OHI

As a member of the OHI team, you have the opportunity to inspire people to recognize possibilities and lead meaningful lives in the greater Bangor area and six Maine counties. Employment in direct support is not about being a caretaker or monitor but rather nurturing and encouraging people to reach for their dreams. At times the challenges may seem insurmountable, but the reward that comes from helping another person achieve personal excellence outweighs opposition many times over.

Excellence

Ask any OHI employee what it is that we stand for, and he or she can sum it up in one word: Excellence. From our direct support services to the training and education we offer, OHI strives to be the best. In doing so, we enable the people we support to reach their fullest potential and achieve goals they may never have known were within their reach. At OHI, we truly do believe Everything is Possible.

Extended Family

OHI is a close-knit community. Many employees feel they belong to a second family here. From Direct Support Professionals to the CEO, everyone here has a voice. We encourage ideas to be shared and explored.

Some of our staff have been with us for more than 20 years and have worked in many facets of the organizations. Paid, in-house training is offered through our Professional Development Department. No prior experience is necessary. We ask only that you bring with you a genuine desire to help others.

Belief in Mission

Our mission to inspire people to recognize possibilities and lead meaningful lives is one every employee here believes in fulfilling. To ensure that this mission continues, we need people like you to join us. We need smart, motivated people who enjoy being part of a team, and above all, want to enrich the lives of others. Become a member of our family today, and you will see that truly Everything is Possible.

We believe Everything is Possible, and everyone can be successful with the right combination of quality support services.

Choice is Essential

We believe choice is essential and all people should:

- Be supported in ways that help them achieve individual goals, realize lifelong dreams, and attain the highest quality of life possible.
- Be able to choose and design their own lifestyles, with help from whomever they choose.
- Be supported to whatever extent is necessary to choose and manage their own property, possessions, and time.
- Be supported to whatever extent is necessary so they can lease or own a home in their community.
- Be able to live with whomever they choose.
- Be supported in whatever ways are necessary to develop skills and obtain/maintain a job of their choice in their community.
- Be encouraged to develop supportive relationships with their families, friends, neighbors, and other community members so everyone learns more about diversity and acceptance and about how to approach the world with courage and determination.
- Be encouraged to develop and nurture natural supports in the community.
- Value the unlimited possibilities in others and recognize everyone’s potential to learn, develop and grow.

Rights Must Be Protected

We believe everyone’s rights must be protected, and those rights include:

- The right to be treated with respect.
- The right to enjoy a fulfilling life, free from ridicule, embarrassment, and discrimination.
- The right to work, live and play in their community.
- The right to age in their place of choice.
- We should use the most positive and least restrictive supports and interactions as we provide support services.
- We must always advocate for the people we support and encourage them to advocate for themselves.
- We at OHI, along with guardians, families, community members, and the state and federal governments, all have a responsibility to protect those rights.

Professional Employees Key To Success

We believe professional employees are the key to our success, and:

- Their value is immeasurable, making them our greatest asset.
- They are multi-faceted professionals who deserve on-going training in many areas.
- All OHI employees should be flexible.
- All OHI employees should be team players who focus on partnership and collaboration.
- Our employees need to be members of provider and professional networks.
- Ethics should be the foundation of all decisions made and actions taken by OHI employees and its Board of Directors, contractors, and volunteers.
- We should communicate with each other with concern and respect.
- We believe a positive outlook is crucial and that a positive work environment is essential to the well-being of OHI, the people it supports, and its employees.

Education is Vital

We believe that education is vital to everything we do and:

- We must continually educate the people we support and their family members, guardians, neighbors, and employers, so they can advocate effectively for themselves and others.
- OHI staff must take advantage of training and educational opportunities and seek information about trends in public policy, programs, research, and funding to provide the highest quality service and contribute to the field on all levels — local, regional, national and global.

Safe Homes & Workplaces

We believe everyone should feel safe in their homes & workplaces, so we:

- Encourage the people we support to make safe, healthy, legal, and informed choices about all aspects of life. We help them do so in any way we can.
- Do everything we can to provide a safe, healthy atmosphere for our employees and our employees.

Continuous Improvement

We believe continual improvement is vital to our mission, and we must:

- Constantly strive to assess, develop, and expand our knowledge and capabilities to provide the highest quality of support.
- Continually re-dedicate ourselves to our philosophy that Everything is Possible.

The OHI philosophy that Everything is Possible makes a big difference in the lives of the people we support and in the lives of our OHI employees, too. At OHI, you’ll have many opportunities to learn new skills and to set and reach goals that challenge you, all with the support of people who are willing to share what they know, to listen to your ideas and to help you succeed.

Make a Difference in People’s Lives

OHI offers you the opportunity to work for a highly-respected social service organization in the greater Bangor area with a mission you can believe in and values you share. Make a difference in the lives of people with mental illness, co-occuring disorders and/or intellectual disabilities — people often misunderstood by others in their communities. Advocate for social equality, acceptance and justice for all people.

And, we offer:

- Competitive benefits
- Life insurance
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Paid holidays
- Personal paid leave time
- Mileage reimbursement
- Education/certification opportunities
- Certifications in the College of Direct Support, first aid, CPR, Mental Health Support Specialist and Certified Residential Medication Aide (CRMA).
- Clinical experience toward LSW licensure
- Paid training on a variety of topics
- Advocacy/membership opportunities
- Committee and task force positions within OHI and statewide that affect support services provided to people with disabilities
- Attendance at state and national conferences and legislative hearings
- Membership in the National Association of Direct Support Professionals
- Career advancement

Many members of the OHI management team started out as Direct Support Professionals!

Team atmosphere

At OHI, we share information, experiences, responsibilities, concerns and joys as well as celebrate at annual picnics, events and holiday gatherings. There are also opportunities to join activities and travel with the people we support, and to experience great times at the Special Olympics, Camp Capella and more.