Senior Direct Support Professional
About The Position
The Senior Direct Support Professional counsels, assists, and trains individuals with developmental disabilities in personal care, travel, social, home management, and life skills to maximize their functioning in the community. The role supports a comfortable and safe home environment, promotes individual growth and community inclusion, monitors personal health, and provides protective oversight during community activities. The position also involves documenting services and advocating for individuals while respecting the people and processes involved. The role requires a high school diploma or GED and at least one year of experience working with people with developmental disabilities; residential, health, or treatment-related experience is preferred. A valid New York State driver’s license is required. Specialized direct-care training is preferred. The employee must complete and obtain OPWDD-approved AMAP certification during the probationary period and maintain it, and must be willing to obtain First Aid, CPR, and SCIPR Competencies certifications and advance to Promote Competencies.
Requirements
- High school diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
- Minimum of one year of experience working with the developmentally disabled population; residential, health, or treatment-related experience is preferred.
- Valid New York State driver's license.
- Ability to complete and obtain certification in the OPWDD-approved Medication Administration Course (AMAP) during the probationary period and maintain AMAP certification.
- Ability and willingness to obtain First Aid and CPR certification.
- Ability and willingness to obtain certification in SCIPR Competencies and advance to Promote Competencies.
- Demonstrated written, verbal, and computational skills to document records in accordance with program standards.
- Ability to speak clearly and hear spoken words well.
- Ability to provide physical care, including bathing, feeding, changing clothes or diapers, and pushing wheelchairs.
- Ability to physically restrain challenging behaviors, including aggression, self-injury, and destructive behavior.
- Ability to apply proper lifting techniques.
Nice To Haves
- Specialized training in direct care provision.
- Experience working with the developmentally disabled population in a residential, health, or treatment-related setting.
Responsibilities
- Work toward satisfactory completion of core competency goals according to OPWDD timeline requirements.
- Provide a safe and clean environment suited to each individual's skill level and risks, and support safety in everyday situations.
- Use verbal and physical means to create a positive environment that encourages and enables individual growth.
- Assist individuals in developing social skills that support integration and inclusion in their communities.
- Provide protective oversight during community activities.
- Continuously monitor individuals' personal health, including during high-activity situations, bathing, showering, swimming, morning and evening routines, meals, and community activities.
- Help individuals learn and practice home-living skills, including household chores, cooking, laundry, and storing clothes.
- Perform advocacy responsibilities while respecting the processes and people involved.
- Complete documentation related to essential functions and services provided to individuals.
- Counsel, assist, and train individuals in personal care, travel, social, home management, and life skills.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
High school or GED
