DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL-HOURLY

About the role

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is a member of the clinical team that provides compassionate care and assistance to individuals who struggle with intellectual, developmental, and behavioral health challenges and require assistance to achieve their fullest potential. The DSP provides the assistance necessary to allow the clients we serve to live independently and ensure their wellness, health, and safety.

Responsibilities

• Assists with daily living activities, including but not limited to planning and preparing meals, housekeeping, and assisting with personal hygiene, cleaning.
• Supports the independence of individuals served by providing the assistance necessary to maximize their quality of life.
• Models hope and optimism when encouraging individuals served to achieve their potential.
• Supports persons served in developing relationships and becoming involved in their communities.
• Cultivates a safe and supportive relationship and environment.
• Provides supervision and guidance to individuals served to build skills and competence.
• Documents interactions and activities per policies and procedures.
• Maintains client confidentiality and adheres to the organization’s ethical code.
• Assists in maintaining the well-being and safety of individuals served.
• May assist individuals served with daily medication administration.
• Performs the delivery of services with this organization and our consumers to include: Consumer transportation including, but not limited to, medical appointments, community activities, school/day programming, religious services, and family visits.
• Performs all daily activities within any home setting including, but not limited to, meal preparation, activities of daily living, shopping, household cleaning and maintenance, leisure activities, and consumer outcomes.
• Accurately completes required paperwork to include but not limited to medication logs, daily logs, goal logs, incident reports, sleep / awake charts, weight charts, BM charts, fire drill logs, seizure logs, behavior plan documentation, gas receipts, vehicle logs, consumer funds.
• Accurately completes hours worked through HRIS system to clock in/out.
• Completes required training hours on an annual basis according to the Training year.
• Completes Competency Based Training as needed.
• Attends all scheduled home and office staff meetings.
• Be available for shifts twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days per week as scheduled.
• Assists with on call activities and emergency situations as requested by the Residential manager.
• Responsible for the safety and well-being of all the individuals residing in the home(s).
• Administers consumer medications.
• Works with Lead DSP and Residential Manager to ensure that all the needs of the individuals are met according to their ISP.
• Follows all supervision requirements of consumers as noted in consumer ISP/BSP.
• Assists the Residential Manager with special projects related to the Agency.
• Other duties/tasks as assigned or requested by supervisor or Lead DSP.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience: High School Diploma, GED or equivalent certificate (required). Associate or bachelor's degree (preferred). Minimum 6 months to one (1) year direct experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities or human services field.
• Minimum 3-year clean motor vehicle record and valid driver’s license.
• Clean drug screening.

Job Competencies

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer literacy, experience with Microsoft Office, email, time-recording and other applications.
• Knowledge of trauma, trauma-informed care, and the creation of trauma-informed environments.
• Knowledge of and ability to work with developmentally disabled individuals.
• Excellent documentation and financial/mathematical skills.
• Excellent judgment, problem solving, organizational, and time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with individuals with disabilities, families, co-workers, staff, supervisors, funding sources, and other social service agency personnel.
• Physical ability to fulfill job duties and requirements.
• The ability to supervise and/or assist individuals served of the Residential program.
• The ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Physical ability to fulfill job duties and requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with individuals with disabilities, families, co-workers, staff, supervisors, funding sources, and other social service agency personnel.
• Excellent judgment, problem solving, organizational and time management skills.
• Schedule flexibility.
• Stress Tolerance: Recognize crisis situations and react to such in a calm, mature manner; accept criticism and deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations; and the ability to identify, react to, and report security concerns.
• Completion of all required training including but not limited to CPR and First-Aid.

Equipment/Machines

• Vehicle Requirements: Current driver’s license, vehicle registration and vehicle insurance; Vehicle / wheelchair lifts; Adaptive Equipment; Business use of company equipment to include: telephone, cellular telephone, and home appliances and furnishings.

Physical Demands

• Individual must be able to meet physical requirements of the job: Sitting at a meeting table or desk – Reaching – Lifting – Bending – Standing – Stooping – Twisting - Climbing steps - Driving a vehicle.
• Environment(s) is modern, well-lit office facilities in multiple locations; Multiple levels of stairs with access by elevator.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs or more.

Accident, Health Hazard and Security Knowledge

• Bloodborne Pathogens, Right To Know, HIPAA, Security Acts, Fire & Safety.

Network Functions

• Maintain and abides by OSHA requirements and guidelines.
• Observes all Fire and Safety Policies and Procedures.
• Observes all Personnel Policies and Procedures.
• Observes all Agency’s Policies and Procedures.
• Observes all HIPAA Policies and Procedures and maintains confidentiality.
• Completes and returns all paperwork distributed by the Human Resource Department.
• Attends all required and scheduled trainings and meetings.
• Always maintain a professional demeanor and exercise good professional judgment in all areas of employment duties.
• Documents time worked accurately.