Direct Support Professional (Palm, Pa)

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are dedicated individuals who play a crucial role in the lives of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. They work closely with their clients, providing them with the necessary support, guidance, and care to lead fulfilling and independent lives.

Some of the roles of a DSP include:

1. Supporting engagement with the community by providing:
   1. Support in less congregate and more individualized settings
   2. Job coaching
   3. Employment support
   4. Transportation
2. Using creative thinking for accommodations to help people with disabilities be more independent
3. Providing emotional support
4. Providing caregiving and support with activities of daily living, including:
   1. Medication administration
   2. Mobility assistance
   3. Wound care
   4. Accessing food
5. Working with the people they support to Advocate for rights and services, such as: 
   1. Accessing resources and opportunities in the community
   2. Working with the employer to customize job duties.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provides direct care to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Performs personal care tasks, including assistance with basic personal hygiene and grooming, feeding, and ambulation, medical monitoring, and health care related tasks.

• Fosters positive relationships between caretakers and individuals served.

• Ensures client safety and maintains a safe environment.

• Reminds and assists clients with self-administration of medications (with proper training).

• Encourages self-help activities.

• Reports changes in client’s condition or family situation to administrators and supervisors.

• Documents services provided via service notes.

• Performs home management functions such as light housekeeping, laundry, bed making, and cleaning.

• Plans meals, shopping for groceries, preparing and serving food/meals, feeding and clean-up.

• Accompanies clients to scheduled appointments and transports clients or running errands for clients.

• Assists with toileting, including bedpans, urinals, and commode chairs as necessary.

• Performing all tasks professionally and pleasantly

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications / Skills:

• Communication skills (verbally and written) with all levels of personnel, internal and external to the company. Professional and courteous communication is expected from all employees. Rude and crude language is not tolerated.

• Ability to handle physical aspects of job, including bending, stooping, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, and walking for periods of time

Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent

• 18 years of age or older

• Valid driver’s license

Work Hours: This position may require various shifts at various times (Primarily weekends, and sometimes overnights) 

Work Environment: Client homes, work sites outside of the client home as required and other work sites as required by management.

Reports to: Caregiver Success Associate, Scheduler and/or other assigned Supervisors