Direct Support Prof I-70532915

ICL Inc.•New York, NY

94d•Onsite

About The Position

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) provides observations, evaluations, and reports to other team members to ensure and/or record an individual’s progress toward treatment/habilitation goals. In accordance with habilitative plans, they guide and teach individuals to develop skills required for a more independent lifestyle. DSPs may take a lead role in one or more of the following duties within a work site, performed in several or all of the following areas: Personal Care, Food Preparation and Mealtimes, Maintaining the Environment, Individual Development and Personal Interests, and Participating as a Program Planning Team Member. DSPs communicate with other direct care staff, supervisory or clinical staff, individuals in their care, their families, and others they meet.

Requirements

Knowledge of policies and procedures of OPWDD, as well as state and federal regulations as they apply to the care and treatment of the developmentally disabled.
Knowledge of active treatment programs as they relate to the developmentally disabled.
Currently AMAP certified or able to become certified within six months of hire.
Currently SCIP-R certified or able to become certified within six months of hire.
Currently CPR and First Aid certified or able to become certified within six months.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.
High school diploma or GED or possess a Direct Support Professional (DSP) Certificate from an accredited public or private organization and the ability to provide direct services to adults with developmental disabilities.
Related experience is desirable.
Current clean New York State driver's license might be required depending on the shift.

Nice To Haves

Direct Care experience with people with mental and/or physical disabilities.
AMAP, SCIP-R, CPR/SFA certified.

Responsibilities

Teach and reinforce accepted infection control and personal grooming techniques; assist in bathing, dental care, hair and nail care, personal hygiene, toileting, incontinence care, menstrual care, and grooming routines as necessary.
Teach and assist individuals in dressing, clothing selection, storage, laundering and repair of clothing and accessories; help them to shop for clothing.
Teach and assist in proper use and care of shavers and razors, eyeglasses, hearing aids, prostheses as prescribed by appropriate medical practitioner.
Administer and teach individuals first aid treatments; administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques and perform other health-related techniques as required.
Take, record, report temperatures, blood pressures, pulse rate, weight, and other significant symptoms/health-related occurrences; aid developmentally disabled individuals in understanding, recording, and reporting such factors.
Maintain confidentiality of information.
Report unusual incidents and physical or behavioral symptoms promptly and accurately to the supervisor.
Apply valid and accepted limits for inappropriate behavior and help control and restrain individuals with challenging behaviors in their care.
Administer prescribed medications and treatments; teach, observe, report problems and progress in self-administration of medications programs; assist individuals in achieving more independence in administration of medications; teach use of skin care lotions, topical ointments, eye and ear drops and assist in their use as needed.
Accompany individuals to medical, dental, and other health-related appointments; deliver prescriptions to pharmacy, take medication to home site and log same; and instruct and observe individuals in use of those substances.
Assist individuals in eating who cannot feed themselves independently.
Teach individuals to eat in a family-style setting; model and teach mealtime socialization skills.
Teach and assist individuals to plan, shop, store, prepare and serve meals using currently accepted nutritional standards; and to clean kitchen and dining areas, and dispose of leftover food safely.
Perform/teach developmentally disabled individuals routine housekeeping duties such as dusting, washing floors and walls, cleaning bathrooms, and vacuuming rugs.
Assist developmentally disabled individuals in bed making.
Follow safety procedures in living unit by mopping up spills, reporting unsafe conditions, teach and reinforce fire safety procedures. Check to see that fire exits are clear, night-lights and exit signs on, windows locked, etc.
Store supplies and assure that storage areas are kept in a neat and orderly condition.
Responsible for storage and replacement of linens.
May assist in various household inventories.
Perform/teach minor and routine maintenance tasks such as changing light bulbs, fuses, replacement of faucet washers; and obtain repair services for appliances.
Perform/teach routine removal of trash, cleaning of trash containers, ashtrays, etc.
Teach/perform outdoor maintenance tasks and repairs of residence, yard, garden, walks; report need for or obtain repair services for automobiles, vans, mowers, etc.
Check fire equipment and report any malfunction.
Conduct fire drills following the fire evacuation plan.
Teach and reinforce use of a variety of communication skills.
Guide individuals through motor exercises designed to increase physical coordinative functions.
Teach and reinforce principles of human growth and development, including human sexuality, as determined by each person's developmental level and program plan.
Teach acceptable work habits, e.g., punctuality, dress and grooming, to enable individuals to develop readiness for work outside the home, or in support of individuals' habilitative goals.
Accompany developmentally disabled individuals to community activities including worksites, cultural, religious and social events, day programs, and visits to health practitioners; aid them in developing awareness and use of community resources and in interacting with others.
Provide support for maximum community integration.
Transport/arrange for transport of individuals to community events; and aid them in development of their mobility skills.
Maintain an adequate supply of and accounting of personal clothing and possessions.
Teach money management principles to developmentally disabled individuals; and complete/aid in completion of banking activities.
Provide an accurate accounting of all financial transactions made on behalf of individuals in their care.
Help developmentally disabled individuals to develop/maintain positive interpersonal relationships with their peers, with others in their families, and with others in the community. Aid in explaining feelings, resolving conflicts, teaching/reinforcing acceptable means of dissipating frustration, and anger.
If pets are in the home, teach/assist with their feeding, grooming, and care.
Teach/supervise/participate in a variety of leisure and recreational activities, crafts projects, seasonal and permanent home decoration; assist in planning, supervising and conducting holiday celebrations selected by residents and staff.
May accompany developmentally disabled individuals to dances, camping trips, swimming, horseback riding, basketball, or other sports; assist in selection and teaching of appropriate community inclusion leisure activities.
Aid in the selection, purchase, care and use by developmentally disabled individuals of age appropriate personal belongings.
Observe and report on behavior and specific responses to programming, medication, interpersonal relationships, etc.
Actively participate at staff meetings by communicating observations concerning progress and reaction to various therapy programs.
At meetings, may suggest alternative programs or procedures based on experience with the individual’s habilitation plan.
Record all significant behavioral responses in prescribed format.
Participate in the development of individual program and habilitation plans.
May be asked to assist in the orientation and training of other staff.
Other duties that may be assigned.