In Home Help - Direct Service Provider

Position Summary: Direct Support Professionals (DSP), also called Direct Care Workers (DCW), are responsible for the daily supervision and support in all daily living activities of consumers as identified in the consumers Person Centered Plan. In Home Help DSPs perform these activities in the Consumer's private home and regularly include some or all of the following: preparing meals, assisting with eating meals, personal care, bathing, dressing, restroom assistance, administering medications, transferring, and transporting to daily activities and medical appointments. All functions are performed with strict adherence to the applicable Michigan Health Code, MDHHS regulations, and contractual obligations between Listening Ear and community agencies or the State of Michigan.

Reporting and Supervision

DSPs working in IHH report to a Residential Manager.

Essential Job Functions

• Engage with consumers and the Home Manager or other designated staff to identify and implement activities required under the consumers Person Centered Plan.
• Perform all Person Centered Plan prescribed activities including, but not limited to, meal preparation, clean-up, consumer hygiene, passing medications, consumer recreation activities, and transporting consumers to and from appointments in compliance with relevant laws, regulations, agreements, and Listening Ear standards.
• Accurate and timely completion and delivery of all necessary or required documentation relating to consumer services or home operations.
• Attend and successfully complete all mandatory training and skill development programs, including annual refresher trainings as required.
• Report punctually to the consumer's home.

This is not an exhaustive list of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described. Other relevant duties, tasks, or requirements may be assigned to this job any time at the sole discretion of the employer.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must possess or acquire a working knowledge of laws, regulations, and methodologies relevant to working with varying degrees of mentally disabled adults including, but not limited to:
• Recipient Rights
• Agency Ethics and the Consumer Bill of Rights
• Person Centered Plans
• CPR
• First Aid
• Safety and fire prevention
• Nutrition
• Prevention of communicable diseases

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities continued

• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to respond to emergency situations in a controlled manner
• Work with professionalism, including empathy, patience, and cultural sensitivity
• Must possess and maintain a valid drivers license and good driving record

Education and Experience

• Required: High School Diploma, GED, or be functionally equivalent in reading and writing in English, and basic math. Must be at least 18 years of age at the time employment begins.
• Preferred: Prior experience in a caregiving capacity with a licensed care facility. Post-secondary certification from an accredited Community College or other relevant training program.

Physical and Other Requirements

• Over an 8-hour period: Prolonged standing, regular or intermittent lifting and reaching above shoulders, pulling and pushing, bending at waist, twisting torso, kneeling, walking.
• Ability to lift, carry, and place up to 50#.

All conditional job offers for DSP candidates will require a physical examination by an occupational health clinic, which includes a lifting component and TB test, as well as required criminal background checks.

Schedule, Travel Expectations, Working Conditions

• DSPs in IHH will work relatively consistent schedules designed around the needs of the consumers.
• Because this work is performed in a consumer's home, driving will be required on a daily basis.