Direct Support Professional Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years prior experience supporting individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disability, traumatic brain injury or other unique challenges in a community-based setting.
• Valid driver’s license in the state of Massachusetts.
• Successful completion of all state and Agency mandated trainings.
• Successful completion of Medication Administration Training certification.
• Ability to provide hands-on personal care.

Responsibilities

• Provides personal care and direct care assistance to individuals.
• Supervises and trains Direct Support Professionals.
• Ensure adequate staffing ratios to support program participants in accordance with contracted staffing plans and budgeted resources; utilizes relief staffing as needed while minimizing overtime.
• Works with direct care professionals to ensure awareness of participants’ individual support plans to assist individuals with achievement.
• Ensures workload is evenly distributed among on-duty Direct Support Professionals and ensures assigned tasks are completed.
• Ensures residence is in compliance with all regulatory reporting to enable residence to maintain licenses with state funding agencies, the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
• Maintains adequate grocery supply; completes menu plans in full accordance with individual specialized diets. Provides assistance with meal preparation to ensure meals are nutritious and in compliance with physician’s dietary orders.
• Maintains adequate household and cleaning supplies, as well as supplies staff need to insure universal precautions, such and gloves, spill kits, masks, etc.
• Prepares and forwards all required individual support plan paperwork and reporting according to established routing procedures and time requirements.
• In partnership with the Residential Supervisor, maintains individual program reports and individual medical records in compliance with Agency and regulatory standards.
• In partnership with the Residential Supervisor, ensures individuals receive appropriate medical and therapeutic care; maintains corresponding documentation.
• Reports all incidents in a timely fashion and in accordance with Agency and regulatory standards.
• Maintains regular, open lines of communication and a positive rapport with families, guardians, state funding representatives, day program staff, employers, neighbors, and community members.
• With certification, administers medications within full compliance of state and Agency guidelines; ensures residence is in compliance with DPH Medication Administration program (MAP).
• Assists individuals with maintaining a clean and sanitary household. Keeps management abreast of maintenance issues as they arise.
• Implements behavioral plans consistently as written by the treating Clinical Psychologist, recording data as needed.
• Provides assistance and support to individuals with scheduling and attending social and leisure activities.
• Assists individuals with attending religious faith workshops or services.
• Ensures basic human rights, well-being and safety of individuals is respected at all times.
• Attends required meetings and trainings.
• Provides transportation to individuals to appointments and social activities utilizing the Agency assigned vehicle, when available.
• Adheres to the Agency’s emergency response policies and procedures. Serves as mandated reporter for suspected cases of abuse and/or neglect to the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) or Elder Abuse Hotline, as appropriate.
• Performs additional duties, as assigned.
• May perform the duties of the Residential Supervisor in the absence of other staff.
• May participate in program management work groups on a voluntary basis.