Overnight Universal Direct Support Professional

The Arc Jefferson St Lawrence • Chaumont, NY

19d • Onsite

About The Position

The Universal Direct Support Professional assists people supported in residential, day habilitation, or community habilitation programs. The role promotes independence, integration, individualization, productivity, and each person’s choices through person-centered support, training, supervision, and documentation. Staff help people develop daily living skills, support their health and safety, and carry out services and outcomes described in individual support plans.

Overnight shifts are typically 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Staff may be assigned an awake overnight, remaining awake to provide active supervision and complete documentation and household duties, or a sleeper overnight, remaining on-site during designated sleep hours and available to respond to emergencies and other needs. Sleep hours for sleeper overnights are compensated at the applicable New York State minimum rate. Schedules are flexible to program needs. Full-time work is 40 hours per week; part-time work is a minimum of 20 hours per week; and sub-status work is 15 hours per week. Sub-status schedules depend on site needs after full- and part-time staff are scheduled, and require at least eight weekend hours per month and one agency-observed holiday per year.

The position is based in a personalized home environment or another designated program space. Staff report concerns about people’s support, health, or the physical plant to the Residence Manager or appropriate on-call personnel. There is no supervisory responsibility, although staff may be designated in charge in the Residence Manager’s absence. Base wages depend on education and experience, with additional incentive pay opportunities for medication certification and van certification. A $650 sign-on bonus is described for full-time staff, payable in installments after three and six months; part-time staff receive half the amount.

Requirements

• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Authorization to work in the United States.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including lifting, pushing, or pulling more than 30 pounds.
• For sub-status employees: work at least eight weekend hours per month, with weekends defined as Friday at 4:00 p.m. through Monday at 8:00 a.m.
• For sub-status employees: work at least one agency-observed holiday per year.
• For sub-status employees: obtain approval to work hours outside the primary site.
• If assigned medication administration, successfully complete the OPWDD-approved medication course and maintain the required certification.
• If driving an agency vehicle, obtain transportation department clearance and maintain driving certification.

Nice To Haves

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working with people with developmental disabilities.
• Valid New York State driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Support people in residential, day habilitation, or community habilitation programs while promoting independence, integration, individualization, productivity, and personal choice.
• Provide person-centered training and proactively arrange, supervise, and document services that promote growth toward greater independence.
• Assist with household equipment purchases, personal funds, purchases and disbursements, and acclimation to the home or program environment.
• Support nutrition, meal planning and preparation, grocery shopping, and related training outlined in service plans.
• Guide people in cleaning, domestic tasks, and upkeep of their rooms and property, and help maintain a safe and sanitary physical environment.
• Guide people in leisure activities and assist with arranging or providing transportation.
• Maintain agency driving certification if cleared to drive an agency vehicle; loss of certification or employment as a non-driver may result in reduced pay.
• Conduct and document fire drills as required by regulations and policy.
• Communicate the needs of people supported and household supplies to the Residence Manager.
• Participate in staff meetings and discussions about individuals’ needs, household needs, and the residential program.
• Participate actively in crisis intervention when required.
• Implement and follow through on activities of daily living, interpersonal skills training, and behavioral support programs as directed and documented in support plans.
• Complete required program documentation on the same day as implementation, accurately reflecting progress, and assist the Residence Manager or QIDP as directed.
• Administer medications if designated, after completing the approved medication course, and maintain the required certification.
• 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.
• Complete daily nursing notes to document monitoring of residents’ health status.
• Write incident reports in accordance with incident review procedures.
• Ensure people’s needs, safety, and welfare are addressed while supporting the valued outcomes in their support plans and 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 as needed.
• Accept temporary or permanent transfers within the department when necessary to meet the needs of people supported.
• Follow policies and procedures in the Functional Plan for the assigned work site and program.
• Document services in accordance with applicable regulations and training for residential, day, and community habilitation, including programming, nursing, clinical, and self-care services.
• Monitor people during sleeping hours, 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 required, complete cleaning logs and physical-plant checklists, and perform other duties assigned by the Residence Manager.
• Act as designated in charge in the Residence Manager’s absence if assigned.
• Follow procedures for handling personal funds and ensure purchases and related documentation are proper.
• Remain awake for the full shift and provide active supervision when assigned to an awake overnight.
• Remain on-site and available to respond to emergencies, health and safety concerns, and other needs during designated sleep hours when assigned to a sleeper overnight.

Benefits

• $650 sign-on bonus for full-time employees, payable as $300 after three months and $350 after six months; part-time employees receive half the amount.
• Additional incentive pay opportunities for medication certification and van certification.

What This Job Offers

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