Direct Support Professional
About The Position
The Direct Support Professional counsels, assists, and trains individuals with developmental disabilities in personal care, travel, social, home management, and life skills to maximize their functioning in the community. The role supports individuals from childhood through adulthood and helps provide a comfortable, safe, and clean home environment while encouraging growth and community inclusion. The position requires ongoing monitoring of individuals’ health and safety, assistance with daily living and household tasks, protective oversight during community activities, advocacy, and completion of documentation related to each individual’s services. The employee must complete the OPWDD-approved Medication Administration Course during the probationary period and maintain AMAP certification.
Requirements
- High school diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
- Minimum of one year of experience working with people with developmental disabilities; residential, health, or treatment-related experience is preferred.
- Valid New York State driver’s license.
- Complete and obtain certification in the OPWDD-approved Medication Administration Course (AMAP) during the probationary period and maintain AMAP certification.
- Ability and willingness to obtain First Aid and CPR certification.
- Ability and willingness to obtain certification in SCIPR Competencies and advance to Promote Competencies.
- Demonstrated written, verbal, and computational skills to document records in accordance with program standards.
- Ability to provide physical care, apply proper lifting techniques, and physically restrain challenging behaviors.
Nice To Haves
- Specialized training in direct care provision.
- Experience working with people with developmental disabilities in a residential, health, or treatment-related setting.
Responsibilities
- Support individuals in maintaining a comfortable, safe, and clean home environment.
- Work toward satisfactory completion of core competency goals according to OPWDD timeline requirements.
- Use verbal and physical means to create a positive environment that encourages and enables individual growth.
- Assist individuals in developing social skills and becoming integrated or included in their communities.
- Provide protective oversight while individuals participate in community activities.
- Continuously monitor each individual’s personal health in daily routines and activities, including bathing, meals, and community outings.
- Assist individuals in learning and practicing home-living skills, including cooking, cleaning, laundry, and storing clothes.
- Carry out advocacy responsibilities while respecting the people and processes involved.
- Complete documentation related to essential functions and services for each individual.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
