Direct Support Professional - DSP 1

YAI•New York, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

YAI, launched in 1957, is dedicated to providing innovative services for the I/DD (intellectual and/or developmental disabilities) community. The organization supports over 20,000 people with autism, Down syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy, among others, through more than 300 programs across Downstate New York and Northern New Jersey. The Direct Support Professional (DSP) role is central to YAI's mission of empowering individuals to reach their goals, emphasizing personal growth, social responsibility, employment goals, and the development of independence. DSPs assist individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities, upholding their personal rights, and building positive relationships. They support people in meeting personal goals, engaging in respectful communication, encouraging socializing, and facilitating community connections. The role involves ensuring the health, wellness, and safety of individuals, managing crisis situations, and implementing person-centered individualized service and behavior support plans. DSPs provide direct care, teach skills, facilitate advocacy, and maintain a therapeutic environment, all while adhering to YAI policies and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age.
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.
Effective written and oral communication skills including the ability to appropriately document services provided for billing and tracking purposes.
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 and willingness to assist with a variety of supports and ADLs as requested, including regular exposure to and handling of various bodily fluids.
Basic computer skills – including email, utilizing Workday and related systems (DA, etc.) to complete tasks.
Must hold or obtain and maintain Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention – Revised (SCIP-R) within one (1) year of appointment.
Must hold or obtain and maintain additional certifications as required by program assignment and persons supported (for example: Choking – Return Demonstration, Approved Medication Administration Personnel (AMAP), Diabetes Care, CPR, Tube Feeding, etc.) within one (1) year of appointment.
Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships in alignment with YAI’s mission and vision.
Ability to remain calm in stressful situations 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.
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
Work or life experience supporting people with intellectual/developmental disabilities

Responsibilities

Assists individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities, upholding their personal rights, displaying patience and tolerance while providing emotional support and building positive relationships.
Supports people to meet personal goals that characterize quality of life, engages in respectful communications and conversations through person-first language, encourages socializing and facilitates activities that provide social capital and connections to the community.
Responsible for the overall supervision, protection, and care of individuals at all times including maintenance of program guidelines for the protection of individuals, facilitating learning and training in fire safety and identifying and appropriately escalating signs of an individual’s potential harm to self or others.
Ensures health, wellness and safety by providing appropriate supervision of the people we support and by managing crisis situations while adhering to applicable policies, procedures and regulations.
Provides support in a variety of settings and in accordance with each person’s individualized service and behavior support plans, utilizing support skills for people with varying levels of need and demonstrating the OPWDD Core Competencies.
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, understanding the intentions and goals of the plans.
Maintains a clean, safe and organized therapeutic environment.
Utilizes safe & appropriate handing procedures when working with individuals and implements infection control protocols.
Assists with a variety of tasks for people we support, 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.
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.
Assisting people with making purchases, as well as safeguarding personal allowance funds and any additional funds provided.
Develops an understanding of specialized clinical knowledge for person specific needs (supporting adults, challenging behaviors, autism spectrum disorders, complex medical needs).
Implements Behavior Support Plan as written by Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS).
Collects, records, and summarizes data on individuals’ observable behavior.
Observes and reports any changes in behavior, or other signs and symptoms, to clinical and/or leadership team.
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.
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.
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).
Uses foundational teaching skills (Explain, Model, Observe and Evaluate [EMOE], task analysis, essential skills, supports and modifications, etc.) and progressive teaching.
Understands behavior as communication and employs person-centered thinking to support positive interactions and prevent further escalation.
Complies with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Reports maintenance, upkeep and safety concerns observed at YAI facilities to Program Supervisor or appropriate designee.
Consults with program leadership, clinical and other direct support staff to ensure streamlined and top-quality care for individuals and attends and actively participates in team meetings.
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 coverage for other direct support staff as requested, which may include assisting at another YAI or off-site location (e.g. hospital) based on needs of program and/or individuals supported, including remaining on shift to ensure maintenance of minimum coverage levels for program.
May participate in the development of treatment plans.
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.
Performs all other duties, as assigned.