Direct Support Professional-Residential Services LaPorte County

PALADIN INC•Michigan City, IN

About The Position

POSITION PURPOSE: Responsible to attend to personal health care needs and perform person-centered activities designed to assist individuals with disabilities to learn, maintain, or increase their independent functioning skills. May also include areas of entertainment, relaxation, and education. Activities may occur in individual’s home or group settings within the agency or in the community. May also provide support to the industrial operation through completion of assigned tasks which is essential to revenue producing production. May be asked to provide supervision in various programs per the individual program plan(s).

Requirements

Good public relations and communication skills.
Ability to recognize and respond to medical and emergency needs.
Basic knowledge of various disability types and the impact of functional limitations in developmental learning.
Basic knowledge of curriculum planning and instruction of classroom activities.
Valid driver's license or PPC license (if required). Good driving record.
Must provide Paladin, Inc. with on-going, up-to-date "proof of vehicle insurance" in employee’s name for vehicle driven while working for Paladin.
Basic knowledge of local community organizations’ activities and events.
Ability to independently organize time and duties to meet work floor and consumer demands.
Basic math skills.
Patience and diplomacy in dealing with difficult clients (participants), staff, family members and agency staff.
Ability to observe significant changes in conditions or actions of clients (participants).
Ability to work with minimal supervision.
Initiative and flexibility to handle changes in routine.
Compassion and concern for the well-being of people with disabilities.
Ability to work as a team member.
Ability to handle multiple tasks and/or demands of one's time from others.
Must be proficient in basic math skills; addition, subtraction, fractions, multiplication, and division.
High school diploma or equivalent preferred
Must adhere to all necessary safety requirements.
Responsible for the safety of all staff and clients (participants) under your supervision.
Understands the need for maintaining professionalism at all times.
Must have a working cell phone.

Nice To Haves

One to two years’ experience in social services, special education, nurse's aide, and/or working with people with disabilities preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude to promote learning.
Plans and implements daily schedule for community-based programming and classroom activities that support community involvement.
Maintains records, reports, and data, as required, to maintain compliance with funding sources, CARF, agency requirements and National Council on Aging (NCOA) (depending on program assignment).
May transport individuals or groups to and from the agency or to various activities. May be required to assist with wheelchairs and walking devices.
May be required to keep license, insurance and registration for vehicle driven, up-to-date. Will be required to submit to a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driver’s check; may be done annually by Paladin or Paladin’s insurance company. Or, may be required to obtain a PPC license.
May be required to work at multiple locations.
Provides 1:1 or small group training to address individual clients (participants) needs such as those indicated on the individual program plan.
Implements behavior plans as designed to maximize behavior management concerns of clients (participants) served.
Distributes medications to clients (participants) assigned; responsibility is shared with co- workers.
Requires lifting of individuals to assist with personal care needs and provides feeding assistance to clients (participants) needing such help.
Provides client supervision to insure compliance with health and safety standards and to provide a safe, secure environment in which basic human needs are met.
May include hours other than agency stated hours of 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. including holidays & weekends based on program.
Will follow all agency policies and procedures regarding the use and release of confidential information and confidential PHI (protected health information).
Will adhere to all agency policies and procedures regarding ethics, client rights and dignity of persons served.
Adheres to Universal Precautions for all functions, uses protective equipment as necessary.
Shall perform any other job related function as assigned.
May provide complete or assistive care in personal health care needs such as toileting and feeding, cooking, i.e. changing Depends, peritoneal care, showering, and brushing teeth.
Provide routine housekeeping and yard work to ensure participant health & safety.
Assist participant(s) with shopping and budgeting money.
Assist participant(s) with Individual Habilitation goals.
Follow high risk plans to ensure the health and safety for participants.
Assist participants with medical appointments.
Assist participant(s) with medication administration as needed.
Complete required documentation for the participants served.
Turn in required documentation according to the specified deadline or per direction of the supervisor.
Attends meetings, in-services, and professional development activities, as necessary.
Assists to maintain inventory of program supplies and equipment to conduct classroom and community-based activities.
May require driving to participants’ residences and/or transporting to and from community sites for programming.