Community Bridger

**PURPOSE** **OF POSITION**:
Under the general direction of the Community Bridging Coordinator and/or Manager of Community Support Services, the **Community Bridger**: facilitates and supports the individual in becoming aware of the community; facilitates increasing inclusion of individual into the community; facilitates and supports the individual in making informed choices; encourages and facilitates the making and maintaining of friendships within the community by the individual; encourages and supports the individual in developing leisure activities; contributes to and supports the implementation of annual service plans and individual training plans for each individual; completes various observations notes, records, expense claims, timesheets, and reports.

**TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**:
Under the general direction of the Community Bridging Coordinator, the incumbent in this position will be required to:
**_Promote and support the individual in becoming aware of the community by:_**
- providing the individual with information regarding self-advocates roles, rights, expectations and benefits of being a part of the local community
- arranging and supporting the individual in opportunities to become familiar with and involved in the community
- encouraging and supporting the individual in exploring the community
- providing the individual with a broad spectrum of community experiences including the various cultures, amenities, facilities, etc.

**_ Facilitate increasing inclusion of individual into the community by:_**
- working with the individual to identify the breadth of choices that are available for inclusion into the community
- assisting the individual in identifying his/her needs, desires, and goals
- identifying the approaches, resources, opportunities etc. that are available in meeting these needs, desires, etc.
- explaining and assisting the individual in meeting community expectations
- introducing and supporting the individual in meeting and relating appropriately to the providers of activities services, etc.
- assisting and supporting the individual in the recognition, development and practice of appropriate social skills and behaviours
- ensuring that the community is aware and open to the individual’s inclusion
- determining with the individual, the level of satisfaction and/or inclusion the individual experienced

**_Facilitate and support the individuals in making informed choices by:_**
- helping the individual identify areas where decisions and choices can or must be made and promote self advocacy
- encouraging and assisting the individual in gathering information
- instructing and assisting the individual in the development of options and alternatives
- helping the individual evaluate the alternative choices and options
- assisting the individual in evaluating the results and modifying future decisions

**_Encourage and facilitate the making and maintaining of friendships within the community by the individual by:_**
- promoting and supporting meaningful personal relationships with community members
- providing advocacy, personal choice and expression
- providing opportunities for the individual to meet appropriate individuals
- assisting the individual in recognizing the variety of relationships that are available
- encouraging the individual to build relationships based on the individual’s strengths, interests, qualities, and values
- identifying, with the individual’s input, those relationships that are essential, those that are freedom of choice and those that are mutually beneficial
- assisting the individual in expanding his/her circle of friends and acquaintances
- assisting the individual in dealing with relationships that might have a sexual content

**_Encourage and support the individual in developing leisure activities by:_**
- exposing the individual to various options
- securing the necessary approvals from family, guardian, supervisor, etc.
- encouraging and assisting the individual in pursuit of his/her choice of activities
- assessing the individual’s satisfaction with the activity
- making suggestions and working with the individual to modify, as required, the individual’s participation in chosen activity

**_Contribute to and support the implementation of annual service plans and individual training plans for each individual by:_**
- participating in the development of these plans
- identifying opportunities for attaining and/or contributing to the attainment of the goals
- measuring progress, and reporting as required after each activity and in regular monthly and quarterly assessments
- suggesting methods and approaches that may be more effective in implementing the plans and meeting the objectives
- supporting other staff in their endeavours to make the individual successful
- maintaining open communication with the Coordinator, Manager and guardians
- participate in the completion of, and regular review, of the Workplace & Individual Hazard r