Direct Support Professional(School for the Deaf Residential Program)

Pressley Ridge Career • Pittsburgh, PA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Direct Support Professional supports students residing in residential cottages at the School for the Deaf. The role helps develop, implement, and monitor individual and group service plans and procedures during program hours to improve adaptive social and interpersonal functioning and promote successful program completion among youth in an assigned group.

The position provides direct supervision and ongoing advocacy and support for youth; participates in treatment planning and implements interventions tied to individual service plans; facilitates group and individual problem-solving; and plans, implements, and evaluates daily routines, activities, and longer-range plans. The Direct Support Professional also observes and responds to youth needs and behavior, communicates routine and emergency health care issues, documents services and incidents, completes required training and paperwork, and participates in supervision and professional development.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• American Sign Language proficiency within two years of hire.
• Required clearances and training: State Police clearance, FBI clearance, Child Abuse Clearances, and CPSL Mandated Reporter—Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse training per state regulation.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including implementing physical interventions and lifting as described.
• Ability to meet minimum hearing, speech, and vision requirements, subject to the stated exception for deaf or hard-of-hearing employees fluent in American Sign Language at the School for the Deaf.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience with neurodivergent youth and/or youth who have experienced trauma.
• American Sign Language proficiency at hire.

Responsibilities

• Participate and collaborate with treatment team members in developing goals.
• Respond to and communicate routine and emergency health care issues to necessary treatment team members.
• Manage conflict and facilitate group and individual problem-solving.
• Use group processes as opportunities to teach community living skills, assessing and responding to group behavior and dynamics.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate daily living routines and activities, including structuring the environment and managing group transitions.
• Identify and build upon children’s strengths, teaching and role-modeling pro-social behaviors.
• Provide ongoing advocacy and support for children.
• Facilitate and implement short-range and long-range activity planning, connecting activities to individual and group treatment goals.
• Set rules and guidelines with flexibility, fairness, and consistency.
• Consider youths’ emotional, psychological, and physical well-being when engaging in activities or interventions.
• Implement treatment interventions related to each child’s individual service plan, evaluate their effectiveness, and provide feedback.
• Participate with youth in recreational and other daily activities while observing and attending to their needs.
• Ensure evaluation of each individual activity and the overall treatment plan.
• Develop rapport, listen, engage youth in daily interaction, and remain available and approachable.
• Assess and respond to dangerous situations and conditions according to organizational policies and program expectations.
• Provide direct supervision of youth as required by individual, program, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in clinical supervision and implement recommendations made through that supervision.
• Use written documentation to communicate effectively with peers, subordinates, and supervisors.
• Complete the minimum annual professional development training hours required by regulatory guidelines and complete all identified training requirements.
• Complete required paperwork legibly, accurately, and professionally, and submit it within established timelines.
• Achieve professional development goals identified in performance evaluations and participate in ongoing in-service training.

Benefits

• Medical coverage with a Health Savings Account (HSA) and employer match
• Prescription coverage
• Dental and vision plans
• Patient advocate and Medicare specialists available at no cost
• Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account
• Retirement savings plan with employer match
• Free life insurance and AD&D
• Paid Time Off
• Nine paid holidays per year, including seven recognized holidays, one floating holiday, and one birthday holiday
• Tuition reimbursement, if applicable
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED