Direct Support Professional - Instructional Assistant

Grafton•Winchester, VA

About The Position

Direct Support Professionals in Grafton Integrated Health Network’s Education program provide direct care and implement client plans under general supervision, as prescribed by physicians and treatment teams. They assist Academic Teachers with instructional and therapeutic activities, including preparing instructional materials, potentially helping write lesson plans, assessing progress through data analysis, and adapting teaching techniques to support clients’ established goals. During academic breaks and holidays, they may work with clients in residences; in community-based programs, they provide transportation between residences and school. The role provides supervision, safety, and crisis management; documents client behavior, participation, services, and instructional data; follows scheduled activities; models positive behavior; and uses proactive behavioral strategies. The position reports to a teacher or program supervisor/manager. Responsibilities also include medication support, health and hygiene assistance, infection control, implementing individual plans and behavior strategies, building respectful relationships, collaborating with treatment teams, maintaining safe and clean classroom or residence environments, supporting nutrition and meal preparation, community mobility, and assisting with purchases and client or program funds as applicable.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human services; or an associate’s degree and three months of experience working with children; or high school diploma/GED and six months of experience working with children.
Must be at least 19 years old.
Must pass a criminal background check and pre-employment drug screen.
Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
Moderate computer skills, including logging in, navigating the web, creating and saving a Microsoft Word document, and basic keyboarding.

Responsibilities

Ensure medications are delivered accurately and on time.
Support clients’ well-being, safety, health, and hygiene, and use infection-control procedures.
Report serious incidents, participate in reviews, and implement follow-up measures as applicable.
Understand assigned clients’ strengths, needs, abilities, preferences, goals, objectives, outcomes, and treatment strategies in current plans, including Treatment Plans, IEPs, and ISPs.
Implement behavior strategies and teach alternative behaviors to promote clients’ behavioral goals.
Actively instruct assigned clients to help them achieve education and residential goals and objectives or ID Waiver outcomes.
Collect and document behavioral and instructional data accurately and reliably, and document services delivered accurately and promptly.
Maintain engagement with and monitoring of clients, and implement planned activities throughout the workday.
Build trusting, respectful relationships with clients and support clients in building such relationships.
Apply knowledge of clients’ diagnoses, related supports, and trauma-informed care.
Manage behavioral crises safely.
Collaborate with the Treatment Team, communicating and contributing to discussions and decisions to support continuity of care.
Provide exemplary customer service to guardians, agency personnel, and visitors.
Maintain safe, clean, and organized residence and classroom environments.
Promote good nutrition and assist with meal preparation in group homes.
Provide transportation and community mobility; in community-based programs, transport clients between residence and school.
Assist with purchases and account for program and client funds as applicable.
Demonstrate knowledge of the organization and its core values of personal integrity and accountability.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Assist Academic Teachers with instructional and therapeutic activities, lesson planning and instructional materials, and assessment of client progress and adjustment of teaching techniques.
Work with clients in residences during academic breaks and holidays.

Benefits

Free meals during shifts, as available.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts.
Paid Time Off plan and attendance incentives.
Employer-paid life insurance.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Short-term disability and long-term disability.
Paid career development, including CPR, Ukeru, Mandt, and other career training.
401(k) with employer match up to $2,500 annually.
Education assistance up to $5,250 annually.
Potential eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness, as Grafton is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Opportunity for overtime and shift differentials.