106-03 Direct Support Professional

Venture Community Services Inc•Sturbridge, MA

1d•$18 - $19

About The Position

The Direct Support Professional provides daily care, supervision, and safety for developmentally disabled individuals in residential and community settings. The role reports to the Residential House Manager, or to the Assistant Residential House Manager when the Residential House Manager is absent, and implements Individual Support Plans and Behavioral Management Plans. The position is compensated hourly and includes a Monday–Friday schedule of 8 a.m.–3 p.m., 35 hours per week. The posting also describes overnight coverage and says staff may need to work flexible schedules, weekends, holidays, emergencies, or beyond scheduled hours when not relieved by oncoming staff. The position involves supporting individuals with personal care, medication self-management, daily living skills, appointments, finances, meals, leisure activities, worship, and advocacy. Staff maintain records, data, and a clean and safe residence, and may have assigned advocate, safety officer, or healthy eating officer responsibilities. The role requires maintaining specified certifications and completing agency orientation and mandatory training.

Requirements

High school degree or GED.
Must be at least 21 years old.
Valid driver’s license.
Must be available by telephone for daily contact.
Maintain First Aid, CPR, MAP, and Safety Care certifications.
Complete Agency Orientation.
Obtain and maintain Applied Non-Violence certification.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, and program emergencies.
Ability to advocate for and establish rapport with the disabled population, their families, coworkers, and service providers.
Must not engage in actions that jeopardize individuals’ care and safety.

Nice To Haves

Daily use of a car on site is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Monitor individuals’ health and safety and safely evacuate them during fires or disasters.
Physically assist individuals with transfers, carries, bathing, personal hygiene, and emergency escorts or restraints when needed.
Educate, supervise, and monitor individuals in self-medication programs and train them on goals in their Individual Support Plans and behavioral plans.
Schedule and assist with transportation to medical appointments.
Assist individuals with meal preparation, food shopping, finances, banking, purchasing, and recordkeeping.
Educate, transport, accompany, and supervise individuals at their places of worship.
Maintain daily records and document data; prepare programmatic planning assessments and documentation, including End of Month submissions where assigned.
Perform housekeeping and cleaning duties, including laundry, dishes, sweeping, mopping, and snow shoveling, and report repair and maintenance needs.
For assigned overnight duties, clean common areas and bathrooms or provide morning-routine support as specified for the overnight role.
Work a flexible schedule as needed for program coverage, including weekends, holidays, emergencies, and overnight coverage; remain on duty if not relieved by oncoming staff.
Implement agency policies and procedures and maintain confidentiality and a positive demeanor while managing multiple priorities.
Plan leisure activities and perform individual advocacy, including end-of-life support consistent with palliative care and hospice-based services.
Attend weekly staff meetings and participate verbally and in writing; part-time staff are exempt from staff meetings but must attend mandatory training.
When assigned advocate responsibilities, prepare advocate meeting agendas, lead discussions, and help ensure individuals’ medical, dental, personal, and social needs are met.
When assigned safety officer responsibilities, inspect the home, van, and grounds using a safety checklist, report findings, attend quarterly Safety Committee meetings, and communicate safety issues.
When assigned healthy eating officer responsibilities, follow agency nutrition policies and training, complete Food for Health training, prepare weekly menus, lead healthy-eating discussions, maintain healthy food supplies, and model healthy eating practices.
Perform other related duties as requested and comply with agency policy.
Maintain First Aid, CPR, MAP, Safety Care, and Applied Non-Violence certifications as required, and complete Agency Orientation.
Advocate for and establish rapport with individuals with disabilities, their families, coworkers, and service providers.