and respectful language

· Addresses concerns immediately when dignity, safety, or respect is compromised

· Ensures individuals feel safe, supported, and valued throughout the shift

Person-Centered Outcomes

· Ensures BSPs, ISPs, and daily routines are followed as written

· Models and reinforces person-centered language, choice, and autonomy

· Supports DSPs in implementing individualized supports consistently

· Ensures client needs, preferences, and goals are reflected in daily activities

· Implements behavior support and skill-building interventions using ABA principles and evidence-based practices

· Maintains fidelity to clinical programming and seeks clarification when plans are unclear or barriers arise

Connected Community

· Models and encourages meaningful client engagement and relationship-building

· Supports participation in community outings and activities when scheduled

· Reinforces inclusive practices and positive social interactions

· Communicates relevant observations to the Program Manager

Whole Person Support

· Supports daily living activities, health needs, and behavioral supports as required

· Observes staff implementation of supports and provides real-time coaching

· Assists with monitoring client well-being and reports concerns promptly

· Supports medication routines and health-related tasks per training and policy

· Transports individuals served to appointments, outings, and community activities as required

· Administers medications and completes MAR documentation in accordance with training, physician orders, and BHA policy

Empowerment Through Daily Life

· Encourages client independence through daily routines and activities

· Assists DSPs in using everyday moments as skill-building opportunities

· Reinforces positive progress and effort for individuals served

· Helps maintain structured, predictable routines within the home

Integrity In Action

· Ensures required documentation is completed accurately and on time for all employees on shift

· Audits shift reviews, event reports and Medication Administration Records (MAR) daily and follows up with DSPs on missing or incomplete entries

· Ensures daily checklists are completed, including cleaning, documentation, and safety tasks

· Reports concerns, incidents, or compliance issues to the Program Manager

· Upholds BHA policies, procedures, and ethical standards

· Works closely with Behavioral Clinicians (BCBAs/Behavior Specialists) to implement BSPs, skill-acquisition programs, and environmental strategies

· Participates in coaching, modeling, and feedback to improve ABA implementation and outcomes

Collaborative Teamwork

· Provides on-shift training, coaching, guidance, and support to DSPs

· Assists with on-the-job training for new or developing staff

· Communicates clearly with the Program Manager regarding shift issues, staffing, or performance concerns

· Completes delegated tasks assigned by the Program Manager

· Supports a positive, respectful, and team-oriented shift culture

· Collaborates with nursing and clinical team to ensure proper and effective person centered supports

Consistency and Compassion

· Ensures staffing assignments are followed and attendance is verified at the start of each shift

· Reports staffing gaps immediately and assists in identifying coverage

· Assists with filling shifts when needed by contacting available staff

· Maintains calm, steady leadership during high-stress or crisis situations

· Supports crisis response using approved PCM techniques

Daily & Weekly Operational Responsibilities

· Audit and follow up on daily shift reviews, MAR’s and event reports

· Audit and follow up on client expenses, ensuring all receipts are uploaded and documented as outlined to BHA standards

· Ensure daily cleaning, documentation, and safety checklists are completed

· Support staff training and skill reinforcement during shifts

· Assist with grocery planning and ensuring adequate food and household supplies

· Support weekly meal planning and client involvement in meal choices

· Conduct basic safety and environmental checks of the home

· Ensure required forms and logs are completed and escalated as needed

· Implements reinforcement strategies, prompting procedures, and behavior-reduction strategies as outlined in BSPs and clinical programming

· Collects required behavioral and skill-acquisition data accurately and in real time, per clinical direction

Staffing & Shift Coverage Support

· Verifies staff attendance and role assignments at shift start

· Reports call-offs or no-shows immediately to the Program Manager

· Assists with securing coverage for open shifts

· May adjust on-shift task assignments to ensure ratios and safety are maintained

Accountability & Impact

Shift Supervisors are directly accountable for the condition, safety, and daily functioning of the home during their assigned shifts. This role carries ownership, not observation.

Shift Supervisors are accountable for ensuring:

• Required documentation (shift reviews, checklists, logs, MARs, incident reporting) is completed accurately, thoroughly, and on time
• Behavior Support Plans (BSPs), Individual Support Plans (ISPs), and daily routines are followed as written
• The home environment is clean, safe, sanitary, and well-organized throughout the shift
• Safety hazards, cleanliness issues, or environmental concerns are addressed immediately—not simply reported
• Individuals served receive appropriate engagement, supervision, meals, and supports during the shift
• DSPs complete assigned tasks and follow expectations for care, documentation, and professionalism
• Staffing assignments and ratios are maintained and escalated promptly when gaps occur
• Implementation of ABA-based interventions and data collection with fidelity, consistency, and integrity

Shift Supervisors are expected to take action to resolve issues within their control and to escalate concerns appropriately when resolution is not possible at the shift level. Raising concerns does not replace responsibility for corrective action during the shift.

Failure to meet these expectations may result in corrective action, as unresolved documentation, safety, or care issues directly impact client safety, compliance, and service quality.

Other Duties

· Conduct staff training, supervision, and performance evaluations as assigned

· Participate in on-call rotations

· Transition between homes as needed for operational and individual needs

· Complete all documentation, billing, and reporting requirements in accordance with BHA and regulatory guidelines

· Uphold BHA’s mission and values in all work performed

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are required to perform the essential functions of the position. This role is performed primarily within residential home and community settings and involves direct, hands-on work with individuals served. Employees are expected to be physically present, engaged, and able to respond to routine care needs and crisis situations throughout their assigned shifts.

Reasonable accommodations may be made, as required by law, to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions safely and effectively. However, employees must be able to perform the essential duties in a manner that ensures the safety and supervision of persons served at all times.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The working conditions described below represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the Community Living Shift Supervisor role. This position is fully home-based and performed within 24/7 residential environments and community settings. Shift Supervisors are on-site leaders during their assigned shifts and work directly with individuals served while supporting DSPs and daily home operations.

Reasonable accommodations may be made, in accordance with applicable law, to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions safely and effectively.

However, employees must be able to perform the essential duties in a manner that ensures the safety and supervision of persons served at all times.

Additional Conditions and Expectations:

• Employees must maintain professional conduct, emotional regulation, and leadership presence at all times, including during crisis events or exposure to aggressive behaviors.
• Employees must follow all BHA safety protocols, behavior support plans, and crisis intervention procedures.
• Continuous alertness is required to ensure safety and supervision of persons served; sleeping or inattention during supervision is prohibited.
• Employees may be required to work varied hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight shifts, to ensure staffing coverage and continuity of care.
• Employees are required to work directly with individuals served.
• Employees are expected to take immediate action to address safety, cleanliness, engagement, and care concerns within their shift and escalate concerns only when resolution is not possible.
• Employees must maintain confidentiality, respect, and dignity toward all persons served, families, and colleagues, regardless of behavioral presentation.

Fitness for Duty / Medical Evaluation (Job-Related):
BHA may require a job-related fitness-for-duty evaluation consistent with applicable law when there is a reasonable concern that an employee may be unable to safely perform the essential functions of the role (including driving, medication administration, crisis response, and continuous supervision), or as part of return-to-work clearance following certain leaves or incidents.

ACCESS TO PHI: The employee may have access to Protected Health Information (PHI). Employees must always protect the confidentiality of all client information. This includes adhering to all BHA policies and all applicable state and federal regulations regarding Protected Health Information (PHI). Sharing, discussing, or disclosing PHI in any form—verbal, written, electronic, or visual—is strictly prohibited unless explicitly authorized and required for job duties.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENTEqual Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment based on their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination based on their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted so as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America.

ADA STATEMENT: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential job duty. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

ACCOUNTABILITY/IMPACT (Degree of answerability for actions, consequences of errors in judgment, and legal liabilities)Errors in judgment or mistakes could cost the organization loss of revenue, loss of clients, and/or negatively impact BHA’s reputation.

BHA COMMUNITY LIVING CORE VALUES

Dignity First

Person-Centered Living

Connected Community

Whole-Person Support

Empowerment Through Daily Life

Integrity in Action

Collaborative Teamwork

Consistency and Compassion

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

1. Required company trainings.

2. Trainings deemed necessary by supervisor.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience:

· High School Diploma or equivalent required

· Minimum of six (6) months experience in a residential or direct support role required, one (1) year of experience preferred

· Experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities and/or challenging behaviors

· Prior lead, mentor, or informal leadership experience strongly preferred

Skills & Competencies

· Strong ability to model expectations and lead peers by example

· Working knowledge of Behavior Support Plans (BSPs) and Individual Support Plans (ISPs)

· Ability to coach peers respectfully and professionally

· Strong organizational and follow-through skills

· Ability to identify issues and escalate concerns appropriately

· Effective verbal and written communication skills

· Demonstrated reliability, accountability, and professionalism

· Working knowledge of DMH, Medicaid, and Community Living standards

· High accountability and follow-through

· Ability to lead calmly and decisively in high-pressure situations

· Excellent verbal and written communication abilities

· Knowledge of crisis management, safety, and compliance standards

Additional Requirements:

• Must maintain sufficient physical stamina, balance, coordination, and emotional regulation to actively lead within residential homes throughout the duration of a shift.
• Must be able to implement and sustain trained crisis intervention and de-escalation procedures (PCM) safely and effectively.
• Must demonstrate the ability to remain calm, alert, and physically capable during high-stress or physically demanding situations involving individuals with challenging behaviors.
• Must possess the fine motor, gross motor, and sensory abilities necessary to assist with daily living supports, operate household and documentation systems, and respond to emergencies safely and effectively.
• Must be able to safely operate a motor vehicle and transport individuals served in accordance with program requirements and applicable laws.
• Must be able to safely administer medications as trained and authorized, in accordance with BHA policies and regulatory requirements.