Direct Support Professional - Driver (47967)

UCP of Central Arizona•Phoenix, AZ

27d•Onsite

About The Position

The Direct Support Professional provides services that enrich members’ lives in daily living skills, health maintenance, personal care, and behavioral development. The role supports members in achieving their Individual Support Plan (ISP) goals, promotes respect and self-determination, and contributes to program activities and service delivery. The position includes assisting members with personal care, daily living and social skills; accompanying them on community outings; and safely transporting them in company vehicles. The employee uses appropriate behavior-management techniques and helps maintain member safety and supervision. The role also involves administering medication according to UCP training and prescribed instructions, communicating professionally with members, families, guardians, staff, and funding sources, and documenting services and incidents accurately within required timelines. Employees maintain clean, safe facilities and vehicles, protect confidential information, follow agency and legal requirements, attend required training and meetings, and may substitute for supervisory staff or other Direct Support Professionals as needed. The position reports directly to the Program Lead, with support from the Program Manager. The work takes place in a center and classroom, in the community, and in company vehicles. It may involve changing weather, moderate noise, possible exposure to blood-borne pathogens, and interactions with profanity or violent or offensive behavior. Work-hour flexibility may be required. Physical duties include sitting, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, squatting, running, and lifting, carrying, or moving weights up to 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old.
For a driving position, provide a 39-month motor vehicle record demonstrating a good driving record.
Meet agency licensure requirements for fingerprinting, CPS, CPR, First Aid, and DDD when applicable.
Successfully complete pre-employment criminal-background and drug screening.
Provide three verifiable reference letters.
Be able to lift and transfer members.
For assignments requiring driving, meet driver qualifications established by UCP policy and its insurance carrier.
Be able to complete training programs and pass associated tests to meet competency requirements.
Have good customer-service and communication skills.
Be able to speak, read, and write English.
Have basic computer skills, including data entry, word processing, and spreadsheets.
Demonstrate competency in operating an agency transport vehicle; maintaining documentation records with manual dexterity; assessing and managing behavior in crisis situations and calling for assistance when needed; and physically performing CPR and First Aid.
Meet the physical requirements of the job, including lifting, carrying, and moving weights up to 50 pounds; bending, kneeling, squatting, walking, and running; and using hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, grasping, and visual acuity.
Complete required UCP training to meet position criteria.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Experience working with individuals with disabilities in a private or center-based setting.
Developmental Disabilities Specialist Certificate.
Associate or bachelor’s degree.
Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.

Responsibilities

Deliver services according to UCP’s mission, vision, and value statements.
Treat members with respect and encourage self-determination.
Implement members’ ISP goals according to their individual support plans.
Assist members with eating, toileting, daily living skills, and social skills.
Participate in program service delivery and related activities with members.
Support member safety, including basic first aid, fire drills, emergency response, and required reporting.
Accompany members on community outings and provide instruction and assistance.
Use appropriate behavior-management techniques, including techniques covered in Article 9 training.
Safely transport and assist members in company vehicles to and from the program and within the community.
Communicate effectively and professionally with staff, funding sources, members, and their families or guardians.
Model professional conduct and appearance, including appropriate language, initiative, respect, punctuality, manners, maturity, and consistency.
Address difficult situations positively by seeking resolution and creative solutions.
Write incident reports and notify the supervisor or lead about incidents within required timelines.
Attend required staff meetings and training.
Administer medication as prescribed by licensed medical professionals and according to UCP medication training.
Collaborate with colleagues and supervisors to improve service to the organization and its programs.
Protect the confidentiality of member information and documentation under UCP policy, HIPAA, and applicable state and federal law.
Maintain required staff-to-member ratios and appropriate member supervision at all times.
Report suspected or alleged abuse or neglect as required by UCP policy and state law.
Maintain clean, hazard-free program facilities and vehicles.
Complete and maintain required records, including progress reports, mileage logs, maintenance requests, transportation billing logs, attendance sheets, toileting charts, medication records, and skin-integrity logs, within required timelines.
Complete facility, vehicle, or IT maintenance requests within required timelines.
Secure vehicles and protect vehicle equipment, including Garmins and the GPS system.
Follow agency, department, and Division of Developmental Disabilities policies and procedures, as well as state and federal laws and regulations.
Maintain reliable attendance.
Substitute for supervisory staff or other Direct Support Professionals during vacations or absences, or when assigned.
Perform other related duties as assigned.