103-02 Direct Support Professional

Venture Community Services Inc•Spencer, MA

1h•$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. The employee follows assignments from the House Manager and implements Individual Support Plans and Behavioral Management Plans. The position is paid hourly. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for 30 hours per week. The position requires flexibility for program coverage, weekends, holidays, emergencies, and overnight coverage. Direct Support Professionals may be assigned additional duties such as advocacy, safety, or healthy eating responsibilities.

Requirements

High school degree or GED.
Must be at least 21 years old.
Must maintain First Aid, CPR, MAP, and PABC certifications.
Must complete Agency Orientation.
Must obtain and maintain certification in Applied Non-Violence.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Must be available by telephone for daily contact.
Ability to work a flexible schedule based on program coverage, weekends, holidays, and program emergencies.
Ability to advocate for and establish rapport with people with disabilities, their families, coworkers, and service providers.
Must not engage in actions that jeopardize the care and safety of individuals.
Must ensure the program meets applicable Department of Developmental Services, agency mission, Survey and Certification Tool, and Performance Based Objectives standards.

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 from the residence in the event of fire or disaster.
Physically assist individuals with transfers, carries, bathing, and personal hygiene, including support for individuals weighing 150 to 250 pounds.
Physically escort or restrain individuals during emergency situations or behavioral episodes.
Educate, supervise, and monitor individuals’ self-medication programs.
Train individuals in goals and objectives specified in their Individual Support Plans and behavioral plans.
Schedule and provide transportation to medical appointments.
Educate and assist individuals with meal preparation and food shopping.
Educate and assist individuals with finances, banking, receipts, and purchases, and maintain related records.
Educate, transport, accompany, and supervise individuals at their places of worship.
Maintain records and document daily data.
Perform daily housekeeping and residence cleaning, including laundry, dishes, mopping, sweeping, snow shoveling, and reporting repair and maintenance needs.
Assume primary responsibility for cleaning common areas and bathrooms when assigned to overnight awake coverage.
Provide direct-care duties for morning routines when assigned to overnight asleep coverage; overnight asleep staff required to assist during overnight hours may be paid the Direct Care rate if fewer than five uninterrupted hours were available for sleep.
Write, evaluate, and assess individuals for programmatic planning.
Implement agency policies and procedures.
Maintain confidentiality and a positive demeanor while managing multiple priorities.
Coordinate and assist with planning leisure time.
Provide emergency coverage, including overnight coverage, and remain on duty after scheduled hours if not relieved by oncoming staff.
Perform individual advocacy duties and support individuals at the end of life in a manner reflecting palliative care and Hospice-based services.
Attend weekly staff meetings and participate verbally and in writing; part-time staff are not required to attend staff meetings but must attend all mandatory training.
When assigned as an advocate, advocate for a person living in the home, prepare the advocate agenda, lead discussion about the person, prepare end-of-month data and documentation, maintain complete and orderly records, and help ensure the person’s medical, dental, personal, and social needs are met.
When assigned as Safety Officer, inspect the home, van, and grounds using a safety checklist, report findings, attend quarterly Safety Committee meetings, share general and seasonal safety information, and promote safety and best practices.
When assigned as Healthy Eating Officer, follow agency nutrition standards and training, participate in Food for Health training, prepare weekly menus consistent with dietary needs and orders, lead healthy-eating discussions, maintain shopping lists and healthy pantry and freezer supplies, and model healthy eating practices.
Perform other job-related duties as requested and handle duties in compliance with agency policy.
Review weekly staff meeting notes and provide input into the meeting agenda.