Direct Support Professional

Overview

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 helps clients live independently and supports their wellness, health, and safety. In collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, the DSP provides a wide range of services to meet the environmental, physical, psychosocial, and personal needs of the individuals in our care.

The DSP embraces the mission of the organization by fostering a culture of compassion, hope, service, and collaboration.

• Assists with daily living activities, including personal hygiene/bathroom assistance, meals at day program, and cleaning.
• Supports the independence of individuals served by providing the assistance necessary to maximize their quality of life.
• Models hope and optimism to encourage individuals to achieve their potential.
• Guides participants in achieving artistic, social, and independence goals to reach their potential as professional artists.
• Supports individuals in developing relationships and becoming involved in their communities.
• Cultivates a safe and supportive relationship and environment.
• Cultivates an inspiring and inclusive environment for artistic expression.
• Provides supervision and guidance to individuals served to build skills and competence.
• Documents interactions and activities per policies and procedures.
• Monitors and responds to crisis situations or potential crisis situations in line with best practice, policies, and procedures; utilizes skills to respond to crises.
• Reports suspected incidents of neglect, abuse, or mistreatment as per organizational 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 at the day program and in the community.
• Assists with medication administration as applicable.
• Performs the delivery of services to include transportation to community activities and day program activities.
• Performs all daily activities within the day program and the community setting, including meal preparation, activities of daily living, shopping, cleaning, maintenance, leisure activities, and tracking outcomes.
• Assists with day program licensing annually and community activities as prescribed in operating regulations.
• ISP development and outcomes.
• Accurate completion of required paperwork (e.g., medication logs, daily logs, goal logs, incident reports, various logs) and Electronic Health Record documentation before the end of each shift.
• Accurate completion of hours worked in HRIS and completion of required training hours annually.
• Completion of Competency Based Training as needed and attendance at scheduled day program and office staff meetings.
• Assist with on-call activities and emergency situations as requested by the Program Manager.
• Responsible for the safety and well-being of all individuals in attendance at the day program.
• Collaborate with Lead DSP and Program Management/Program Director to meet ISP needs; follow supervision requirements of consumers as noted in ISP/BSP.
• Assist Program Management/Program Director or Studio Coordinator with special projects and other duties as assigned.

• Education and Experience:
  
  High School Diploma, GED or equivalent (required);
  Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred; minimum 6 months to 1 year direct experience with individuals with intellectual disabilities or in human services; 3-year clean motor vehicle record and valid driver’s license; background in visual and/or performing arts preferred.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills; strong visual and/or performance art and design skills.
• Computer literacy (Microsoft Office, email, time-tracking, etc.).
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and creation of trauma-informed environments; knowledge of and ability to work with developmentally disabled individuals.
• Excellent documentation, financial/mathematical skills, and organizational and time-management…