Direct Support Professional

YAI•West Milford, NJ

About The Position

The Direct Support Professional assists people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to pursue personal goals, exercise their rights, build positive relationships, and participate in social and community activities. The role provides individualized support in a range of settings, following each person’s service plans, behavior support plans, supervision levels, and safeguards. It includes promoting health, wellness, safety, and quality of life; supporting daily living and habilitative skills; and responding appropriately to crisis situations and challenging or self-injurious behavior. The position provides personal care and assistance with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, toileting, hygiene, laundry, and housekeeping. It may involve preparing meals that follow individual dietary guidelines, administering medication as prescribed, supporting medical appointments, managing approved funds and purchases, and transporting people to programs, appointments, and community activities. The professional also implements teaching and behavior-support strategies, observes and documents behavior and progress, and communicates relevant information to individuals’ support circles and the broader team. The role requires completing trainings and documentation, maintaining a clean and safe therapeutic environment, and coordinating with program leadership, clinical staff, families, and external providers. Staff may provide coverage across settings or programs in the assigned region, including off-site locations, and may be asked to remain on shift or report to another program to maintain minimum coverage. The position may also participate in treatment-plan development and includes other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old.
High school diploma or educational equivalent.
Must hold, or obtain and maintain, a valid driver’s license with no more than five points.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling, reaching, and handling or feeling objects, tools, or controls.
Ability to assist with lifting or moving individuals of any weight using mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or assistance, push individuals in wheelchairs, and occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds; must have the physical capacity to implement emergency interventions as required by an individual’s Behavior Support Plan.
Effective written and oral communication skills, including the ability to document services for billing and tracking.
Enthusiasm for working with people with I/DD; willingness to take initiative; and positivity, patience, empathy, and compassion in interactions.
Ability and willingness to provide varied supports and assistance with activities of daily living, including regular exposure to and handling of bodily fluids.
Basic computer skills, including email and use of Workday and related systems such as DA.
Must hold, or obtain and maintain, certifications and trainings required by program assignment and the people supported. Required examples include Non-Crisis Intervention training, American Heart Association CPR/First Aid certification, NJ Medication Administration certification, and Positive Behavior Supports training, on the schedule set by a supervisor or designee and within 120 days of appointment.
Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships aligned 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 or shifts and/or report to work as scheduled on holidays, in inclement weather, or during other emergencies to maintain minimum program coverage, unless otherwise authorized.

Nice To Haves

Work or life experience supporting people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Knowledge of intellectual and developmental disabilities, clinical syndromes, and/or I/DD with co-occurring behavioral or mental health needs.

Responsibilities

Support individuals in developing and pursuing personal goals, exercising their rights, building relationships, and participating in social and community activities.
Provide supervision, protection, emotional support, and care; follow program guidelines and identify and escalate potential harm to self or others.
Promote individuals’ health, wellness, and safety, including managing crisis situations in accordance with policies, procedures, regulations, and applicable plans.
Implement individualized service, behavior-support, supervision, and safeguard plans, including BSPs, ISPs, Staff Action Plans, and Life Plans.
Maintain a clean, safe, organized therapeutic environment and use safe handling practices and infection-control protocols.
Provide authorized personal care and assistance with daily living activities, including hygiene, bathing, dressing, toileting, laundry, and housekeeping.
Teach and develop habilitative and rehabilitative skills using foundational and progressive teaching strategies.
Support advocacy, communication, self-expression, ethical decision-making, and dispute resolution among individuals.
Plan or supervise preparation of balanced meals and snacks in accordance with individual dietary restrictions and guidelines.
Transport and escort individuals to recreational activities, medical appointments, home visits, volunteer or employment sites, and other destinations; help plan schedules and activities.
Assist with purchases and safeguard personal allowance and other funds; use petty cash, house funds, and store cards appropriately and retain required receipts and documentation.
Administer medication as prescribed and assist with medication inventory, cabinet checks, OTC inventory, and reordering supplies as needed.
Assist with scheduling medical appointments and ensure follow-up appointments are arranged and attended in a timely manner.
Operate agency vehicles regularly and maintain related logs and maintenance sheets; coordinate appointments with a supervisor.
Develop knowledge of individual-specific clinical needs, including support for adults, challenging behaviors, autism spectrum disorders, and complex medical needs.
Implement behavior support plans, guidelines, and protocols; collect and document observable behavior data; and report behavioral or other changes to clinical or leadership staff.
Communicate with families, external providers, and other members of individuals’ circles of support as directed by clinical or program leadership.
Contribute to an effective team by communicating program needs, providing feedback, working constructively through conflicts, and participating in team meetings.
Complete and maintain required training and certifications and apply the skills learned.
Review communication logs daily and document events, progress, services, and relevant information using prescribed systems, including electronic health and medication records.
Complete required paperwork and documentation accurately and on time for compliance and billing, including notifications, incident reports, file updates, maintenance requests, and tracking records.
Report facility maintenance, upkeep, and safety concerns to the Program Supervisor or designee.
Use approved YAI and NJ DDD verbal, environmental, and physical intervention techniques, including takedowns, as trained and as appropriate to respond to challenging or self-injurious behavior.
Provide coverage across assigned regional settings and programs, including off-site locations such as hospitals, and remain on shift or report to another program when needed to maintain minimum coverage.
May participate in developing treatment plans.
Comply with applicable federal, state, local, and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA.
Perform other duties as assigned.