110-04 Direct Support Professional

About the role

The Direct Support Professional is responsible for the daily care, supervision, and safety of developmentally disabled individuals in both residential and community settings. This includes ensuring overnight awake coverage is alert and responsive to the needs of individuals, implementing Individual Support Plans (ISP) and Behavioral Management Plans, and following through on assignments set by the Residential House Manager.

Schedule

Full-Time: 40 Hours

• Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Monday: 2:00 PM – 11:00 PM
• Tuesday: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Wednesday: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
• Friday: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Pay

Pay rate: $17.50–$19.00 per hour. Paid training provided by Venture.

Responsibilities

• Monitor individuals for health and safety.
• Safely evacuate individuals from residence in the event of fire or disaster.
• Physically assist individuals, as needed, in transfers and carries (both ambulatory and non-ambulatory), including lifting individuals weighing 150–250 pounds.
• Physically escort or restrain individuals during emergency situations or behavioral episodes.
• Assist with bathing and personal hygiene tasks.
• Educate, supervise, and monitor individual self-medication programs.
• Train individuals in goals and objectives specified in ISP and behavior plans.
• Assist with scheduling and transportation for medical appointments.
• Educate and assist individuals with meal preparation, food shopping, and finances (banking, receipts, purchasing, and record-keeping).
• Transport, accompany, and supervise individuals to/from their place of worship.
• Maintain records and document daily data.
• Perform daily housekeeping and cleaning duties (laundry, dishes, mopping, sweeping, snow shoveling, and reporting repair/maintenance needs).
• Overnight Awake staff: Clean common areas and bathrooms.
• Overnight Asleep staff: Assist with morning routines; if required to assist during overnight hours, will be paid the Direct Care rate if they have not had 5 uninterrupted hours of sleep.
• Write, evaluate, and assess individuals for programmatic planning.
• Work a flexible schedule based on programmatic coverage, including weekends, holidays, and emergencies.
• Implement Agency policies and procedures as defined in the Agency Policy and Procedure Manual.
• Maintain confidentiality and a positive demeanor while managing multiple priorities.
• Coordinate and assist with planning leisure activities.
• Provide emergency coverage, including overnight shifts.
• Perform duties of individual advocacy.
• Assist individuals during end-of-life care, including palliative and Hospice-based supports.
• Remain on duty after scheduled hours if not relieved by oncoming staff.
• Attend weekly staff meetings (full-time staff only) and participate verbally and in writing.

Specialized Responsibilities

Direct Care staff may be assigned specific responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Advocate:
  • Full-time staff will advocate for one individual in the home.
  • Prepare Advocate Agenda for staff meetings and lead discussions.
  • Prepare all data and documentation for End of Month submission.
  • Ensure all records are complete, neat, and in proper order.
  • Assure all medical, dental, personal, and social needs are met.
• Safety Officer:
  • Perform safety checks of the home, van, and grounds using a safety checklist and report at staff meetings.
  • Attend quarterly Safety Committee meetings.
  • Report general and seasonal safety issues.
  • Maintain ongoing focus on safety and best practices within the program.
• Healthy Eating Officer:
  • Comply with Agency standards outlined in the Nutritional Healthy Eating Policy and Procedure.
  • Participate in ‘Food for Health’ training.
  • Prepare weekly menus in compliance with dietary orders/needs of individuals.
  • Lead staff meeting discussions around healthy eating.
  • Prepare shopping lists and maintain a healthy pantry/freezer.
  • Role model healthy eating practices (e.g., meal preparation and demonstrations).

Marginal Duties

• Handle other job-related duties as requested, in compliance with Agency policy.
• Review weekly staff meeting notes and provide input into the meeting agenda.

Physical and Mental Requirements

• Maintain certifications in First Aid, CPR, MAP, and PABC.
• Complete Agency Orientation.
• Ensure the program maintains standards outlined by the Department of Developmental Services, the agency Mission Statement, the Survey and Certification Tool, and Performance-Based Objectives.
• Obtain and maintain certification in Applied Non-Violence.
• Work a flexible schedule based on programmatic coverage, including weekends, holidays, and emergencies.
• Never engage in actions that jeopardize the care and safety of individuals.
• Ability to advocate for and establish rapport with disabled individuals, their families, co-workers, and service providers.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or G.E.D.
• Must be 21+ years old.
• Valid driver’s license and daily use of a car on-site (preferred but not required).
• Available by telephone for daily contact.