Residential Direct Support Professional
About The Position
Assist with coordination of the residential program for people supported, emphasizing independence, integration, individualization, productivity, and the person’s choice. Apply a person-centered approach in training and proactively provide, arrange, supervise, and document services that support growth toward greater independence. Support the agency’s goals, objectives, philosophy, and values. The role provides daily support and instruction with household tasks, nutrition, personal funds, leisure activities, transportation, and safety. Staff implement and document service-plan, daily living, interpersonal-skills, behavioral-support, nursing, and self-care programs as assigned. They also monitor residents’ health and safety, respond to crises, maintain the residence, and communicate with managers and clinical or nursing staff as needed. Travel to locations in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties is expected as needed for community activities, outings, appointments, and training. The position operates out of the home of the people supported and uses standard office and household equipment. Work hours are flexible to program needs. The posting lists 40 hours for full-time, a 20-hour minimum for part-time, and a 15-hour minimum for sub positions. New hires cannot start before the next orientation session, scheduled to begin December 7, 2026.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
- Experience working with people with developmental disabilities preferred.
- Valid and acceptable New York State driver’s license.
- Authorization to work in the United States.
- Must be cleared by the transportation department to drive an agency vehicle and maintain driving certification, unless hired as a non-driver.
- Must complete the OPWDD-approved medication course and maintain certification if designated to administer medication.
- Must attend required in-services and achieve 80% competency on written examinations.
- Ability to talk and hear regularly; frequently stand, walk, lift, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
- 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.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
Responsibilities
- Assist people supported with purchasing necessary household equipment, managing personal funds and purchases, and acclimating to the home environment.
- Assist with proper nutrition, meal planning and preparation, grocery shopping, and related training specified in service plans.
- Guide people supported in cleaning, domestic tasks, and maintaining their rooms and property; help keep the residence safe and sanitary.
- Guide people supported in leisure activities and arrange or provide transportation as appropriate.
- Obtain and maintain transportation-department clearance and driving certification to drive an agency vehicle; a non-driver or loss of certification may result in reduced pay.
- Conduct and document fire drills as required by regulations and policy.
- Communicate the needs of people supported and household 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 daily living, interpersonal-skills, and behavioral-support programs as directed by the Residence Manager and support plans.
- Complete prescribed program documentation accurately and on the same day the program is implemented, assisting the Residence Manager/QIDP as directed.
- Administer medications when designated by the Residence Manager, after successfully completing the OPWDD-approved medication course, and maintain the required certification.
- Attend required in-services and demonstrate proficiency by achieving at least 80% on written examinations.
- Report illness, accidents, changes, or problems in a person’s medical status to the on-call nurse or administrator; follow documentation procedures and instructions.
- Complete daily nursing notes reflecting monitoring of residents’ health status and write incident reports (GERs) as defined by incident review procedures.
- Ensure the needs, safety, and welfare of people supported are met while emphasizing integration, individualization, independence, productivity, and personal choice; promote the five governing principles.
- Communicate matters concerning support programs and the physical plant to the Residence Manager or Assistant Residence Manager through a daily log or other contact as needed.
- Accept temporary or permanent transfers within the department when necessary to meet the needs of people served.
- Follow policies and procedures in the Functional Plan for the assigned work site.
- Document service-plan services as required by regulations and training, including programming, nursing, clinical services, and self-care.
- Monitor people supported during sleeping hours as required, attend to their needs, and observe and document each individual and bedroom according to bed-check logs and team recommendations.
- Perform daily cleaning duties as scheduled, complete cleaning logs and physical-plant checklists, and carry out other duties assigned by the Residence Manager.
- Act as designated in charge in the Residence Manager’s absence if assigned.
- Follow proper procedures for using personal funds, including appropriate purchasing and documentation.
- Travel as needed within Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties for community activities, outings, appointments, and training.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
