A group home coordinator provides a high quality of services to the residents of either a specific group home which meets special needs or several designated apartment locations. The coordinator identifies the needs and interests of residents and creates activities for them. A group home coordinator position is closely related to the positions of facilities manager or human services assistant.

Mission

The group home coordinator ensures the rights of all home residents are respected. The coordinator enforces the rules and provides guidance and support for residents regarding quality of living. The coordinator encourages residents to participate in activities like outings, trips, social and community forums and other events.

Duties

A group home coordinator must review a log which documents any activities that happened overnight. If the home is a large complex, the coordinator receives briefings on specific events regarding the home. The coordinator is also responsible for scheduling maintenance requests and coordinating with a maintenance technician or team. If the home has a dining facility, the coordinator must ensure that menus are posted. The coordinator must also ensure that the daily and monthly activities schedule is current.

Skills

A group home coordinator must have problem solving skills and the ability to comfort residents. Being a “people” person is a necessity, since residents, personnel and visitors are coming and going from the home at various intervals. Knowledge of computer application software such as Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft Word is critical. The coordinator must be able to write reports and memos and use email to correspond with residents. An ability to create filing systems is also necessary, along with archiving database records and updating resident listing information.

Environment

Depending on the size of the organization, a group home coordinator can work an overnight shift or designate a responsible tenant to oversee building operations after a certain time of day, usually evenings. The coordinator typically works a 40-hour week, but can be on call for after-hours emergencies.

Education and Salary

The educational requirements can be an associate's or bachelor's degree in management or facilities administration. The salary for a group home coordinator with one to four years of experience is $61,516 to $90,125, as of June 2010, according to www.payscale.com.