LEAD DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL

Major 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 people served by providing the assistance necessary to maximize their quality of life.
• Models hope and optimism when encouraging people to serve to achieve their potential.
• Supports people 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 people served.
• May assist individuals with daily medications.
• Performs other duties as requested or assigned, verbally or in writing

Job Qualifications and Competencies

• Able to engage consumers in the development and acquisition of personal hygiene and grooming, nutrition, menu planning, food shopping, meal preparation, home maintenance, laundry, safety and health education.
• Relays accurate information regarding individual’s personal care capabilities, needs, health issues and concerns to supervisor.
• Maintains and upkeeps assigned areas of the group home or apartment with the assistance of residents.
• Demonstrates knowledge of community resources to include recreational and social activities.
• Oversees and/or accompanies and supports individuals to medical, psychological, and other related fields appointments.
• Reviews documentation and communicates clearly and legibly information obtained from service providers and assures follow-up as needed.
• Builds individual’s appreciation for their own skills and potential to be a productive and valued member of their home and community.
• Improves individual’s ability to cope with problems in a socially and positively acceptable way.
• Affirms each individual served has appropriate involvement in the community.
• Affirms the environment is home-like and staff utilizes approved protocols (i.e.: family meetings, consultation, feedback, etc.).
• Fulfills medication policy and procedures in the monitoring of the consumer’s medication. Audits of medication administration.
• Educates individuals served regarding medication policy, procedures, medication interactions and side effects.
• Accurately and thoroughly completes all documentation pertaining to medication, i.e.: medication administration record, medication count log form, syringe sign out, count sheet as appropriate, etc.
• Implements a broad curriculum aimed at teaching the consumers new skills in several areas: self-care skills, family living skills, independent living skills, academic and social skills, pre-vocational and vocational skills.
• Demonstrates a basic understanding of developmental disabilities and mental illness to the individual needs related to their culture, age, gender, etc.
• Set examples through commitment to the job and an effort to excel.
• Overlooks personal differences and promotes teamwork within his/her area of responsibility and throughout the company.
• Reflects dedication to the company and respect for each other in all interactions with clients, families, coworkers and those in the community.
• Show fiscal responsibility by controlling costs whenever and wherever possible.
• Create a culture of open communication and trust where issues are discussed honestly and appropriately.
• Encounters an environment of change and challenge with acceptance and creativity.
• Always treats consumers and families with respect and caring and gives priority to client needs and respects client’s rights as demonstrated through direct contact with consumers and families, and as indicated in the company’s policies, procedures, practices and training programs.
• Thoroughly completes all assigned work within the prescribed timeframes.
• Consistently arrives at work. Minimizes absences and gives advance notice of lateness and other absences.
• Works flexible hours to meet the needs of the individuals served and organization including day, evenings, overnights and holidays.
• Provides management oversight weekends and after hours by responding to the on-call system personnel when needed.
• Attends and participates in internal and external training as relevant to improving job skills.
• Regularly performs related duties to enhance the functionality of the department or Apis Services and affiliates’ needs.
• Supports the company mission, vision, and values. Inspires others to support the organization.
• Successfully satisfies annual competency requirements.
• Professionally interacts with organizational personnel and external contacts according to Apis Services and affiliates.
• Promptly addresses all facility issues.
• Teaches personal safety and community awareness skills to consumers by actively engaging them in maintaining the safety of themselves, their roommates, and facility.
• Takes initiative in maintenance of facilities and vehicles.
• Carry out inspections according to policy and procedures in apartments, group homes and other sites.
• Completion and/or follow-up safety inspections and fire drills according to policy and procedure.
• Utilizes safe decision driving techniques to ensure client safety.
• Promptly addresses all facility, vehicle and equipment issues, which compromise client or staff safety or require repair, utilizing appropriate procedures.
• Actively reviews own work practice and area for safety.
• Actively pursues information relating to safety, security, equipment and utilities for each facility.