Residential Direct Support Professional

The Arc Jefferson St Lawrence • Canton, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Residential Direct Support Professional assists with coordinating services in a residential program, promoting the people supported’s independence, integration, individualization, productivity, and personal choice. The role uses a person-centered approach and provides, arranges, supervises, and documents services that support growth toward greater independence. Staff support the agency’s goals, philosophy, and values.

The position operates in the home of the people supported and includes household, personal, community, training, safety, and documentation duties. Staff may be required to monitor residents during sleeping hours, attend to their needs, and make observations recorded in bed-check logs. Travel to locations in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties is expected as needed for community activities, outings, appointments, and training. The position type and hours are flexible to program needs: 40 hours for full-time, at least 20 hours for part-time, or at least 15 hours for sub positions. New hires cannot start before the next orientation session on December 7, 2026.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalency is preferred.
• A valid and acceptable New York State driver’s license is required.
• Authorization to work in the United States is required.
• Staff must be cleared by the transportation department to drive an agency vehicle and maintain driving certification; if hired as a non-driver or if certification is lost, pay will be reduced.
• Complete the OPWDD-approved medication course and maintain medication certification if designated to administer medications.
• Attend required in-service training and achieve at least 80% competency on written examinations.
• Competencies include ethical conduct, time management, working independently, operating various cleaning machines, and communicating with management.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with people with developmental disabilities is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist people supported with purchasing necessary household equipment, managing personal funds and disbursements, and acclimating to the residence.
• Support nutrition, meal planning and preparation, and grocery shopping, and provide training in these areas as specified in service plans.
• Guide people supported in cleaning and domestic tasks and maintaining their rooms and property; help ensure the residence is safe and sanitary.
• Guide people supported in leisure activities and arrange or provide transportation as needed.
• Obtain transportation-department clearance to drive agency vehicles and maintain driving certification.
• Conduct and document fire drills as required by regulation and policy.
• Communicate household and individual supply needs to the Residence Manager.
• Participate in staff meetings and discussions about individual and household needs and the CR/IRA program.
• Participate actively in crisis intervention when required.
• Implement and follow through on ADL, interpersonal-skills training, and behavioral-support programs as directed by the Residence Manager and specified in support plans.
• Complete program documentation accurately and on the same day as implementation, as directed, assisting the Residence Manager/QIDP.
• Administer medications when designated by the Residence Manager, after completing the approved medication course, and maintain the required certification.
• Attend required in-service training and demonstrate proficiency by achieving at least 80% on written examinations.
• Report illnesses, accidents, changes, or problems in a person’s medical status to the on-call nurse or administrator, follow instructions, and complete required documentation.
• Complete daily nursing notes reflecting monitoring of residents’ health status and write incident reports as defined by incident-review procedures.
• Ensure people’s needs are met while supporting their choice, safety, welfare, integration, individualization, independence, and productivity.
• Promote the five governing principles intended to improve residents’ lives.
• Communicate matters concerning support programs and the physical plant to the Residence Manager or Assistant Residence Manager through the daily log or direct contact as necessary.
• Accept temporary or permanent transfers within the department as needed to meet the needs of people served.
• Follow the Functional Plan’s policies and procedures for the assigned work site.
• Document service-plan activities, including programming, nursing services, clinical services, and self-care, in accordance with regulations and training.
• Monitor people supported during sleeping hours as required, attend to their needs, and document observations for each individual and bedroom according to bed-check logs and team recommendations.
• Perform daily cleaning duties according to the cleaning schedule and complete cleaning logs and physical-plant checklists.
• Act as the designated person in charge when the Residence Manager is absent, if assigned.
• Follow procedures for using personal funds and ensure purchases are properly documented.

What This Job Offers

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