Direct Support Professional

Consumer Service

• Responsible for understanding and implementing Individual Support Plans (ISP). ISPs may include, but are not limited to teaching, assisting, facilitating and building on the individual strengths in the areas of :
• Meal planning and food preparation,
• Shopping for groceries, clothing, personal necessities,
• budgeting and bill payment,
• housing keeping and laundry,
• personal hygiene,
• recreation,
• socialization,
• health and safety,
• self-advocacy
• employment.
• Responsible for understanding and implementing Behavior Support Plans (BSP) if applicable.
• Responsible for understanding and implementing all medical High Risk Plans (HRP) if applicable.
• Responsible for providing consumers with opportunities to make informed and thoughtful choices throughout their day.
• Responsible for teaching consumers how to appropriately advocate for themselves.
• Responsible for assisting consumers in being an active member of their community through participation in activities of their choice.
• Assists consumers in the development of meaningful connections by acting as a “bridge builder” to establish greater ties to the community and to support the development of friendships.
• Encourages and assists the consumers as needed in maintaining communication with parents, family and friends.
• Engages the consumer throughout the day, whether through participation in activities or in discussions regarding areas of interest, desires or goals.
• Responsible for teaching consumers to utilize community transportation services or if needed, provide transportation using personal and agency vehicles. (Must maintain drivers insurability as outlined in Minimum Job Qualifications).
• Responsible for lifting and transferring consumers as necessary. (Must maintain ability to perform job as outlined in Minimum Job Qualifications under working conditions).

• As indicated by the ISP, staff are responsible for:
• Assisting consumers with their personal care needs,
• Insuring the consumer’s home meets general housekeeping standards – clean, sanitary living environment,
• Monitoring medications and/or administering medications as prescribed by the consumer’s health care provider and in compliance with medication administration standards,
• Assist consumers with scheduling and attending medical appointments, medical treatments, and therapies.
• Work with other staff members to insure a safe and healthy environment for the consumers, including but not limited to:
• Monitoring the home environment for safety hazards and insuring general safety precautions are in place (for example, batteries in smoke detectors checked),
• Providing training for emergencies, including how to respond to fire, gas, severe weather or other emergencies,
• Insuring emergency phone numbers are posted and are current and accurate.
• Responsible for monitoring consumers’ general health, noting any changes in health status, communicating critical health changes directly to the program manager,
• Responsible for handling any emergencies or crisis according to protocol until emergency personnel arrive on the scene.
• Responsible for alerting manager of any health/safety concerns or crisis.

• Participate in the Person Centered Planning Process, consumer team meetings, staff meetings, training sessions and annual case conferences as requested or assigned.
• Responsible for identifying potential barriers to community involvement, including but not limited to environmental, attitudinal and economic barriers.
• Responsible for identifying community resources which could enhance the individuals’ quality of life and which could help meet the goals of the consumer.
• Responsible for maintaining a working knowledge of adaptive equipment and/or assistive technology used by the consumer.
• Responsible for utilizing effective communication strategies and skills necessary to establish a collaborative relationship with the consumer. This would be demonstrated through the use of respectful and sensitive communication skills and adapting communication to the range of participant communication styles.
• Responsible for maintaining professional, respectful and sensitive communication with co-workers, support…