Direct Support Professional - Adult Care - IRA and other locations

About the role

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) plays a crucial role in supporting individuals to enhance their independence and create a safe, therapeutic environment. This position offers evening and overnight shifts with a shift differential, and both full-time, part-time, and per diem positions are available.

Responsibilities

• Care of Individuals
• Employs procedures maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment.
• Provides direct care to individuals according to agency policy.
• Implements appropriate supervision to assigned daily schedules, including routines and life skills activities.
• Completes required documentation in compliance with Agency, Medicaid, and OPWDD standards.
• Dispenses medication per agency policy.
• Safely transports individuals as assigned per level of supervision required.
• Aids assigned individuals with specific tasks as designated by individual treatment plans.
• Participates in the treatment team or recommendation process.
• Assists in personal care of individuals.
• Affirms appropriate boundaries.
• Adheres to the DSP Code of Ethics.
• Demonstrates the ability to meet the OPWDD Core Competency standards.
• Successfully completes all required trainings.
• Maintains current with all required trainings.
• Policies and Procedures
• Learns and practices agency policies and procedures.
• Learns and implements each individual treatment plan, including physical interventions, and documents and makes proper notifications according to procedures.
• Provides coverage as assigned.
• Remains on-duty until properly briefed and appropriate parameters are met.
• Supervision
• Actively participates in supervision.
• Participates in agency and other staff development opportunities as assigned.
• Attains and actively participates in all assigned trainings.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings.
• Agency Responsibilities
• Engages in all living unit, service, and/or department planning and goal attainment.
• Participates in activities and committees.
• Changes work location to meet agency needs.
• Adheres to redeployment assignments.
• Maintains appropriate attendance and punctuality.
• Communication
• Reviews and signs off on all logs and thoroughly completes briefing.
• Completes all necessary communications, documentations, and loggings.
• Properly notifies and/or consults with the Administrator on Duty (AOD).
• Proactively and effectively liaises with other disciplines, internal and external Service Providers, and families as appropriate.
• Utilizes chain of command as assigned and completes section of monthly report.
• Maintains professionalism.
• Engages in appropriate workplace conversations.
• Environment of Care
• Completes assigned cleanup procedures, checklists, and schedules.
• Proactively and effectively liaises with Maintenance, House Manager, Coordinators, Direct Support Supervisors, and Directors.
• Runs routine in the absence of other team members when necessary.
• Supports Quality Assurance Quality Improvement directives.
• Other Responsibilities
• Completes other responsibilities as properly assigned by supervisor or designee.
• When required, assures and assists with supervision of all individuals served.
• Promotes and supports cultural diversity and competence and is strength-based.

Note: The list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive, and other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned from time to time as business needs require.

Abilities and Working Conditions

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must be able to be mobile in a multiple story building, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Willingness to respond to the needs of a culturally diverse population.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• All positions including overnights are AWAKE positions.
• Basic knowledge of computer systems and ability to use basic computer systems (email, internet, data collection).
• Ability to deal positively with changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Display a positive, professional, and proactive attitude to accomplish quality work that is in line with the agency’s mission statement.
• Seek opinions, alternative viewpoints in decision making.
• Understand and respect the expertise and experience of others, appreciate the different views, and the perspective and limitations of other individuals.
• Exhibits a professional, courteous demeanor with internal and external constituents.

Required Education, Knowledge, and Skills

• High School Diploma/GED.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean MVR to ensure ability to drive agency vehicles.
• Medication certified within the provisional period.
• Ability to write legibly.
• Ability to communicate effectively with other disciplines and individuals served.
• Ability to perform physical interventions.
• Basic computer skills.

Compensation

$18+ an hour based on experience and education.