DSP-New Paltz Apts 25-029

SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday 2p-10p

NHR provides supports and services to people with ID/DD; Direct Support Professionals (DSP) are essential members of a person’s support team. As a member of the support team, this position is responsible for supporting the person with safety, life-skills training, developing relationships, and participation in the community.

The employee in this position will support the person(s) by working closely with the residence coordinator, residential team, clinicians, community stakeholders, and natural supports to ensure that services are provided as identified and specified in the person’s Life Plan and Staff Action Plan

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Ability to physically assist people as required; and, to intervene physically when appropriate using approved techniques to safeguard the individual, oneself and others during behavioral crises.
• Ability to assist in the evacuation of the residence/vehicle/facility in the event of an emergency (including but not limited to fires and floods) in a manner consistent with agency and with OPWDD regulations/guidelines.
• Ability to relate appropriately to people with ID/DD, their families and their advocates; and, to constructively relate to and communicate with peers and supervisors and to be able to function successfully as part of a team.
• Ability to work independently (when appropriate).
• Ability to use sound judgment while following agency policies, practices and procedures.
• Ability to speak, read, and write effectively, which allows full communication and participation with people served, their families, agency staff, government visitors, and required documentation.
• Successfully complete all agency-required training within three months of employment and to keep required training status current on an ongoing basis.
• Possess a valid driver license with a driving record acceptable to NHR’s insurance carrier and possess the ability to drive agency vehicles to transport people served to and from: medical appointments; day programs; and, other activities or events in the community.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties associated with this position, an employee (using approved agency lifting techniques) will be called upon to support and lift adult people with developmental and other disabilities; transfer people to and from wheelchairs; to and from beds; on and off toilet seats; in and out of showers; and, in and out of vans or other vehicles. An employee in this position must be able to physically intervene (when appropriate and in an approved manner) to protect the individual from causing harm to themselves or others and to safely evacuate the home or vehicle during an emergency. These duties may entail lifting/supporting/transferring up to 50-70 pounds on one or more occasions during the work shift or 200 pounds or more with the assistance from other staff or devices.

Employees will regularly be required to stand; walk; sit; use hands (or hands and arms) to carry, finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; crouch and kneel. Employees will also be regularly required to hear (with or without hearing devices), see (with or without corrective lenses) and speak.

Working Conditions and Environment:

• While performing the duties associated with this position, an employee will be in a primarily residential environment (not a typical office setting); in a vehicle; or, in the community.
• This position will at times require an employee to provide emergency coverage and to work day, evening and awake overnight shifts (including those shifts falling on weekends and holidays).
• This position may expose employees to blood borne pathogens.
• This position may expose employees to the profanity and violent behavior of people served.
• This position may require staff to assist people served with very personal intimate care.

In a manner consistent with NHR’s Mission Statement and Unifying Principals and applicable laws and regulations, an employee in this position shall:

• Actively participate in the development of each person’s total plan of support; this may include participation in the person’s Life Plan or CFA meeting; providing feedback and input on Staff Action Plans; completing monthly notes and clinical documentation as required.

• Be responsible for the daily implementation of all goals and supports and the required documentation. Employees in this position are responsible for recording the necessary documentation on an Electronic Health Record, Precision Care or other software applications utilized by NHR.

• Assist and supervise each person as needed in achieving their identified valued outcomes. This may include (but not be limited to), assisting and supervising an individual in participating in the following activities: banking and budgeting; clothes shopping; household chores; leisure and recreational interests; and, social skills training.

• Assist and instruct people served in areas such as health and hygiene. For example, an employee in this position shall, as appropriate, instruct and assist people in bathing, tooth brushing, toileting and dressing.

• Transport people served to and from: medical appointments; day programs; and, other activities or events in the community.

• Intervene to safeguard the person and others during behavioral crises, including implementation of Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention (“SCIP”) and Ukeru techniques as indicated.

• Assist the Residence Coordinator in ensuring that the general health of each person is protected and that the medical and dental needs of each individual are satisfactorily addressed. An employee in this position, under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse and upon successful completion of agency training, shall administer medications to people served.

• Assist in the care and maintenance of the home, including housekeeping, grocery shopping, and meal preparation consistent with the nutritional and medical needs of the people served.

• Attend and actively participate in staff meetings, case reviews and successfully complete required in-service training sessions (including but not limited to First Aid, CPR, Medication Administration Certification, and SCIP).