For many people living with I/DD, at home support in a group home setting is essential to their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
To provide the best care possible for Individuals, residential supervisors must perform hands-on coordination, management of human resources, and continuous oversight and collaboration with care team professionals, including nurses, physicians, physiotherapists, and psychologists. Assistant residence supervisors are equally vital in their role and often collaborate with supervisors to ensure all job functions are successfully completed.
For example, there are a variety of administrative and logistical functions for which residential and assistant supervisors are responsible. Ultimately, a residential supervisor’s specific role depends on the facility and the needs of its residents. The following information is a breakdown of what to expect when looking for work in either one of these roles.
Roles and Responsibilities of Residential Supervisors
Residence and assistant supervisors help to oversee the day-to-day operations of a group home where people with I/DD live together communally. They serve as the liaison between services, medical care teams, and families. Their primary concern is to ensure that residents live their lives to the best of their ability with all support systems in place, while following individual care plans to help reach their goals.
Supervisors oversee Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) assigned to each house. Supervisors and DSPs help Individuals’ strengthen their daily living skills (including grooming and household tasks), while promoting increased socialization and community inclusion. Individuals also learn about money management, shopping, and other essential areas while building daily routines and communication skills. The role of a Supervisor also involves being an advocate for Individuals, especially when it comes to interacting with clinicians and creating treatment plans. In addition, Supervisors help to build strong relationships with Individuals’ loved ones and family members, providing frequent updates and helping to arrange remote and face-to-face visits.
Human Resources and Other Roles
The human resources management role of residential supervisors encompasses several tasks. In addition to supervising DSPs, they oversee cooking staff and maintenance personnel. They also help to schedule and train staff, conduct performance evaluations, and work with union and non-union employees to resolve any conflicts that may occur.
Administrative roles include documenting and writing reports regarding Individuals’ progress, liaising with Accounts Payable about any expenses that are incurred, scheduling and attending staff trainings or meetings with care teams and family members, and managing building maintenance to ensure vendor supplies are current and that the residence always operates safely and successfully.
Additionally, Residence and Assistant Residence Supervisors work with ILA’s Day Hab team and local business owners to help promote inclusion and integrate Individuals into their surrounding communities.
Why Become a Residence or Assistant Residence Supervisor?
The critical role of Residence and Assistant Residence Supervisors cannot be underestimated. While the work may be challenging, the rewards are immeasurable, as Individuals learn vital skills that enable them to thrive.
Independent Living Association has provided support to people with I/DD for over thirty years.
ILA operates close to forty group homes or IRAs (Individualized Residential Alternatives) throughout New York City, providing nurturing environments where people with I/DD integrate with others, learn essential life skills, assimilate within their community, and develop self-confidence through continuous positive reinforcement. If you are interested in joining the ILA team, please visit the Agency’s website to learn more.
