Residential Direct Support Professional
About The Position
The Residential Direct Support Professional assists with coordinating a residential program for people supported by The Arc Jefferson – St. Lawrence. The role emphasizes independence, integration, individualization, productivity, and the person’s choice, using a person-centered approach to training. The employee proactively arranges, supervises, and documents services that promote increasing independence, and supports the agency’s goals, objectives, philosophy, and values. The employee supports people with household and personal finances, nutrition and meal preparation, shopping, household upkeep, leisure activities, transportation, and daily living and interpersonal skills. The role includes maintaining a safe and sanitary residence, monitoring residents’ health and safety, responding to crises, and implementing and documenting individual support plans and related services. Depending on designation, the employee may administer medications after completing the required course or act as the person in charge when the Residence Manager is absent. The position operates in the home of the people supported and involves travel as needed within Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties for community activities, outings, appointments, and trainings. Hours are flexible to program needs: 40 hours for full-time, a 20-hour minimum for part-time, or a 15-hour minimum for substitute work. New hires cannot begin before the December 7, 2026 orientation session.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
- Experience working with people with developmental disabilities preferred.
- Valid and acceptable New York State driver’s license; staff driving agency vehicles must be cleared by the transportation department and maintain driving certification.
- Must be authorized to work in the United States.
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the job, including regularly talking or hearing and frequently standing, walking, lifting, handling or feeling objects, and reaching with hands and arms.
- Competencies include ethical conduct, time management, working independently, operating various cleaning machines, and communicating with management.
Nice To Haves
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Experience working with people with developmental disabilities.
Responsibilities
- Assist people supported with purchasing household equipment, managing personal funds and purchases, and becoming acclimated to the home.
- Support nutrition, meal planning and preparation, grocery shopping, and related training as specified in service plans.
- Guide people supported in cleaning, domestic tasks, and upkeep of their rooms and property; maintain the residence in a safe and sanitary condition.
- Guide people supported in leisure activities and arrange or provide transportation; maintain required agency-vehicle driving clearance and certification when driving.
- Conduct and document fire drills as required by regulation 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 in crisis intervention and implement and follow through on ADL, interpersonal skills, and behavioral support programs as directed and specified in support plans.
- Complete program documentation on the same day services are implemented, accurately reflecting progress, and assist the Residence Manager/QIDP with documentation.
- Administer medications when designated, after successfully completing the OPWDD-approved medication course, and maintain the certification.
- Attend required in-service trainings 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 instructions and complete required documentation, including daily nursing notes.
- Write incident reports (GERs) as defined by Incident Review Procedures.
- Ensure the needs, safety, and welfare of people supported are met while promoting integration, individualization, independence, productivity, choice, and the five governing principles.
- Communicate matters concerning support programs and the physical plant to the Residence Manager or Assistant Residence Manager through the daily log or as needed.
- Accept temporary or permanent departmental transfers as needed to meet the needs of people served.
- Follow applicable policies and procedures in the Functional Plan for the assigned work site.
- Document service-plan programming, nursing, clinical, and self-care services as required by regulations and training.
- Monitor people supported during sleeping hours as required, attend to their needs, and document observations in the bed-check log according to team recommendations.
- Perform daily cleaning duties, complete cleaning logs and physical-plant checklists, and carry out other duties assigned by the Residence Manager.
- Act as designated in charge when designated by the Residence Manager and when the Residence Manager is absent.
- Follow proper procedures for the use of personal funds and ensure purchases and documentation are handled correctly.
- Travel as needed to support community activities, outings, appointments, and training in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
