Direct Support Professional

Description

National Center On Institutions and Alternatives

Job Description

for

Community Living Associate

Job Title: Community Living Associate

Department: Community Living Services (CLS)

Reports To: Community Living Coordinator

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

General Purpose of the Job: This is a full or part-time position supervised by the Community Living Coordinator. The overall purpose of this position is to assure the health, safety and well-being of residents and to assure residents reside and interact in the least restrictive environment within the community. This includes, but is not limited to, assuring the implementation and delivery of the services and supports designated in the residents Person Centered Plan (PCP). Staff will provide individualized support, supervision, instruction and follow-up needed to ensure residents achieve and maintain the highest possible level of independence in functional life skills. Staff monitor and document residents progress toward PCP goals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

General

1. Provides supervision and training to people with disabilities in order to promote growth toward his/her highest potential.
2. Provides personal support services as identified in the Person-Centered Plan to people in his/her home. Actively engages with each resident and ensures that all programs and activities are carried out for the benefit of the person, both in the home and in the community.
3. Responds to crisis situations expediently and provides the appropriate support needed to resolve the situation.

Specific

1. Assists residents in maintaining a clean, neat and safe environment; this includes, but is not limited to, assuring that the residence will pass safety and environmental inspections.
2. Provides each person with support and supervision to acquire appropriate functional life skills and successful integration in the community. This includes, but is not limited to, assuring participation in residential and community-based activities. Staff shall encourage communication with family and friends.
3. Implements residents PCP goals, behavior plans, and nursing care plans. Maintains current training on all residents plans.
4. Completes required documentation for all shifts in Agency database system prior to the end of the shift, including but not limited to goal data, behavior data, seizure charts, bowel movement charts, activity logs, and incident reports.
5. Assists residents to prepare meals and follows weekly menus for the home that have been developed in collaboration with the residents.
6. Ensures a monthly schedule is developed with participation from each resident and is visible to residents.
7. Supports residents participation in all required/scheduled meetings, appointments and daily activities.
8. Immediately reports incidents according to Agency policy for Incident Reporting and Investigation Procedures. Is available to participate in the investigation of incidents as requested.
9. Provides residents with consistent supervision and socialization. This includes, but is not limited to, staying on shift until officially relieved and positively communicating with residents.
10. Always knows whereabouts of people supported in the home.
11. Familiarizes self with the program file of each person, including history, medical, and program information.
12. Is knowledgeable of routine and emergency medical procedures to include but not limited to CPR, FA and vital signs.
13. Maintains current certification in Medication Administration.
14. Transports people to and from appointments and other activities.
15. Communicates medical concerns to the nurse and supervisor within the appropriate time frame.
16. Contributes to a work and home atmosphere which is positive, enthusiastic, responsible and courteous.
17. Reads and responds to all necessary emails in a timely fashion.
18. Uses technology for the completion of specified job duties.
19. Attends work regularly according to assigned work schedule and in accordance with Agency policy.
20. Attends and participates in in-service training, staff meetings and other activities as scheduled.
21. Works cooperatively with others including all staff, supervisors, administrators, co-workers, residents served, community professionals, customers, vendors and the public.
22. Assumes other duties, responsibilities and special projects as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to talk with and be understood using the method or language with which the individual(s) communicates.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Certified Medication Technician issued by Maryland Board of Nursing.
• Must have reliable transportation and an acceptable driving record as determined by the criteria established by the Agency's insurance carrier and Agency policy.
• Must have a valid drivers license from State of residence.
• This position will require the occasional use of a reliable and safe personal vehicle to transport residents to appointments, etc.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

• Ability to interact positively with residents, coworkers, community residents, family, advocates and Agency staff.
• Ability to provide instruction, training and support to persons with developmental disabilities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Position requires mobility to walk, stand, reach with arms and hands, lift and drive. Some sedentary work involved. There will be special situations requiring balance, stooping, kneeling or crawling. All five senses will be used in this position.
• Ability to lift up to 10 lbs. daily and up to 50 lbs. occasionally. Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less). Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more). Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors). Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point). Depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships).
• Ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Regularly exposed to weather conditions during travel to and from worksites and appointments.
• Possible exposure to fumes or airborne particles.
• Minimal exposure to moving mechanical parts, toxic/caustic chemicals or risk of electrical shock. Moderate noise (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic).

Salary : $19