DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL

Job Summary:

Assists with daily living activities, in a 24-hour/7 day residential facility. Observes and monitors individual’s behavior and charts observations and incidents. Provides training of basic personal and social skills, simple academics, or work skills to individuals. May assist with meal preparation, ensuring or encouraging group activity, providing transportation, and/or limited case management.

Essential Functions: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Arranges for needed medical care and provides needed services to assure that medical care is obtained.
• Assists in the development of an individual service/treatment plan for each assigned individual.
• Cares for individuals during periods of incapacitation, family disruption or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, and help in adjusting to new lifestyles.
• Counsels and advises individuals on behavioral problems, decision making, and the resolution of minor problems.
• Instructs and advises individuals on daily living skills in one-on-one or group instruction.
• Observes and monitors individual’s behavior.
• Participates in case reviews, consulting with team to evaluate the individual’s needs and plan for continuing services.
• Performs housekeeping duties, such as cleaning, washing clothes and dishes, running errands.
• Assists in planning, shopping for, and preparing meals, including special diets, and assists families in planning shopping for, and preparing nutritious meals.
• Prepares and maintains records of individual’s progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager/supervisor.
• Provides transportation for individuals to appointments/activities.
• Follows agency policy and departmental protocol regarding The Self-Administration of Medication.
• Follows agency policy and departmental protocol regarding work schedule, calling in when arriving late or when absent, break and lunch periods and observes provisions of Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Submits leave requests in advance (according to departmental protocol) for annual leave, personal leave and foreseen sick leave. Submits leave slips for unforeseen or emergency personal leave immediately upon return to work. Provides documentation for use of leave as required.
• Submits accurate time sheets to supervisor on a bi-weekly basis.
• Presents a neat and clean appearance. Wears clothing suitable to job and environment based on clientele served.
• Observes agency policies on health, safety, security and sanitation; notifies supervisor of circumstances or situations that present potential health hazard.
• Does not use or knowingly permit others to use agency property for personal business.

Required Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of State, local and federal guidelines in order to modify existing programs and the development of new programs in response to changes in the guidelines.
• Knowledge of personal hygiene and care.
• Knowledge of basic housekeeping.
• Ability to observe and monitor resident’s behavior.
• Ability to assist and supervise participants with daily living activities.
• Ability to develop individualized plans.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle efficiently and safely.
• Ability to provide training and /or orientation services to participants.
• Ability to participate in supportive guidance, staff supervision sessions, program planning meetings, resident staffing and service training.
• Ability to complete evaluations to determine functional level of participants.

Competencies:

Communication

Accountability/Responsibility

Cooperation/Teamwork

Creative Thinking

Customer Service

Dependability

Flexibility

Initiative

Job Knowledge

Judgement

Professionalism

Quality of Work

Stress Management

Personal Credibility

Required Education & Experience:

Must be at least 21 years of age and have a valid high school diploma or GED. One year experience providing social or direct care services to groups of special needs individuals in a human services setting, Certified Nursing Assistant Certification OR Associates degree in a related field OR At least two year equivalent experience.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a residential setting with trips into the community. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. This role provides basic housekeeping assistance which requires the use of cleaning products. Some minor travel between Gateway sites and in the community is required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Employee is frequently required to walk, stand or kneel and occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop. Employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds and up to 50lbs 15% of the time. Must have the ability to sit for short periods of time at a computer. Employee frequently uses fine hand/eye coordination, hearing and visual acuity. Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are not hazardous or unpleasant condition caused by noise, dust, etc. Employee must be able to travel between Gateway sites. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Gateway BHS promotes a drug/alcohol free work environment through the use of mandatory pre-employment drug testing.