Direct Support Professional

Overview

The Direct Support Professional is responsible for the safety and supervision of our consumers with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities to facilitate healthy and socially acceptable behaviors while living in community-based sites. This position will coordinate with clinical staff, implement residentially based interventions, and assist the clients in achieving their clinical assignments. The DSP is responsible for fulfilling the obligations as outlined in the client’s program plan.

The DSP will prompt or assist, as necessary, to ensure the clients participate in the activities of daily living, in both the home and the community. A commitment to the RHD values should be demonstrated as job duties are performed.

• 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 persons served by providing the assistance necessary to maximize their quality of life
• Models hope and optimism when encouraging persons 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 the person served to build skills and competence
• Documents interactions and activities per policies and procedures
• Monitors and responds to crisis situations or potential crisis situations consistent with best practice, policies, and procedures
• Utilizes skills and competencies to respond to crises
• Reports suspected incidents of neglect, abuse, or mistreatment consistent with the organization's policies and procedures
• Follow incident management reporting procedures
• Maintains client confidentiality and adheres to the organization's ethical code
• Assists in maintaining the well-being and safety of persons served
• May assist the consumer with daily medications. RHD DSPs are REQUIRED to become med certified in PA, which varies in other states. DSPs not med certified due to not passing the test are grandfathered
• Performs other duties as requested or assigned, verbally or in writing
• Provide care that’s trauma-informed

• Perform the delivery of services with this organization and our consumers, to include transportation to medical appointments, community activities, school/day programming, religious services, and family visits
• Perform all daily activities within any home setting, including meal preparation, activities of daily living, shopping, household cleaning and maintenance, leisure activities, and consumer outcomes
• Assist with community home licensing annually and home activities as prescribed in operating regulations
• ISP development and outcomes
• Accurate completion of required documentation paperwork including 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, and consumer funds
• Accurate completion of hours worked through the HRIS system to clock in/out
• Completion of required training hours on an annual basis according to the Training year
• Completion of Competency-Based Training as needed
• Attend all scheduled home and office staff meetings
• Schedule is subject to change to meet the business needs
• Assist with on-call activities and emergency situations as requested
• Responsible for the safety and well-being of all the individuals residing in the home(s)
• Administer consumer medications
• Work with the Site Supervisor to ensure that all the needs of the individuals are met according to their ISP
• Follow all supervision requirements of consumers as noted in the consumer ISP/BSP
• Assist the Community Home Supervisor with special projects as related to the Agency

Job Qualifications

• MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
• High School Diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree preferred
• Basic computer and internet literacy with the ability to utilize applications like emails, time recording and other programs to enter and retrieve data as necessary to perform the essential functions of the job
• Proficiency in reading, writing, and documenting in English is required
• Prior experience in the human services field preferred
• Knowledge of and ability to work with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• 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
• Strong documentation and financial/mathematical skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to supervise and/or assist with individuals in the residential program
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Physical ability to…