Direct Support Professional - DSP 1

YAI • Forest Hills, PA

19h • Onsite

About The Position

This role involves providing direct support to individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), ensuring their overall supervision, protection, and care. The position requires assisting individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities while upholding their personal rights and facilitating community connections. The Direct Support Professional (DSP) will ensure health, wellness, and safety by providing appropriate supervision and taking the lead during crisis situations, effectively deescalating issues. This role also involves providing support and coverage in various settings and programs, assisting with individualized service and behavior support plans, and potentially assisting at off-site locations like hospitals. The DSP will implement person-centered plans, including Behavior Support Plans (BSPs) and Life Plans, and assist with personal care, daily living activities, medication administration, skill development, and communication. Responsibilities also include meal preparation, transporting and escorting individuals, managing personal allowance funds, and serving as a role model for other staff. The DSP will work as part of a team, communicate with circles of support, complete necessary trainings and documentation, and may facilitate agency trainings. The role requires maintaining communication logs, electronic health records, and other required paperwork. The DSP will also report maintenance and safety concerns, model professionalism, participate in team meetings and life plan meetings, and utilize approved training techniques for challenging behaviors. They will ensure other DSPs perform their duties and provide feedback, participate in implementing changes, and may serve as lead on shift in the absence of supervisors. The position may involve temporary duties of a Health Care Specialist or Assistant BIS, participation in committees, and potentially operating a YAI motor vehicle. Compliance with all regulatory agency requirements, including HIPAA, is mandatory.

Requirements

• Four (4) years of experience as a DSP in a YAI program, including at least two (2) years as a DSP 2
• Must hold foundational certifications for current service setting: Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention – Revised (SCIP-R), CPR (issued by American Red Cross or American Heart Association) and YAI-issued Approved Medication Administration Personnel (AMAP) certification for residential assignments or Day Services Model Mentorship Training
• Must maintain foundational certifications (as described above) for applicable service setting
• DSPs changing settings must obtain AMAP (for new residential assignment) or Day Services Model Mentorship Training (for new day assignment) within three (3) months of appointment
• Satisfactory equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training
• All newly hired employees must be at least 18 years old
• Have at least five (5) years of direct support professional experience with the I/DD population
• Must obtain (and maintain) required YAI certifications based on setting within six (6) months of appointment
• Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; use hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; assisting with lifting/moving individuals of any weight with assistance of mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Behavior Support Plan if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff.
• Strong written and oral communication skills including the ability to appropriately document services provided for billing and tracking purposes and to effectively communicate information regarding individuals supported across various levels and with external providers or circles of support.
• Enthusiasm for working with people with I/DD, willingness to take initiative and ability to demonstrate positivity, patience and empathy and compassion in all interactions.
• Ability to quickly develop and maintain professional and productive working relationships and successfully integrate into various programs to provide leadership on shifts.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the specific needs of individuals supported in home program, including a solid understanding of clinical rationales and ability to quickly gain a solid understanding of needs in other programs across the region, upon assignment(s).
• Ability and willingness to assist with a variety of supports and ADLs, including regular exposure to and handling of various bodily fluids with limited direction and in accordance with documented plans.
• Ability to teach others technical skills and/or knowledge, both on-the-job and through formal training in group or individual settings.
• Proficiency with computers and electronic systems including email, utilizing Workday and/or related systems (DA, etc.) to complete tasks.
• Must hold and maintain additional certifications as required by program assignment and persons supported (for example: Choking – Return Demonstration, Diabetes Care, Tube Feeding, etc.)
• For DSPs changing programs/settings, must obtain and maintain any applicable certifications within three (3) months of appointment.
• Ability to remain calm, act assertively and display professional competence and good judgment in stressful situations, including with challenging individuals or behaviors and work in a high energy, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work beyond regularly scheduled hours/shift and/or to report to work as scheduled on holidays, in inclement weather or during other emergencies to maintain minimum coverage requirements of program, unless otherwise authorized.
• Ability to travel to other or multiple programs across assigned region and work varying schedules/shifts, as required by regional needs.
• For assignments that require transporting persons supported by vehicle, must hold or obtain and maintain valid Driver’s License and Van certification (based on position/location/program).

Nice To Haves

• HS diploma or its educational equivalent

Responsibilities

• Regularly performs all duties of DSP 1 and DSP 2, ensuring the overall supervision, protection and care of individuals.
• Assists individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests and abilities while upholding their personal rights and facilitating activities that provide social capital and connections to the community.
• Ensures health, wellness and safety by providing appropriate supervision of the people we support and takes the lead during crisis situations, effectively deescalating situations relating to individuals, facility or other environmental issues.
• Directing other DSPs while adhering to applicable policies, procedures and regulations.
• Provides support and/or coverage in a variety of settings and programs across assigned region and/or service delivery settings in accordance with each person’s individualized service and behavior support plans.
• Assists at off-site locations (e.g. hospital) based on regional needs and remaining on shift or reporting to another program to maintain minimum coverage levels.
• Ensures implementation of person-centered, individualized plans following levels of supervision and safeguards including protective oversight (IPOPs), as well as Behavior Support Plans (BSPs), Staff Action and/or Life Plans for all people we support.
• Assists with a variety of tasks for people we support, utilizing safe and appropriate handling procedures, as appropriate/authorized, including: Providing personal care and assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) including intimate care and personal hygiene (e.g. bathing, dressing, and toileting), laundry and housekeeping.
• Ensuring that medication is administered as prescribed, in accordance with applicable guidelines.
• Teaching/developing skills.
• Supporting person-centered advocacy with the individuals and for individuals with I/DD as a group through participation in formal advocacy efforts and/or groups.
• Assisting in communication, self-expression and resolving disputes amongst individuals.
• Facilitating ethical decision making.
• Providing supervision for and/or planning and preparing balanced meals and snacks for people we support in accordance with dietary restrictions and guidelines of specific individuals including for modified diets or liquid consistencies.
• Transporting and escorting individuals on recreational activities, medical appointments, home visits, volunteer and/or employment sites, etc.; may lead establishment and/or creation of schedules for, volunteer opportunities, community and/or therapeutic activities for program.
• Assisting people supported with making purchases, as well as safeguarding personal allowance funds and any additional funds provided.
• Understands and uses specialized clinical knowledge of person specific needs in program to provide effective supports to individuals and to inform activities and training and serves as a role model for other staff.
• Implements Behavior Support Plan as written by Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS) demonstrating understanding of behavior as communication and employing person-centered thinking to support positive interactions and prevent further escalation.
• Serves as a member of a highly effective team (teamwork within the circle of support), providing feedback and communicating programmatic needs to members of team and maintaining a solution-oriented approach during conflicts.
• Communicates concerns and/or issues with team dynamics and situations with persons supported to appropriate leadership.
• Communicates by phone, email and/or in person with circles of support, including families and external providers, to provide updates and/or obtain information, as directed by clinical or program leadership.
• Completes and maintains all necessary trainings and certifications, including specialized trainings based on program and position to ensure compliance with YAI policies and all applicable rules or regulations and applies skills.
• Facilitates formal agency trainings under supervision of YAI Knowledge leadership following prescribed curriculums, serving as a YAI-certified trainer in one of more areas including, but not limited to SCIP-R, CPR, Preservice, etc.
• Reviews communication logs daily and makes entries of events, progress notes, services and/or information.
• Collects and enters data as part of daily operations using an electronic health record (e.g. Digital Agency [DA], Electronic Medication Administration Records [eMAR]).
• Reviews and completes all other required paperwork and documentation to ensure compliance and/or billing completely, accurately and within appropriate timeframes (e.g., notifications, logging, incident reports, update files, maintenance requests, phone calls, and tracking of incidents).
• Assists with or prepares monthlies for persons supported by reviewing and accurately summarizing progress data from applicable daily notes, as needed.
• Performs, assists with and/or guides less experienced staff with a variety of administrative tasks relating to financial, clinical and/or medical functions including documentation or entries to ensure quality of notes on a regular or as needed basis working closely with HCS, ABIS, Assistant Supervisor, clinical staff and/or program leadership as requested.
• Participates in and guides less experienced staff with writing services and safeguards, establishing goals and informing updates to life and/or staff action plans, responses to service (RTS) and other documentation or plans.
• Uses foundational teaching skills (Explain, Model, Observe and Evaluate [EMOE], task analysis, essential skills, supports and modifications, etc.) and progressive teaching.
• Reports maintenance, upkeep and safety concerns observed at YAI facilities to Program Supervisor or appropriate designee.
• Models professionalism at all times by maintaining a strong allegiance to the persons supported, proactively prioritizing and completing regular duties with limited direction while willingly accepting changes to assignments, programs and/or service delivery settings and approaching others in a positive, supportive and courteous manner.
• Attends and actively participates in team meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary team (IDT), consulting with IDT to ensure streamlined and top-quality care and providing feedback or ideas to improve supports and/or program operations.
• May run shift meetings, assigning duties, completing shift sheet, etc. as needed.
• Participates in life plan meetings for persons supported and development of treatment plans.
• Utilizes/demonstrates approved YAI and OPWDD training techniques (i.e. verbal, environmental, and physical interventions, including take downs) to respond timely and appropriately to challenging and/or self-injurious behavior, ensuring the health and safety of the people we support, self and others.
• Provides training to less-experienced staff and redirect staff or escalate concerns to program supervisor, accordingly.
• Ensures other DSPs are performing assigned duties in accordance with applicable plans, requirements and/or processes and provides feedback directly to DSPs and to supervisor or Assistant Supervisor regarding performance or other concerns.
• Participates in the implementation of changes, including new processes, procedures or systems, providing feedback, training and/or instructing others across region and/or multiple programs, as directed.
• Serves as lead on shift, monitoring day-to-day program operations in the absence of Program Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor.
• May perform duties of Health Care Specialist or Assistant BIS on a temporary basis, when needed, working closely with BIS and/or nursing.
• May support the region or agency as a whole through active participation in various committees, representing program, service delivery setting or region as primary liaison and/or participate in special projects, including agency-wide initiatives.
• For certain assignments, may be required to operate YAI motor vehicle to transport individuals to and/or from programs, residences, community or other locations on a daily (or other regular) basis with appropriate credentials.
• Complies with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Performs all other duties, as assigned.

Benefits

• Consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees