Life Skills Development Level 1 – Companion Specialist

Position Summary

The Life Skills Development Level 1 (LSD-1) Companion Specialist provides nonmedical care, supervision, socialization, and community-based support to adults aged 21 and older with developmental disabilities.

The primary purpose of this position is to promote independence, personal choice, community inclusion, and meaningful participation in everyday activities.

Services must directly support the individual’s goals identified in their Person-Centered Support Plan and comply with Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) iBudget Medicaid Waiver requirements.

The Companion Specialist encourages individuals to develop greater independence and access community resources with reduced reliance on paid support.

Community Integration and Socialization

• Assist individuals in accessing community resources and activities.
• Encourage participation in recreational, cultural, educational, and social activities.
• Support the development of appropriate social interactions and relationships.
• Assist individuals in identifying community activities based on their interests and preferences.
• Encourage independent decision-making and personal choice.
• Promote inclusion and opportunities to establish natural community supports.

Individual Support and Supervision

• Provide appropriate nonmedical supervision based on individual needs.
• Maintain awareness of each individual’s health, safety, and environmental needs.
• Encourage individuals to make informed decisions about daily activities.
• Respect individual rights, dignity, privacy, and personal preferences.
• Provide support without unnecessarily limiting independence.
• Follow established safety procedures and individual support guidelines.

Person-Centered Services

• Review and understand the individual’s Person-Centered Support Plan.
• Provide services directly related to the individual’s authorized goals.
• Encourage progress toward increased independence in community participation.
• Implement appropriate strategies identified in the individual’s support documentation.
• Communicate concerns or changes in individual needs to the Program Manager.
• Coordinate with the individual’s support team as directed.

Documentation and Recordkeeping

• Maintain accurate service documentation for all services provided.
• Record actual dates, beginning and ending times, and activities.
• Document services in accordance with APD iConnect requirements.
• Ensure documentation reflects authorized services and established goals.
• Complete required service logs within organizational deadlines.
• Maintain confidentiality of individual records and personal information.
• Correct documentation errors according to agency policy without falsifying records.

Health, Safety, and Incident Reporting

• Maintain a safe environment during service delivery.
• Recognize and promptly report health and safety concerns.
• Follow API’s emergency response procedures.
• Immediately notify management of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
• Report incidents according to APD requirements and API policies.
• Follow approved behavior-support procedures when applicable and appropriately trained.
• Maintain appropriate supervision during community activities.

Minimum Qualifications

Based on APD’s published LSD-1 provider qualifications, applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Possess a high school diploma or GED.
• Have at least one year of verifiable experience working directly with individuals in an eligible medical, psychiatric, nursing, childcare, or developmental disability setting.
• Alternatively, meet APD’s education substitution of 30 semester hours, 45 quarter-hours, or 720 classroom hours of qualifying college or vocational education.
• Successfully satisfy applicable Florida background screening requirements.
• Complete all applicable APD-required training within established timeframes.

Required Training and Compliance

Employees must complete and maintain all applicable training required by APD, Medicaid, and Always Promoting Independence, LLC.

This includes applicable training in individual rights, health and safety, incident reporting, abuse prevention, APD iConnect documentation, and other topics required for the position.

Additional specialized training may be required based on the needs of individuals receiving services.

Service Limitations and Restrictions

The Companion Specialist must understand that LSD-1 is a nonmedical companion service, not a substitute for Personal Supports, Supported Employment, or Adult Day Training.

Employees must:

• Provide services only within approved service authorizations.
• Ensure activities relate directly to the individual’s support plan goals.
• Avoid delivering or documenting unauthorized services.
• Avoid duplicating services provided by other Medicaid-funded programs.
• Provide services in settings permitted under the iBudget Waiver.
• Follow applicable requirements regarding transportation and community activities.
• Maintain accurate records for Medicaid compliance.

Under the May 2023 iBudget handbook, combined Life Skills Development services are subject to a 56-hour weekly limit. Transportation and travel expenses are included in the Companion service rate rather than separately reimbursed as Companion expenses.

Professional Expectations

All employees are expected to demonstrate professionalism, reliability, compassion, and respect when providing services.

Employees must maintain appropriate professional boundaries, arrive as scheduled, protect confidential information, and communicate effectively with individuals, families, supervisors, and other authorized members of the support team.

Performance Expectations

Successful performance includes consistent delivery of authorized person-centered services, timely and accurate documentation, appropriate supervision, compliance with agency policies, and demonstrated support for each individual’s independence and community participation.