DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL
About The Position
A Direct Support Professional ensures individuals’ health, safety, and welfare, enhances their quality of life, and supports community inclusion. The role has ultimate responsibility for client programming and care, including daily living support, personal care, medication monitoring, documentation, and assistance with community activities. The position also supports residence upkeep, follows agency policies and safety protocols, protects client confidentiality, and represents Citizen Advocates, Inc. professionally. Community Living operates 24 hours a day, seven days per week; the supervisor determines schedules based on location and department needs, and hours may vary according to company needs and workload. Travel is required as needed, mostly for resident hospital visits, and may be as far as Albany, NY.
Requirements
- One year of experience working with people with developmental disabilities or mental health needs.
- Ability to lift 50 pounds, move intermittently throughout the day, provide personal care to clients, work in stressful situations, and work in a team environment.
- Ability to demonstrate confidentiality, put individuals first, build and maintain positive relationships, act professionally and ethically, and stay organized.
- Attend required trainings and maintain required certifications.
- Flexibility with scheduling; schedules may vary based on company needs and workload.
Responsibilities
- Ensure adequate food, shelter, and clothing are available for each resident.
- Provide first aid and nursing assistance as necessary or as requested by a nurse or supervisor, and report nursing and medical needs to a supervisor as needed.
- Assess and instruct residents in daily living skills.
- Lift, transfer, and position residents as prescribed.
- Prepare meals and involve residents in meal preparation.
- Intervene and assist in crisis situations, accessing appropriate resources as needed.
- Support community outings.
- Monitor and dispense medications and adhere to physician’s orders.
- Provide programming as written by the Program Coordinator and communicate programming information to the Program Coordinator and Manager as needed.
- Ensure staffing ratios are met at all times.
- Demonstrate cultural beliefs in daily interactions and use the least restrictive prompting at all times.
- Follow behavior plans and crisis management plans as written.
- Participate in staff, team, and residence meetings.
- Attend training in accordance with agency personnel policies and maintain required certifications.
- Complete timely and accurate documentation, including contemporaneous documentation of programming and accurate documentation of client care and medical information as prescribed.
- Assist with residence cleanliness and upkeep as instructed.
- Follow universal precautions protocols and program policies and procedures.
- Demonstrate flexibility with scheduling.
- Protect client confidentiality.
- Professionally represent Citizen Advocates, Inc. with families, other organizations, and the community.
- Travel as needed, mostly for resident hospital visits, potentially as far as Albany, NY.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
No Education Listed
