Direct Support Professional V

About the role

The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the daily operations and delivery of quality programs and services provided on the assigned home.
• Arranges work schedules to ensure adequate supervision/coverage based upon levels of supervision and levels of direct care of individuals served.
• Provides leadership to, and plans, assigns and supervises the activities of DSPs on the home.
• Hires, trains, and promotes professional growth of assigned DSPs so that a competent workforce is maintained.
• Ensures that all assigned staff are compliant in training per agency and facility standards.
• Reviews essential job functions, performance expectations, coaches job performance, and provides supportive and constructive feedback.
• Conducts performance evaluations of assigned staff to give employees timely feedback on their performance and oversees staff development plans and activities.
• Takes action to improve employee retention and reduce turnover.
• Trains and utilizes DSP IV “Charge” staff effectively to manage each shift.
• Ensures the DSP IV “Charge” effectively monitors habilitation, behavior management, crisis intervention, mealtime coordination, and other plans.
• Models for and coaches DSP IV “Charge” staff to build their supervisory and leadership skills.
• Ensures that care, treatment, training, and support activities are completed and documented on the assigned home according to individual plans.
• Ensures sufficient active treatment/engagement materials are always available for the individuals’ safe and therapeutic use.
• Works collaboratively with other staff assigned to the home such as in the areas of QIDP services, behavioral health, and active treatment/vocational services to ensure integrated services and programming.
• Attends Interdisciplinary Team Meetings (IDTs) and participates in the development and implementation of individuals’ plans.
• Ensures Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) understand and are adequately trained to implement the plans.
• Provides consultation, guidance, and support to staff to build capacity for working with individuals who exhibit challenging behaviors.
• Provides behavioral intervention strategies to ensure that individuals are protected from harm or injury and appropriately manages aggressive behavior between individuals.
• Models how to work with individuals who have complex needs and who exhibit aggressive and/or self-injurious behaviors.
• Guides staff to adapt to changing populations and needs and develops and implements strategies to meet those needs.
• Ensures proper management and supervision of staff and their assigned duties to ensure that individuals are free from physical and emotional harm.
• Ensures ongoing and respectful interaction between the staff and the individuals.
• Maintains a physical presence on the home to ensure optimal quality of life for the individuals.
• Supervises monitors and documents the activities of DSPs.
• Praises staff for positive performance, creating an environment where staff feel safe to ask for help and guidance, while intervening to correct mistakes in real time when necessary.
• Ensures the health care needs of individuals are met, under the supervision of medical personnel.
• Administers first aid to individuals as appropriate.
• Conducts emergency drills on a monthly basis, such as CPR drills, fire drills, ensuring all staff know their role in a true emergency.
• Reports and ensures DSPs report significant changes in individuals’ physical conditions and/or behavior to designated personnel.
• Ensures that the home is maintained as a safe and sanitary living environment for individuals.
• Ensures infection control and risk management policies and procedures are correctly implemented.
• Ensures that individuals’ environment is free of safety hazards by correcting and reporting hazards, entering work orders for maintenance issues, and teaching and overseeing others to do the same.
• Ensures the assigned home is engaged in continuous quality improvement and compliance with the Department of Justice Settlement Agreement.
• Oversees and ensures the reporting of unusual incidents such as fires, abuse of individuals, injuries, and unauthorized departures.
• Review documentation following significant events.
• Identifies areas of needed change and makes recommendations to improve operations to the Unit Director.
• Provides guidance and assistance to DSP staff to understand and implement program procedures, policies, and laws, such as the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).
• Ensures proper procedures are followed in Abuse & Neglect investigations, and follow-up assignments are completed in a timely manner for any administrative concerns identified in such investigations.
• Ensures that identified issues are responded to promptly.
• Ensures proper supports are put in place as directed.
• Attends routine meetings such as scheduling meetings, morning unit/home meetings and staff meetings and follows up with issues generated from meetings.
• Prepares required reports and other documentation.
• Attends other meetings, serves on committee, and performs other specific tasks, such as providing assistance in transporting of individuals going on scheduled activities and in emergency situations when directed by the Assistant Unit Director/Unit Director or other SSLC Leadership.
• Serves as the Assistant Unit Director/Unit Director in his/her absence, as assigned.

Qualifications

Requires a High School Diploma or GED. Requires a minimum of 5 years of experience in a related field, including 3 years of supervisory experience. Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License.

Skills

Must have strong verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to speak and read English. Must be able to make decisions and use good judgment when dealing with critical incidents. Must be able to react quickly and calmly in an emergency. Must have strength and flexibility to safely perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Safety Utilization of Restraint (SUR) techniques to restrain and prevent harm to that individual or others until the harmful/violent behavior subsides. Must be able to master basic techniques of individual care and training. Must be flexible in handling work assignments. Must have knowledge of individual care techniques and of treatment, therapy, and developmental programs. Must have knowledge of Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) standards. Must be able to provide individual care, to administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more.

Pay

$4,381.12 - $5,921.16

Schedule

Day Shift