Decorah Direct Support Professional

Duties And Responsibilities

• Assists program participants with developing strategies, making informed choices, and following through on responsibilities.
• Encourages program participants to achieve goals and desired outcomes by assisting with the development of programming derived from participants’ preferences, needs, interests, and strengths.
• Provides program participants with information about community resources available to them and helps with increasing the program participants’ ability to self-advocate.
• Drives program participants to and from appointments, events, stores, activities, etc.
• Ensures program participants have access to appropriate resources and helps with coordination of those resources if needed.
• Provides ongoing assessment of program participants to identify needs and support their capabilities, strengths, and preferences.
• Buils rapport with program participants through effective communication based on the participants’ communication style.
• Maintains accurate documentation on program participants by learning and remaining current on appropriate documentation guidelines and electronic documentation systems, developing a system to manage documentation, and setting priorities.
• SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
• Provides crisis intervention as needed to defuse situations, determine appropriate intervention, and contact the necessary support systems.
• Complies with all reporting requirements related to crisis intervention.
• Maintains professional and ethical relationships with program participants, program participant family and friends, co-workers, and other agencies.
• Completes all duties of the job and all work requirements.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED, required.
• A minimum of 1 year related experience, preferred.
• Must be CPR/First Aid and Medication Management certified within 6 months of starting employment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively instruct persons with disabilities.
• Ability to adjust to unexpected or different situations.
• Computer proficiency.
• Reliable cellphone.
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential information.
• Possess a positive attitude and infect others with similar enthusiasm.
• Loyalty to the agency and its mission and policies.
• Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and automobile insurance, required.
• Ability to use good judgment, discretion, and initiative.