DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL
About The Position
A Direct Support Professional ensures individuals’ health, safety, and welfare, enhances their quality of life, and supports community inclusion. The role is responsible for client programming and care, including supporting residents with daily living skills, personal care, meals, medications, medical needs, crisis situations, and community outings. The position also requires accurate and timely documentation, adherence to care and behavior plans, maintaining staffing ratios, protecting confidentiality, and supporting residence cleanliness and upkeep. Community Living operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The supervisor determines schedules to meet location and department needs; hours and schedules may vary based on company needs and workload, with as much advance notice as possible. Travel is as needed, mostly for resident hospital visits, and may extend as far as Albany, New York. Duties may change, and other related duties may be assigned.
Requirements
- One year of experience working with people with developmental disabilities or mental health needs.
- Ability to lift 50 pounds, move intermittently throughout the day, provide personal care to clients, work in stressful situations, and work in a team environment.
- Ability to travel as needed, mostly for resident hospital visits, including travel as far as Albany, NY.
- Competencies include confidentiality, putting individuals first, building and maintaining positive relationships, professionalism, ethical conduct, and organization.
- Attend required trainings and maintain required certifications.
Responsibilities
- Ensure residents have adequate food, shelter, and clothing.
- Provide first aid and nursing assistance as needed or requested, and report nursing and medical needs to a supervisor.
- Assess and instruct residents in daily living skills.
- Lift, transfer, and position residents as prescribed.
- Prepare meals and involve residents in meal preparation.
- Intervene and assist in crisis situations, accessing appropriate resources as needed.
- Support community outings.
- Monitor and dispense medications and follow physicians’ orders.
- Provide programming as written by the Program Coordinator and communicate programming information to the Program Coordinator and Manager as needed.
- Ensure staffing ratios are met at all times.
- Demonstrate cultural beliefs in daily interactions and use the least restrictive prompting.
- Follow behavior plans and crisis management plans as written.
- Participate in staff, team, and residence meetings.
- Attend appropriate training and maintain required certifications.
- Complete timely and accurate documentation, including programming, client care, and medical information as required.
- Assist with residence cleanliness and upkeep as instructed.
- Follow universal precautions and program policies and procedures.
- Demonstrate flexibility with scheduling and protect client confidentiality.
- Professionally represent Citizen Advocates, Inc. to families, other organizations, and the community.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
