Direct Support Professional

BrightPath Human Services•Mount Pleasant Township, PA

12d

About The Position

The Direct Support Professional provides day-to-day direct care and specialized behavioral support to individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and complex behavioral needs. The role is intended for an experienced professional who can support people experiencing significant behavioral challenges, mental health concerns, aggression, self-injurious behavior, or other behaviors that may pose a risk to themselves or others. The employee is expected to understand behavioral support practices, crisis prevention, de-escalation, and approved physical intervention techniques. BrightPath provides crisis and de-escalation training. The position implements each individual’s Behavioral Support Plan, Individual Support Plan, crisis plan, and other clinical recommendations exactly as written. It collaborates with residential leadership, the clinical department, medical personnel, and interdisciplinary team members to identify and address clinical or behavioral concerns. The employee also supports individuals in accessing and participating in their communities while protecting the health and safety of individuals, staff, and community members. Duties include providing direct care and supervision; assisting with activities of daily living; promoting dignity, choice, independence, privacy, and community inclusion; administering medication as taught through the PA DHS Medication Administration course; implementing behavioral plans and safety procedures; collecting behavioral data; documenting and reporting concerns; and supporting individuals in practicing coping, emotional regulation, communication, and replacement skills.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least one year of direct support experience working with individuals who have intellectual disabilities, autism, complex behavioral needs, aggression, self-injurious behavior, or significant mental health needs.
Demonstrated experience implementing Behavioral Support Plans and collecting behavioral data.
Demonstrated competency in crisis prevention, verbal de-escalation, and approved physical restraint or physical intervention techniques.
Ability to maintain composure and make appropriate decisions during behavioral emergencies.
Extensive knowledge of behavioral support practices, crisis prevention, de-escalation, and approved physical intervention techniques.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day direct care and supervision based on each individual’s assessed needs.
Assist individuals with personal hygiene, bathing, dressing, toileting, meal preparation, housekeeping, medication administration, transportation, and other activities of daily living.
Promote dignity, respect, choice, independence, privacy, and meaningful community inclusion.
Provide the level of supervision required by individuals’ plans, assessments, and identified risks.
Maintain professional boundaries while developing supportive and therapeutic relationships.
Recognize and respond appropriately to changes in an individual’s mood, behavior, physical health, mental health, or functioning.
Administer medication accurately as taught through the PA DHS Medication Administration course.
Review, understand, and implement each individual’s Behavioral Support Plan exactly as written.
Follow proactive strategies, reinforcement procedures, coping strategies, replacement-skill programs, crisis procedures, and safety protocols identified in plans.
Maintain consistency in behavioral interventions across shifts, environments, and community settings.
Avoid unauthorized, unapproved, or inconsistent behavioral interventions.
Collect accurate behavioral data and complete required documentation within established timeframes.
Identify potential patterns, triggers, environmental concerns, or changes in presentation and communicate observations to appropriate clinical and operational team members.
Support individuals in practicing coping skills, emotional regulation techniques, communication strategies, and replacement behaviors.
Immediately report concerns about the effectiveness, safety, or implementation of a Behavioral Support Plan.
Safely support individuals in accessing and participating in their communities while protecting the health and safety of individuals, staff, and community members.
Collaborate with residential leadership, the clinical department, medical personnel, and interdisciplinary team members to address clinical or behavioral concerns.